Apr 8, 2014, 1:24 am
Last edit by: ericliujian
Grocery stores that sell variable GCs to $500. Please understand these are observations by those who contribute to this thread and are provided for the good of the community. Apologies if some chains are different in different areas. TY.
YES:
7-11 (Vanilla Visa $20-500) - Sometimes limited to 1x per buy. Sometimes buggy. Often codes as gas station.
Big Y (CT/MA): m̶a̶x̶i̶m̶u̶m̶ ̶$̶1̶0̶0̶0̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶c̶h̶a̶r̶g̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶c̶r̶e̶d̶i̶t̶ ̶c̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶s̶o̶n̶,̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶;̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶m̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶p̶a̶i̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶c̶a̶s̶h̶̶ Cash or debit only
CVS: Vanilla, $2000 max 24 hours
Family Fare (hit and miss)
Food Lion (Post 287 reports no good CC experience. YMMV, Manager override needed cash only memo)
Giant - now accepts CCs as of 10/1/16 - recent change from past cash or debit only policy.
Glens
Haggen
HEB -- usually limited to $1000 total (with fees) but many times they'll sell 2-3 if you split into separate transactions.
H-T
Hy-Vee ($500 limit)
Hannafords (multiple reports that Visa / MC / AMEX GCs are no longer sold at stores)
Kroger (DL will be requested and DL no. entered, even if just buying 1). If you use CHIP PIN card, no DL will be requested
Lowe's Foods (Manager override needed)
Marianos
Meijer Mastercard ONLY (US Bank)
QFC
Ralph's - in So Cal they sell $500 variable load cards
Safeway/Albertsons - most (all?) stores sell $500 variable load. Their banners include Acme, Randalls/Tom Thumb, Vons/Pavilions, Shaw's/Star, and others.
Stop & Shop (when it's stocked - manager override required for $500 and up)
Stater Bros
Walgreen: Vanilla
Weiss: cash only
Winn-Dixie ($500 and up in single transaction requires override from manager for each card - but some cashiers have the override code, and almost all customer service reps have it) (Cash/debit only per #544: edit: varies by region)
PREVIOUSLY:
A&P - Out of business
Acme (DE/MD/NJ/PA). Many in NJ now say NO and stock as been pulled
Albertsons ($1K and up in single transaction requires override from manager and every single VGC over $1K requires override each time)
AutoZone (Vanilla Visa $20-500). Pulled off the shelf now (4/2018) - Update: Was told by store MGR these are seasonal thus expect OCT-JAN each year. If in stock (in back) they can sell them all year.
Jewel
Ralph's
Randalls ($500 VGC purchase requires manager override and they usually check CC vs photo ID)
Safeway ($500 and up in single transaction requires override from manager just 1 time)
ShopRite (not all). SR no longer stock variable load up to $500.00. The variable loads the have now only allow a max of $200.00 for the same 5.95 fee.
Vons ($500 and up in single transaction requires override from manager just 1 time)
Whole Foods$500 (Now only $200 max)
NO:
Publix ($50 and $25)
Festival Foods
Giant Eagle
Bi-Lo
Grocers that sell $200:
Most Albertsons' subsidiaries listed in 'PREVIOUSLY'
Bashas'
HEB
McCaffrey
Piggly Wiggly-up to 200 max. of 1k per transaction 4.95 fee no ID required
Shaws/Star Market $500 Amazon GCs are still around, but all other GCs are only up to $200 at this time.
Shop Rite
Tops
Wegmans
Whole Food
Improvements and additions welcome.
Note: this thread began as an attempt to find out if a Kroger store in the area where jan_believes was travelling might have the variable $500 Visa GC since the store where I was at the time, did not. It has morphed into a discussion about MOs (at Kroger, although other stores MAY be included but not mentioned), as well. Not the intent of the discussion. Use discretion, please. Local rules apply.
YES:
7-11 (Vanilla Visa $20-500) - Sometimes limited to 1x per buy. Sometimes buggy. Often codes as gas station.
Big Y (CT/MA): m̶a̶x̶i̶m̶u̶m̶ ̶$̶1̶0̶0̶0̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶c̶h̶a̶r̶g̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶c̶r̶e̶d̶i̶t̶ ̶c̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶s̶o̶n̶,̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶;̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶m̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶p̶a̶i̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶c̶a̶s̶h̶̶ Cash or debit only
CVS: Vanilla, $2000 max 24 hours
Family Fare (hit and miss)
Food Lion (Post 287 reports no good CC experience. YMMV, Manager override needed cash only memo)
Giant - now accepts CCs as of 10/1/16 - recent change from past cash or debit only policy.
