Dollar General is one of the largest and most affordable retail chains in the U.S., with over 18,000 locations offering a wide variety of products, including groceries, cleaning supplies, and household essentials. They strive to make shopping “hassle-free,” but how easy is it to get cashback at their stores?
Whether you’re a regular shopper or just dropping in for a quick purchase, Dollar General offers cashback services to customers who use specific payment methods. Let’s dive into how this works and what you need to know to maximize your cashback experience.
Getting Cashback at Dollar General
Getting cashback at Dollar General is straightforward if you use a debit card or Discover credit card and meet the $5 minimum purchase requirement. The maximum cashback limit is $40 per transaction, with a small $1–$2 fee. If you need more than $40, you can make multiple purchases, but be prepared to pay a fee for each transaction.
Dollar General’s cashback program is convenient, but knowing the limitations and fees ahead of time will help you make the most of it. Whether you’re shopping for groceries, cleaning supplies, or snacks, now you know how to get a little extra cash in hand when needed.
How to Get Cashback at Dollar General
Dollar General offers cashback when you make a minimum purchase of $5 and pay using a debit card or a Discover credit card. You can request cashback in amounts of $10, $20, $30, or $40.
However, there’s a small catch—a $1–$2 fee applies to each cashback transaction, and the exact fee varies by store. If you need more than $40, you can make multiple purchases, but keep in mind that each will incur an additional fee.
Minimum Purchase Requirement for Cashback at Dolar General
The minimum purchase you need to make to qualify for cashback at Dollar General is $5. No matter what you purchase, as long as your total reaches this amount, you’re eligible for cashback.
Cashback Limit
Dollar General has a limit of $40 cashback per transaction, and you can only receive cashback in set amounts: $10, $20, $30, or $40.
If you need more than $40, you’ll have to make multiple purchases, each over $5, and pay the associated cashback fee each time.
Fees for Cashback
Expect a $1–$2 fee for each cashback transaction. The fee isn’t standardized across all stores, so it may vary depending on your location. While this is a small cost for the convenience, it’s worth noting if you frequently request cashback.
Payment Methods for Cashback at Dollar General
Not every payment method qualifies for cashback at Dollar General. Here’s a breakdown of the options:
Debit Cards (Visa/MasterCard)
If you’re paying with a Visa or MasterCard debit card, you can request cashback at Dollar General. The same $5 minimum purchase applies, and you can get up to $40 in cash per transaction, subject to the $1–$2 fee.
Discover Credit Card
Dollar General has a unique agreement with Discover, allowing users to get cashback when making purchases with this credit card. The $5 minimum purchase and $40 limit still apply, along with the cashback fee.
Other Credit Cards
While other credit cards, such as Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, are accepted for purchases, Dollar General doesn’t guarantee cashback with these cards.
If you do manage to get cashback with a non-Discover credit card, expect high fees and potential interest charges, which can make this option much less favorable.
Checks
Unfortunately, Dollar General does NOT offer cashback for purchases made with checks.
PayPal
While Dollar General accepts PayPal for online transactions, you won’t be able to receive cashback when paying with PayPal, either in-store or online.
Apple Pay
Although Dollar General considered adopting Apple Pay in 2020, it’s still not an accepted payment method, meaning no cashback is available with Apple Pay at this time.
What If You Need More Than $40 in Cashback?
If you need more than the $40 cashback limit, you can make multiple $5 purchases. For each transaction, you can request up to $40 in cashback, but remember that every transaction will incur a $1–$2 fee.
For example, if you need $120 in cashback, you’ll have to make three separate purchases of at least $5 each, paying the $1–$2 fee per transaction. This could result in total fees of $3–$6.
Special Programs: DG Go and SpendWell
DG Go App
At some Dollar General locations, customers can use the DG Go app to shop and pay directly through their phones without going through a checkout line. However, since you bypass the traditional checkout process, cashback is not available through this method.
SpendWell Visa Debit Card
Dollar General has a special agreement with SpendWell Visa debit cards, offering a unique type of cashback program. With SpendWell, there are two types of “cashback”:
- Traditional Cashback: Like any Visa debit card, SpendWell allows you to get up to $40 in real cashback at Dollar General when making a $5 purchase.
- Account Cashback: The SpendWell Unlimited debit card offers a small cashback reward deposited into your account when you make qualifying purchases. For instance, spending $5 earns you $0.05 cashback, but you won’t earn cashback on cashback transactions.
What Happens to SpendWell Cashback on Returns?
If you return items purchased with your SpendWell Unlimited debit card, the cashback earned from the purchase will be deducted from your account. For example, if you earned $0.20 in cashback from a $20 purchase and later returned $2 worth of items, your cashback balance would be reduced by $0.02.
