Supermarket chain Meijer was founded in the midst of the Great Depression when a man named Hendrik Meijer purchased $338.76 of merchandise on credit to help clients at his barbershop. Still focused on providing a one-stop shopping experience, the company has since expanded beyond grocery products to carry pharmacy, electronics, home goods, and even apparel.
Today, consumers across the Midwest look to Meijer supercenters for value and convenience when shopping for daily essentials. The Meijer Credit Card offers patrons special rewards and discounts on purchases made at store locations and at Meijer Gas Stations. But, unless you’re a big spender at Meijer, the rewards can be underwhelming, and they don't justify the high APR.
Meijer Card Overall Rating: 3.7/5.0
Most Meijer customers are fans of the store since it carries a wide range of products under one roof. At checkout, it's normal to see shopping carts piled high — and high checkout totals to match. But it's that very experience that identifies the first downside to the Meijer Credit Card: a hefty 25.74% APR.
The other major downside? The card only works at Meijer stores and gas stations, so you'll find limited opportunities to take advantage of its perks if you aren't located in the Midwest region. That being said, if you're near a Meijer and shop there often, the card does offer some perks, though they may not be as valuable as they first appear.
Meijer Credit Card
- APR: 25.74% as of Jun 2023
- Annual Fee: $0
- Rewards: Earn a $10 reward for every $750 spent
One of the first things about the Meijer Credit Card that likely catches the eye of avid Meijer shoppers is the ability to net a $10 in-store credit for every $750 spent. However, when you crunch the numbers, that really only equates to around 1.3% back — a meager rewards rate, at best. Where the card's rewards do compete is outside the store — at Meijer Gas Stations.
When you use the card at Meijer Gas Stations, you can receive 10¢ off each gallon at the pump on all grades of gasoline, no minimum fuel purchase required. Since this equals a return of around 3.3%, it's not a bad deal — provided you buy gas almost exclusively at Meijer Gas Stations, and that you don't have an open-loop card that offers the same (or better) gas rewards.
On the plus side, the card does provide an extra incentive to new cardholders with a modest signup bonus of $10 off your total the first time you use it. But, overall, you'll need to swipe often at Meijer and Meijer Gas Stations to see rewards. What's more, not only will it likely take a number of purchases to work your way to your first reward, and you'll then have to spend it quickly since it expires within 45 days of being issued.
Approval Requirements & Application
With limited rewards and utility, the Meijer Credit Card's only real point of redemption is that you only need to have fair credit to get approved, though your full credit profile will be considered when you apply. You can apply for the Meijer Credit Card online using the link below, or at any Meijer location.
Better Cards to Use at Meijer
While Meijer prides itself on being a pioneer of the supercenter store concept, there are still some things you won't find on its shelves. So, when it comes to a credit card, there's no reason why you shouldn't have access to buying anything you want — and earning rewards along the way. The Meijer Credit Card simply doesn't offer that flexibility.
Plus, the puny $10 store credit for every $750 means the store may have you spending more than you want, or pumping more gas than you need, just so you can see a return on your purchases. Compared to other credit card options out there, the Meijer Credit Card doesn't have much to offer — other than a high APR, that is.
If you want to earn savings when shopping for your daily essentials, foodstuffs, or occasional splurges, your best bet is to seek an open-loop credit card that rewards you on purchases made at Meijer and anywhere else you shop. With a wide range of credit cards for your choosing that offer richer rewards and kinder interest rates, you can find a card that serves your unique lifestyle and financial goals.
Cash Back
When it comes to credit card rewards programs, cash back is one of the most popular for a reason: simplicity. Cash back rewards are easy to earn — and even easier to redeem, typically available as a statement credit. This makes cash back rewards effectively a rebate on everything you buy, including Meijer's purchases.
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- No annual fee and no expiration on rewards.