Glens
Haggen
HEB -- usually limited to $1000 total (with fees) but many times they'll sell 2-3 if you split into separate transactions.
H-T
Hy-Vee ($500 limit)
Hannafords (multiple reports that Visa / MC / AMEX GCs are no longer sold at stores)
Kroger (DL will be requested and DL no. entered, even if just buying 1). If you use CHIP PIN card, no DL will be requested
Lowe's Foods (Manager override needed)
Marianos
Meijer Mastercard ONLY (US Bank)
QFC
Ralph's - in So Cal they sell $500 variable load cards
Safeway/Albertsons - most (all?) stores sell $500 variable load. Their banners include Acme, Randalls/Tom Thumb, Vons/Pavilions, Shaw's/Star, and others.
Stop & Shop (when it's stocked - manager override required for $500 and up)
Stater Bros
Walgreen: Vanilla
Weiss: cash only
Winn-Dixie ($500 and up in single transaction requires override from manager for each card - but some cashiers have the override code, and almost all customer service reps have it) (Cash/debit only per #544: edit: varies by region)
PREVIOUSLY:
A&P - Out of business
Acme (DE/MD/NJ/PA). Many in NJ now say NO and stock as been pulled
Albertsons ($1K and up in single transaction requires override from manager and every single VGC over $1K requires override each time)
AutoZone (Vanilla Visa $20-500). Pulled off the shelf now (4/2018) - Update: Was told by store MGR these are seasonal thus expect OCT-JAN each year. If in stock (in back) they can sell them all year.
Jewel
Ralph's
Randalls ($500 VGC purchase requires manager override and they usually check CC vs photo ID)
Safeway ($500 and up in single transaction requires override from manager just 1 time)
ShopRite (not all). SR no longer stock variable load up to $500.00. The variable loads the have now only allow a max of $200.00 for the same 5.95 fee.
Vons ($500 and up in single transaction requires override from manager just 1 time)
Whole Foods
NO:
Publix ($50 and $25)
Festival Foods
Giant Eagle
Bi-Lo
Grocers that sell $200:
Most Albertsons' subsidiaries listed in 'PREVIOUSLY'
Bashas'
HEB
McCaffrey
Piggly Wiggly-up to 200 max. of 1k per transaction 4.95 fee no ID required
Shaws/Star Market $500 Amazon GCs are still around, but all other GCs are only up to $200 at this time.
Shop Rite
Tops
Wegmans
Whole Food
Improvements and additions welcome.
Note: this thread began as an attempt to find out if a Kroger store in the area where jan_believes was travelling might have the variable $500 Visa GC since the store where I was at the time, did not. It has morphed into a discussion about MOs (at Kroger, although other stores MAY be included but not mentioned), as well. Not the intent of the discussion. Use discretion, please. Local rules apply.
Stores that sell $500 GCs(up to 2019)
Mar 25, 2014, 12:53 am
#46
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 27
For those that are new, this seems to be one of the best routes to go. Especially if you don't want to get burned. Or CVS is not available. You can meet minimum spend requirements easy, while still getting your feet wet in the world of MS.
I don't understand what your (and a lot of other "experienced" users) MO is. Are you fluffing your post count? Bragging? Or just demeaning others?
People like you are the ones on here bragging about how great their MS game is, how much they make because they are such a heavy hitter, and then you wonder why you have a ton of newbies coming along who are wanting to know what it is you do. You can't have it both ways.
Your post makes it sound like you either MS online exclusively, or you simply abuse CVS to the max.
If FT is going to limit newbies to the MS forum, perhaps they should start a newbie MS forum that has limited access as well--for newbies by newbies...
This thread has benefited me, and I thank everyone who has contributed. Perhaps we can get back on topic?
What about Associated Foods grocers? I have seen the VGC's, but have yet to try it out.
Mar 25, 2014, 2:04 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
Apr 7, 2014, 6:04 pm
#50
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Detroit - MI
Posts: 18
Just wanted to update what I did. I bought the variable $500 VGCs at Kroger and was required to submit my DL no. to the cashier upon each purchase.
Had no issues with multiple swipes at the Kroger service desk to liquidate the GCs via MOs. Max was $1k and fee was $.69. Every cashier I worked with was great!
