If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you’ve probably accepted the fact that groceries only earn 1x points.
But what if you could stand in the grocery store, buy your groceries like normal… and still trigger 3x points?
There’s a lesser-known workaround that’s been circulating, and it doesn’t require ordering ahead or doing pickup.
The Trick: Stop Swiping Your Card
Most people check out at the grocery store like this:
👉 Insert card
👉 Tap card
👉 Earn 1x points
That’s because the purchase is clearly coded as an in-store grocery transaction.
But here’s where things get interesting:
Some grocery store apps (when used for payment) route the transaction differently.
And that can change how it’s categorized.
How the Hack Works (In-Store)
Instead of swiping your card, you:
- Download your store’s app and add your Sapphire Preferred as payment method
- Shop in-store like normal
- At checkout, scan the Kroger Pay QR code to pay through the app
For example, with Kroger Pay:
- You open the Kroger app
- Pull up your payment QR code
- The cashier scans it
- Payment processes through the app, not your physical card swipe
Why This Can Trigger 3X Points
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns:
- 3x on online grocery purchases
- 1x on in-store grocery purchases
When you use something like Kroger Pay, the transaction may be processed as an app-based / online grocery purchase instead of a traditional in-store swipe.
Which means It can trigger the 3x category instead of 1x
Stores Where This Has Been Reported
This isn’t just theoretical, people have reported success at:
- Kroger
- Ralphs
- QFC
- Fred Meyer
- King Soopers
- City Market
- Mariano’s
- Fry’s Food and Drug
- Smith’s Food and Drug
- Other Kroger-owned stores
Some users have also experimented with:
- Safeway
- Albertsons
…but the Kroger ecosystem is the most commonly reported for QR-based in-store payments.
Important: This Is Not Guaranteed
Before you rely on this, here’s the reality:
- Some transactions earn 3x
- Some still earn 1x
- Results can vary by:
- Store location
- App version
- Payment routing
This is one of those “test it yourself” optimizations—not a locked-in benefit.
Is It Worth Trying?
Absolutely, because there’s no downside.
You’re:
- Shopping at the same store
- Buying the same groceries
- Just changing how you pay
And if it works? You’ve just tripled your points on one of your biggest monthly expenses.
If you’re still swiping your card at the grocery store, you might be leaving points on the table.
Using app-based payments like Kroger Pay is a small shift—but it can unlock outsized rewards.
It’s not guaranteed… but it’s one of the easiest “why not try it?” hacks out there.