If you‘re the lucky recipient of a Safeway gift card, or are considering purchasing one for a friend or family member, you may be wondering just how far that card can take you. Can it fill up your gas tank? Buy your favorite bottle of wine? Treat you to a Starbucks latte during your grocery run? As a retail and consumer expert with over a decade of experience analyzing shopper trends, I‘m here to give you the full scoop on squeezing the most value out of every Safeway gift card dollar.
Safeway Gift Card Overview
First, let‘s cover some gift card basics. Safeway offers physical plastic gift cards that can be purchased in any amount between $5-$500. Digital Safeway eGift cards are also available online in amounts from $5-$200. Once purchased, Safeway gift cards never expire and are redeemable across the entire Albertsons Companies family of stores, which we‘ll discuss more in a moment.
To check the balance on your Safeway gift card, you can either visit a store and ask the cashier to scan it, or check online by entering your card number and PIN at safeway.com/gift-cards. If your physical gift card is ever lost or stolen, Safeway will replace it with the remaining balance as long as you have the original receipt.
According to data from the National Retail Federation, gift cards have been the most requested present for the last 15 years in a row. In 2022, gift card spending was projected to reach $28.6 billion just during the holiday season alone. With such massive popularity, it‘s clear that understanding how to use a Safeway gift card to its full potential is a valuable skill for any consumer.
Fill Up at Safeway Fuel Stations
Let‘s start with one of the most common questions: Can Safeway gift cards be used for gas? The answer is yes! If your local Safeway has a fuel station, you can absolutely redeem your gift card to fill up your tank. However, there is one important caveat to keep in mind.
Unlike some other retailer gift cards, Safeway cards cannot be swiped directly at the pump. You‘ll need to go inside the store to the cash register and specify how much gas you want to purchase in dollar amounts. The cashier will then apply that amount to the pump number so you can fill up. While it requires an extra step, being able to put your gift card towards gas can help seriously stretch your budget.
Here‘s a step-by-step breakdown:
- Pull up to the Safeway Fuel Station pump and make a note of the pump number
- Head inside the store to the cash register
- Inform the cashier that you‘d like to purchase gas and tell them the pump number
- Specify how much gas you want to purchase in dollar amounts and provide your Safeway gift card
- Once the transaction is complete on the register, head back out to the pump
- The pump will be activated for the pre-purchased amount, so you can select your grade of gasoline and fill up your tank until that dollar amount is depleted
- If you want to purchase more gas beyond the initial gift card amount, repeat the process with an additional form of payment
It‘s also good to know that you can earn Safeway‘s Gas Rewards points when redeeming a gift card for fuel. For every $100 you spend on groceries and qualifying gift cards at Safeway, you‘ll earn 10 cents off per gallon of gas, up to $1 off per gallon at Safeway and Albertsons Companies Fuel Centers.
Safeway‘s Alcohol Policies
Moving on to another popular gift card question – alcohol. Safeway does sell beer, wine and spirits at most of their locations, subject to state laws and regulations. According to the terms and conditions, Safeway gift cards can indeed be used to purchase alcohol along with your groceries.
However, it‘s important to note that you must be of legal drinking age and able to provide valid government-issued photo ID at time of purchase, just as with any other payment method. Safeway reserves the right to refuse the sale of alcohol to anyone, even if a gift card is being used. So if you‘re hoping to toast a celebration with a Safeway gift card, make sure you‘re of age and can verify it.
Some states also have restrictions on alcohol sales hours and days, so be aware of your local laws. For example, in Texas, you can‘t purchase beer and wine before 10 AM on Sundays at Safeway. Use your gift card to stock up responsibly!
Sipping at Starbucks
Many Safeway stores feature Starbucks kiosks right inside, making it extremely convenient to grab a coffee or snack while you shop. But can you use your Safeway gift card at the Starbucks counter? Unfortunately, no. Starbucks registers are run separately from the rest of the store and cannot process Safeway gift cards as payment.
However, there is still a way for savvy shoppers to maximize their rewards on a Safeway Starbucks run by using the Starbucks app. You‘ll first want to download both the Starbucks and Safeway apps and make sure you‘re logged into your account on each. Then when you‘re ready to pay at Starbucks, open the Safeway app and select "Check In" to activate your Just For U rewards account. Have the barista scan your Starbucks app to pay and collect your Stars. This way, you‘ll earn points and rewards on both apps without being able to directly redeem your Safeway gift card.
"Safeway is always looking for ways to provide value and convenience for our customers," said Wendy Gutshall, Director of Public and Government Affairs for Safeway. "While our gift cards aren‘t currently accepted at Starbucks kiosks, we encourage customers to download the Safeway and Starbucks mobile apps to maximize their rewards and savings every time they visit our stores."
The Albertsons Companies Family
Did you know that Safeway is actually part of a much larger chain of grocery stores? The Albertsons Companies, which acquired Safeway in a $9.2 billion merger in 2015, now owns 20 different retail chains spread across 35 states and Washington D.C. What that means for you as a Safeway gift card holder is that your shopping options just multiplied!
