(Update) Pepper Rewards App: Buy Top Gift Card Brands & Get 5% Back (10% For First 15 Days)

1. It’s been said that Pepper purchases can trigger Chase Offers since the charge shows up with the merchant listed. For example, I have a Chase Offer for 5% back at Walmart, up to $5. I’ll buy $100 Walmart gift card in the Pepper app, and I’ll get the 5% (or 10%) back from Pepper, plus the 5% back from Chase Offers, plus my regular credit card rewards. (This is unlikely to work with most AmEx Offers due to the way their system works differently than Chase.)
2. There are no official limits as to how much you can purchase per day in Pepper. Some people mention getting stopped at $500 or $1,000 per day. Or possibly $2000/month and $5000/year.  Many people are able to purchase more than these limits, it seems to vary by account/history/whatever. From what I’m told, you can just keep buying until the account gets frozen, and then call in to verify and get unfrozen. (There should not be risk to the rewards points earned or referral credits accrued, from what I’m told.) They might increase your buying power through the verification.
3. Reports are that Amex Business Gold  to earn 4x if it’s one of your top two categories. And reports are that it counts as Online Shopping for BofA cards and Blue Cash card and ShopYourWay card.

Our Verdict

I signed up using a referral code and tried buying as many high-value gift cards as needed to lock in the 10% back. The 5% back posts immediately and can be used up right away. The bonus 5% should post around day 16  after account opening.  Keep in mind the limits as you might need to verify your account in order to buy more than $500/day or whatever other limits are imposed.

My thanks if you enter my signup code 584255 during the initial signup process. No referral links or references in the comments below, please.

Post History:

