The days of going shopping with a significant chunk of money in your pocket are long gone. Almost all transactions are now conducted with a card rather than cash. Many consumers use Amex (American Express) cards because of their perks.
However, most consumers want to know if supermarkets accept it because many institutions do not. Are you a frequenter of Ralphs? Does Ralphs accept Amex? You must’ve asked at one point. Let’s find that out in this article.
Does Ralphs Accept Amex in 2023?
Ralphs has added Amex to its growing list of credit and debit cards it accepts. This new payment option of American Express and a subsidiary card, Optima, was announced way back in 1994 in the Los Angeles Times advertisement.
Ralphs FAQ page regarding payment options also confirms this information. They accept gift cards, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and Amex both in-store and online transactions.
Do All Grocery Stores Take American Express?
Except for Costco, all major food stores accept Amex. Only about 1% of food establishments refuse to accept American Express because it is more expensive for them.
Amex charges these stores more significant fees than comparable credit cards. In other words, taking additional cards will increase their revenue.
Depending on your point of view, the way most credit cards function is either brilliant or horrible. Customers that keep a rolling balance are charged interest. The interest rate fluctuates, but it can be as high as 20% for some people.
The store that received the payment is then charged a rate of roughly 1.5 percent of whatever the total purchase was. Customers who use American Express must pay the balance in full each month. So, theoretically, Amex does not profit from interest.
As a result, they must increase the fees charged to businesses to compensate for the loss. Many stores have refused to accept American Express from its debut compared to MasterCard and Visa.
This isn’t to suggest that Amex has a low acceptance rate at the moment. Amex has made specific improvements that have resulted in a significant increase in acceptance rates.
A few points decreased the costs in response to the historically poor acceptance rates. They also allied with Visa and MasterCard to boost acceptance rates. It is currently accepted in a growing number of establishments.
What Stores Qualify As Supermarkets For Amex?
The term “supermarket” is defined by American Express as a store that sells an extensive range of food and home items. However, it excludes superstores, convenience stores, and warehouse clubs explicitly. Customers of Amex can earn additional rewards on purchases.
The list below are supermarkets that take Amex. You’ll automatically qualify for bonus benefits when using your Amex cards in these stores.
- Albertsons
- ALDI
- Blue Apron
- Compare Foods
- Fareway Stores
- Food Lion
- Fresh Thyme
- Giant Eagle
- Giant Food
- Harps Foods
- H-E-B
- HelloFresh
- Hmart
- Hy-Vee
- Ingles Markets
- Jewel-Osco
- Key Food
- Kroger
- Market32
- Meijer
- Natural Grocers
- Price Chopper
- Price Rite
- Publix
- Ralphs
- Safeway
- Schnuck
- Shaw’s
- ShopRite
- Sprouts
- Stop & Shop
- Trader Joe’s
- Vons
- Weis Markets
- Wegmans
- Whole Foods Market
- Winn-Dixie
How Good Is American Express?
American Express is one of the most well-known credit card companies in the United States. It is famous for providing excellent customer service and offering some of the best rewards available. From ultra-exclusive business travel cards to everyday rewards, Amex delivers a variety of credit cards to suit the needs of a wide range of cardholders.
The fact that American Express is both a card issuer and a card network distinguishes it from the rest. Unlike card issuers like Chase of Bank of America and card networks like Visa or MasterCard, American Express operates as a card issuer and transaction processor.
Do You Have to Pay American Express In Full Every Month?
Unlike standard credit cards, Amex cards do not have a fixed APR or incur interest because all balances must be paid in full each month. On the other hand, the Gold card allows cardholders to pay for purchases of $100 or more overtime at a fixed interest rate.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay American Express In Full?
You’ll be charged interest when you don’t pay your bill in full. The interest rate charged by Pay Over Time is the same for all three products: Green, Gold, and Platinum. Cardholders that use the service will incur an APR ranging from 15.99 percent to 22.9 percent starting in August 2020, depending on their creditworthiness.
Conclusion
Customers trust American Express credit cards because they are dependable. Most retailers accept the cards, and more, including small businesses, are joining their system daily. So, whenever you go grocery shopping, use your Amex card to earn points and incentives during the busiest holiday deals of the year.