Your Safeway gift card can be used at any of the 2,200+ stores under the Albertsons Companies umbrella, including:
- Albertsons
- Vons
- Pavilions
- Randalls
- Tom Thumb
- Carrs
- Jewel-Osco
- Shaw‘s
- Star Market
- United Supermarkets
- Market Street
- Amigos
So even if you‘re traveling outside of your usual Safeway zone, be sure to look for one of their sister stores to redeem your gift card. The one exception to this policy is at Tom Thumb stores located in the state of California. While Tom Thumb is owned by Albertsons Companies, CA locations are separately operated and do not accept Safeway gift cards.
| Albertsons Companies Store Chains | Number of Locations |
|---|---|
| Safeway | 894 |
| Albertsons | 397 |
| Vons | 325 |
| Jewel-Osco | 185 |
| Acme | 161 |
| Tom Thumb | 145 |
| Shaw‘s and Star Market | 133 |
| Randalls | 30 |
| Carrs | 25 |
| Pavilions | 25 |
| United Supermarkets | 94 |
Cross-Border Shopping in Canada
Have gift card, will travel – but does that include internationally? If you have your sights set on Canada, the answer is oui! All Safeway gift cards purchased in the US can be redeemed at Canada Safeway stores at face value. However, any remaining balance will be issued in Canadian dollars, so be sure to use the current exchange rate when budgeting.
It‘s also good to know that Safeway stores in Canada do not sell alcohol, so your gift card won‘t be able to cover any beer runs up north. Canada locations also do not participate in the Just For U rewards program, so you‘ll be missing out on those extra points perks during your international shopping trip.
As of 2023, Safeway operates 183 stores across Western Canada, including:
- 75 stores in Alberta
- 41 stores in British Columbia
- 37 stores in Manitoba
- 30 stores in Saskatchewan
Tips For Maximizing Your Safeway Gift Card
Now that you know exactly how far a Safeway gift card can take you, here are a few expert tips for stretching those dollars even further:
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Register your gift card with the Just For U program to automatically earn points and clip digital coupons every time you shop. You can stack the savings from personalized coupons on top of your gift card amount.
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Pay attention to your weekly Safeway ad and plan your shopping trips around any gift card promotions. Safeway will often run deals like "Get $10 off your next purchase when you buy a $100 gift card," allowing you to earn bonus money on top of your initial card amount.
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Use your Safeway gift card to take advantage of other store services and departments like the pharmacy, deli counter, bakery, floral kiosk, and more. Treats and specialty items are a great way to get more mileage out of your gift card.
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If you have a partially used Safeway gift card, keep it handy for future grocery trips rather than tossing it. Safeway cash registers will prompt the cashier to use up any remaining balance on a card before moving on to other payment methods.
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Consider splitting up large purchases across multiple transactions and payment methods. Safeway doesn‘t allow gift cards to be used to purchase other gift cards, so if you need to buy gift cards as presents, use your Safeway card to buy other groceries in the same trip instead.
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Take advantage of Safeway‘s online ordering options for convenient Delivery or Drive Up & Go pickup. You can apply your gift card to your online order total just like you would in store.
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Keep an eye out for special promotions around holidays and events like back-to-school or graduation season. Safeway often offers bonus amounts or discounts on gift card purchases during peak gifting periods.
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If you‘re a frequent Safeway shopper, consider purchasing gift cards for yourself to budget for groceries. Loading a set amount onto a gift card at the start of each month can help you track your spending and avoid going over budget.
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Don‘t forget that Safeway gift cards can also be used to purchase household essentials like cleaning supplies, paper products, and pet food. Stocking up on these items with a gift card is a smart way to save on regular expenses.
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If you receive a Safeway gift card as a present, be sure to write down the card number, PIN, and balance in case the physical card is ever lost or damaged. Safeway can easily replace a lost card as long as you have that information on hand.
Common Questions About Safeway Gift Cards
To round out this comprehensive guide, let‘s address a few frequently asked questions about using Safeway gift cards:
Q: Can I use a Safeway gift card to purchase a money order?
A: No, money orders are considered a cash equivalent and cannot be purchased with a gift card. However, you can use your Safeway gift card to buy groceries and other household items and then use another form of payment for the money order at Customer Service.
Q: Can I reload my Safeway gift card with more money after I‘ve used up the balance?
A: Unfortunately, no. Safeway gift cards are not reloadable and cannot have more money added once the initial balance is spent. If you want to continue using a gift card, you‘ll need to purchase a new one in store or online.
Q: Can I use multiple Safeway gift cards in a single transaction?
A: Yes, if you have more than one Safeway gift card you can absolutely use them together to pay for a purchase. Just let your cashier know that you have multiple cards and they will be able to apply them all to your total in succession.
Q: Do I need to know my Safeway gift card balance before making a purchase?
A: No, you don‘t need to check your gift card balance in advance. When you present your gift card at checkout, the cashier will be able to scan the card and tell you the remaining balance before completing the transaction. If your purchase amount exceeds the balance, you can pay the difference with another form of payment.
Q: Can I use a Safeway gift card at the in-store Coinstar machine?
A: No, Safeway gift cards cannot be redeemed for cash at Coinstar kiosks. Coinstar machines only accept change and bills, not gift cards. It‘s also important to note that you cannot receive your gift card balance back in cash at the Customer Service desk.
The Bottom Line on Safeway Gift Cards
A Safeway gift card truly is the gift that keeps on giving for any savvy shopper. From gas to groceries, movies to medicine, a Safeway card opens up a world of buying potential at not just Safeway stores but the entire Albertsons Companies portfolio. By knowing the ins and outs of Safeway‘s policies and how to maximize your points, you‘ll be able to confidently use your gift card on the products you want – with a few key exceptions.
So the next time you‘re at Safeway ready to check out, know that your gift card can cover everything from tonight‘s dinner essentials to a road trip fill-up. Just be sure to bring along your ID for any adult beverage purchases and your Starbucks app to double up on coffee rewards. Happy shopping!