Cashing in at the Supermarket: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express Review
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Editor's note: This card is currently unavailable.
Earning rewards from your credit cards is a lot like earning interest on your investments. Cardholders should look for the highest returns possible considering the amount they spend and the type of merchants they frequent. They then need to balance these rewards against any fees assessed on their cards. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers as much as 6% cash back rewards for your spending at a time when many reward cards only offer 1%-2% cash back.
Why We Like This Card
- $250 statement credit bonus offer. Terms apply.
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
How This Card Works
A whopping 6% cash back is earned at U.S. supermarkets, not including wholesale or discount stores, up to $6,000 in purchases per year. (After that, it'll be 1%.) You also earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, and 3% cash back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, and more. On all other purchases, earn 1% cash back. The intro annual fee is $0 for the first year, then $95. (See Rates & Fees.) However, spend just $266 per month at U.S. supermarkets and you'll get almost at least $96 back per year, after paying the annual fee.
Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. (See also: Best Credit Cards that Offer Bonus Cash for Sign-Up)
Terms Apply.
Other Benefits
Because this is an American Express card, you can expect a wide range of other benefits included with cardmembership.
Return Protection: If a merchant refuses to accept a return within 90 days, American Express may refund the full purchase price (up to $300 per item, $1,000 maximum per year).
Extended Warranty: Get up to an extra year added to the original manufacturer's warranty, if it is 5 years or less.
Purchase Protection: Protect your purchases against accidental damage and theft for up to 90 days.
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Use your AMEX card to pay for your rental and be covered if the car is damaged or stolen.
Who This Card Is Best For
This card is best for those who spend a lot at supermarkets, on transit and gas, and on streaming services. Very few credit cards can offer such a high amount of cash back on those categories.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Although I am a Dave Ramsey follower, I won't give up this card for groceries and gas. With a family of 6, I've made over $500 in cash back this year, and will do even better next year, even with the cutoff coming. I pay it off weekly online.
I recently opened a Blue Cash Preferred AMEX account, and they offered me a 0% APR introductory rate for the first 12 months. Although there is an annual fee (which I usually don't like paying for), I feel like the perks you get from having the card more than pay for it (especially if you maximize the cash back).
I have been using the amex blue cash for several years now. I use it to pay for gas, groceries, restaurants & etc... As you mentioned in your post, Amex cards are really great for renting cars because their insurance policy is probably the best if something happened to your rental car.
6% cash back is pretty sweet deal for grocery and the highest I ever seen for in store rebate.
Since it is applied on the first $6000 of purchases in grocery, i doubt majority of people would ever exceed that amount ( unless they purchase in bluk )
Most people would exceed that amount. $500 per month in groceries is nothing for a family. Nothing. Groceries are crazy expensive.