• Update 7/8/24: Double points on Nike, today only
• Update 7/3/24: Double Triple points on Uber and UberEATS today
• Update 6/26/24: Double points on Airbnb today, no limit
• Update 6/26/24: Double points on Amazon today, no limit – wow, 10% back on Amazon, on top of regular credit card points is awesome.
• Another update 6/25/24: They’ve now  increased the Uber/UberEATS deal to 15% (5% will post instantly and the other 10% on July 15th)
• Update 6/25/24: 10% back on Uber and UberEATS (5% regular earn + 5% bonus), deal valid today only. No limit
  Separately there are reports of a targeted 10% everywhere offer being sent out again via email.
• Update 6/24/24: 10% back at Lowe’s (5% regular earn + 5% bonus), deal valid today only. No limit.
• 6/14/24: 10% instant discount on Lowe’s and DoorDash at checkout. (That’s in addition to the regular 5% earn toward your next purchase.) These deals expire on June 16th at 11:59pm ET.
• Update 6/3/24: This week’s deal: Get $5 $2.50 bonus when you spend $100 at Airbnb, Delta, Southwest, Olive Garden, Cracker Barrel, Texas Roadhouse. That’s on top of the regular 5% earn.
• Update 5/30/24: Pepper sent out another targeted email to some existing users for  10% everywhere for 15 days. (Typically only new members who sign up via referral get 10% for 15 days, everyone else gets 5% always.)  Hat tip to soonerman32
• Update 5/24/24: 10% instant discount on UberEATS e-gift cards, up to $500 purchase. (That’s in addition to the regular 5% back in points.) Valid 5/24 – 5/27.
• Update 5/20/24: This week’s deal for 5/20 through 5/26, sent out via email: get $5 back with $100 in spending across the following merchants: Hotels.com, Petco, Fanatics, Wayfair.com. (That’s on top of the regular 5% earn rate.) Only purchases charged to the card will count toward the total. Limit 1.
• Update 5/19/24: There’s another targeted 10% everywhere offer that went out: “No code necessary. Get 10% back on all merchants. Offer valid from May 17, 2024 at 1200 AM ET until May 31, 2024 at 11.59 PM ET. Only purchases charged to the card will count toward the total. Points will be Issued on June 15, 2024, by 5.00 PM ET.” (New users who  sign up via referral code get 10% everywhere for 15 days. Regular earn is 5% everywhere. This targeted offer gives existing users 10% everywhere for May 17 – May 31.)
• Update 5/18/24: Positive change: Starting on Monday 5/20, Pepper is simplifying the Pepper Points system whereby 1 point = $.01 instead of the complicated system until now where each point was worth $.25. The rewards system is still exactly the same with 5% earn rate on all purchases. And existing points will all be converted so that it all equals out the same.
• Update 5/21/24: 10% discount on Instacart gift cards. The discount comes off instantly at checkout. Valid 5/21 – 5/23, while supplies last. That’s on top of the 5% you’ll get back in Pepper points toward a future purchase (10% for new members). This deal is limited to one time use; max this out with a $250 Instacart gift card purchase since that’s the most you can buy in one purchase on Pepper.
• Update 4/21/24: Correction: users are now getting an email indicating that the 10% back is only on select brands (Nike, Petco, and a bunch more). And it’s only through April 30th, not May 31st. The email notes that they will honor all purchases made through 4/21/24 at 11:59pm ET, so that does give us a few hours now to take advantage of the 10% everywhere offer. (I’m not sure if it’s for everyone or only those who got the erroneous email.)
• Update 4/20/24: Some people are being targeted with 10% back everywhere through May 31, 2024. Others are being offered 10% back on specific brands.
• Update 4/15/24: From April 15 – April 21 users can earn 20 bonus Pepper Points ($5 credit toward future gift card purchase) when spending a total of $150 across multiple purchases at select merchants. Eligible merchants include Home Depot, Lowe’s, ACE Hardware, Autozone, T.J.Maxx, HomeGoods, Marshalls, and Bath & Body Works. Only purchases charged to the card will count toward the total (I believe this means that payment with Pepper Points or with Anywhere Cash don’t count). Limit one per user. Points will be issued on Monday, April 22, 2024.
• Update 4/5/24: DoorDash 10% instant discount, this stacks with the 5% back (or 10% for new users) and with regular credit card rewards. Might be limited to 1.
• Update 3/28/24: Two new deals:
  • Instacart is 10% off March 25 through March 31. Not sure if there’s a limit. This stacks with the 5% back (or 10% back for new users).
  • If you spend $150 on select brands, you’ll get 20 points (worth $5) toward a future purchase. Here is the brand list: Walmart, Target, Amazon Fresh, Meijer, Giant Eagle, Sam’s Club, Grubhub, UberEATS, DoorDash, Bob Evans, Seasons 52, Maggiano’s, The Capital Grille, Cracker Barrel, Fleming’s. Not sure if there’s a limit to this deal.
• Update 3/15/24: Two new tidbits, one for new users and one deal for all users:
  1. All users: Uber and UberEATS are now with a 10% instant discount on Pepper. You’ll see the discount directly at checkout. That’s on top of the regular 5% (or 10% for new users) you’ll earn back towards a future Pepper purchase and you’re regular credit card rewards. This deal is valid 3/15 through 3/17 and then again 3/21 through 3/24. Limited to one per person.
  2. New users: New users get double points on purchases made during the first 15 days when signing up with a referral code (mine is 584255); essentially you’re getting 10% back on all purchases instead of 5%. Getting 10% off Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, etc (plus regular credit card points) is an excellent deal. (It’s not as good as the launch offer which was for 30 days, but 15 days is still nice.) Personally I purchased a number of thousands of dollars in Amazon and Walmart during my intro offer period. Note: the regular 5% will be available immediately for use, and the intro bonus 5% will become available after the 15 day period is over.
• Update 2/9/24: Pepper is running a sale for 15% off DoorDash, $7.50 off $25 Domino’s, $5 off $50 on Ulta, and a bunch more. I see these in my ‘Inbox’ in the Pepper app.
• Update 2/8/24: The promo for double rewards during the first 30 days will now be ending on 2/15/24. Those who sign up now will get the 30 day double, while those who sign up after 2/15/24 will not.