Which classification applies to rewards earned with debit cards that offer returns on money deposited?
Which classification applies to rewards earned with debit cards that offer returns on money deposited?
I possess a USBank Cash+ Visa card offering 2% cash rewards on dining establishments, 5% for electronics retailers and fast food locations, and 1% on all other purchases.
[https://cashplus.usbank.com/categories/i...arterId=45](https://cashplus.usbank.com/categories/i...arterId=45)
Furthermore, I hold a TDAmeritrade credit card providing a consistent 1.65% discount on all transactions.
If Steam is categorized as an electronics store, I would leverage the USBank card to receive 5% back. Otherwise, I would utilize the TDAmeritrade card for its 1.65% discount.
When contacting Steam, they advise reaching out to the card issuer. However, when I contact the number on the back of my cards, they direct me to Steam and request a merchant code—a detail that Steam representatives are unable to supply.
Although the price discrepancy is minimal, approximately 3.35%, I’m a novice credit card user seeking optimal reward utilization. I consistently make complete monthly payments, weekly with the USBank due to its restricted credit limit but substantial rewards program.
If businesses fail to provide assistance, your best recourse is a systematic trial and error approach. For a limited time—just one month—purchases made through Steam using a USBank card will be subject to a specific discount percentage. Given that this is the sole transaction, the resulting rate should be readily apparent. This method will allow you to determine how the labels are being applied, especially when companies aren’t forthcoming with information.
You should now possess the card. Purchase something on Steam, await your invoice, and then resolve any resulting payments.
The digital credit card interface is difficult to interpret. Initially, it offers a 1% discount on all purchases. Subsequently, if eligible for enhanced rewards, it accumulates these bonuses and consolidates them at the conclusion of each month. However, it doesn’t reveal its calculations—it's reminiscent of how my math instructor used to operate. The information is presented as follows:
Date Merchant Amount Bonus
03/01/2018 POPEYE'S $6.46 $0.06
03/06/2018 Bonus-Restaurants, Electronics, Fast Food $457.81 $4.58
03/06/2018 Bonus-Restaurants, Electronics, Fast Food $231.81 $9.27
03/06/2018 Bonus-Restaurants, Electronics, Fast Food $49.72 $1.99
Each reward is displayed separately based on the associated category.
If the businesses fail to provide assistance, your only recourse is a systematic trial-and-error approach. For a limited time of one month, purchases made through Steam using a USBank card will be the sole transaction; therefore, the discount percentage should be immediately apparent. This method is the only way I can determine if the companies are inaccurately categorizing items.
If businesses aren’t cooperating, your best approach is to systematically try different possibilities. For a single month, exclusively use a USBank card for all Steam purchases. Because this will be your only transaction during that period, the resulting percentage should be readily apparent and illuminate how the labeling is being applied. This is my method for determining whether the companies themselves are providing unhelpful information. However, I could forego receiving a 5% rebate on fast food and a 2% discount on restaurants for that month. More accurately, this would result in 3.35% and 0.35% returns when factoring in bonuses from TdAmeritrade—a workable solution, though perhaps not the most refined.
Here is the info your looking for:
https://cashplus.usbank.com/merchants
Following the guidelines provided for similar brick-and-mortar electronics retailers, it appears Steam would likely not be included. Furthermore, if you’re seeking a credit card offering enhanced rewards, the Discover promotion providing 10% cash back in rotating categories (5% + 5% match) during the initial year is a compelling option.