- 0% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 17.99% - 27.99% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases
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0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
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17.99% - 27.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
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$0
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Excellent/Good
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Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
0% APR
Interest rates can make or break any offer — and the same goes for the Meijer Credit Card. Regardless of the tempting rewards you may have access to, if your card has a high APR, your interest rates mean you'll likely be spending far more than you'll be saving.
But with many 0% intro-APR credit cards to potentially apply for, you can completely dodge interest charges for 12 months or more and enjoy things like cash back and open-loop versatility.
- 0% Introductory APR for 21 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 15.99% - 25.99% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
- No annual fee.
- No penalty APR. Paying late won't automatically raise your interest rate (APR). Other account pricing and terms apply.
- Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for purchases
|
0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
|
15.99% - 25.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
Travel Rewards
Instead of putting aside extra money for an upcoming trip, why not use your credit card to help fund your vacation? Travel rewards credit cards can help you earn points or miles good for free airfare, hotel stays, and more, putting you a little closer to your dream vacation with every purchase — including the ones at Meijer.
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee.
- Redeem Miles to pay any part of your monthly bill, including your minimum payment.
- Turn Miles into cash in any amount, any time. Or redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more with no blackout dates. However you redeem, Miles keep the same value. And Miles never expire.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 16.99% - 27.99% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
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0% Intro APR for 15 months
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16.99% - 27.99% Variable APR
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$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
Though regular customers can benefit by using the Meijer Credit Card when shopping Meijer stores and gas stations, the rewards and discounts are limited. Unless you load your shopping cart full of groceries and supplies, you'll be hard-pressed to see the light at the end of the savings tunnel.
Additionally, the Meijer Credit Card's high APR means you'll have to pay off the balance each month unless you want to be loaded with interest charges. Consider another credit card that can help you save on whatever you spend, wherever you shop.
What Others Say About the Meijer Credit Card
Discounted fuel prices at Meijer Gas Stations along with rewards on in-store purchases were the highest points of praise reviewers had. However, as generous as these features seem, other cardholders were unimpressed by the steep APR and changes made to card incentives that have occurred over time.
I have been going to Meijer for years and the day I finally agreed to open up a store card was probably one of the best decisions. The card was very quick to come in the mail as well. The good thing about this card also is you get money toward that goes towards gas, which is awesome because there is a gas station nearby every Meijer store. — WalletHub.com
”
The card’s a no-brainer if you already frequent a Meijer grocery store or are willing to switch for the rewards. However, even those who live near one of Meijer’s limited locations should be wary of the card’s high APR and restricted redemption options. — CreditCards.com
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We were recently notified that Meijer was reducing the incentive reward for the Meijer Credit Card. The previous reward was a one-time coupon on grocery purchases for every $2,000 charged on the credit card. This was an incentive for many customers including me to shop there. It is reduced and now we won't shop there as much because without this coupon, we can save as much or more at other stores. — ConsumerAffairs.com
”Is the Meijer Card Right for You?
For residents of the American Midwest, Meijer is a familiar name. Thousands of customers rely on the chain every day for everything from groceries to toys to home improvement supplies.
Since it claims to be nation's first supercenter, it's easy to assume that the Meijer Credit Card would strive to serve super savings — but the meager rewards earnings on merchandise purchases and fuel are simply adequate for even the most zealous Meijer customers. In fact, nearly any unlimited cash back card without bonus categories could provide a better return on in-store Meijer purchases.
Worse yet, the high spending threshold for earning rewards — $750 is a lot to spend, even with the variety of products available at Meijer — may be hard to reach for shoppers on a budget, meaning it could take months of purchasing to see any rewards at all.
Final Word on the Meijer Credit Card
We rated the Meijer Credit Card a 3.7/5.0, with it’s 25.74% APR on purchases being a major factor in that rating. We generally recommend using credit cards with a lower APR and better set of rewards, whether you’re shopping at Meijer Credit Card or elsewhere.
For better options than the Meijer Credit Card, see our top picks for 2023:
If you decide the Meijer Credit Card or another card is right for you, be sure to know all the terms and details before applying. Happy shopping!
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