Had no issues with multiple swipes at the Kroger service desk to liquidate the GCs via MOs. Max was $1k and fee was $.69. Every cashier I worked with was great!
Apr 7, 2014, 6:19 pm
#51
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 203
2 cards needs a manager override for >1k. I do it if the store isn't busy. Need DL even for 1
Apr 7, 2014, 6:45 pm
#52
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: a hotel room, somewhere...
Posts: 962
if you even read the forum a little tiny infinitesimal amount, you would know that everything with a human decision maker in MS is, not surprisingly, ymmv- just like life.
some follow the rules, some don't, some don't care, some make up their own, some think they know the rules but don't, some profile you based on your appearance and think you look suspicious, some........ some ............... some are having a good day some are having a..................... some.................... ∞
Apr 7, 2014, 6:52 pm
#53
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Detroit - MI
Posts: 18
mom let me stay up late. dad didn't. when i went to the fair as a child and was just about right at the 'you must be THIS tall to ride this ride', some of the stoned runaway gate keepers let it slide and others turned me away. @ dairy queen the lady never gave me anything free and sometimes made my dipped cone really really small. while sometimes the nice old man told me 'my money was no good there today and it was on the house' (we were really poor, in hindsight, i think maybe he knew that). the ymmv aspect of life sunk in pretty early.
if you even read the forum a little tiny infinitesimal amount, you would know that everything with a human decision maker in MS is, not surprisingly, ymmv- just like life.
some follow the rules, some don't, some don't care, some make up their own, some think they know the rules but don't, some profile you based on your appearance and think you look suspicious, some........ some ............... some are having a good day some are having a..................... some.................... ∞
if you even read the forum a little tiny infinitesimal amount, you would know that everything with a human decision maker in MS is, not surprisingly, ymmv- just like life.
some follow the rules, some don't, some don't care, some make up their own, some think they know the rules but don't, some profile you based on your appearance and think you look suspicious, some........ some ............... some are having a good day some are having a..................... some.................... ∞
Apr 7, 2014, 6:53 pm
#54
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Gold (again), US/UA/DL non-elite, ZE Presidents Circle, WN reluctant no fee convert.
Posts: 1,449
Apr 7, 2014, 7:04 pm
#55
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Detroit - MI
Posts: 18
Hi, thanks for the post.
I am so sorry but I can't tell you why some peeps do what they do. I guess it is a YMMV. When I started this thread, I was about to leave on a trip where Kroger was the MAIN store in the 100K population town so my transactions at Kroger were my first ones there. Very used to another monopoly grocer in the SW accepting almost anything I want without batting an eyelash.
For me, Kroger was pretty easy and everyone was nice.
Not that you should do this but if you are in that store again sometime, maybe ask for a supervisor at the service desk to see if someone QUICKLY trained and a bit reactive might have misrepresented the store policy. Best wishes!
I am so sorry but I can't tell you why some peeps do what they do. I guess it is a YMMV. When I started this thread, I was about to leave on a trip where Kroger was the MAIN store in the 100K population town so my transactions at Kroger were my first ones there. Very used to another monopoly grocer in the SW accepting almost anything I want without batting an eyelash.
For me, Kroger was pretty easy and everyone was nice.
Not that you should do this but if you are in that store again sometime, maybe ask for a supervisor at the service desk to see if someone QUICKLY trained and a bit reactive might have misrepresented the store policy. Best wishes!
Apr 7, 2014, 7:22 pm
#59
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Gold (again), US/UA/DL non-elite, ZE Presidents Circle, WN reluctant no fee convert.
Posts: 1,449
Apr 7, 2014, 7:31 pm
#60
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 148
I'm sorry, who's gonna shut me down? Kroger sure didn't. And, I did each transaction separately with multiple cards. They stood right by me at the self checkout with their "gun-looking" device, looked at my DL, pushed all the buttons and just did their job with no complaints. EVEN with fraud alerts that I had to call and clear.
I would definitely do multiple transactions there again. What an opportunity to use my CCs with 5% and 2% back on grocery purchases. Too bad the grocer near me where I am this week doesn't offer the $500 variable load Visa GCs.
But, for now, I will be content with Simon.
I would definitely do multiple transactions there again. What an opportunity to use my CCs with 5% and 2% back on grocery purchases. Too bad the grocer near me where I am this week doesn't offer the $500 variable load Visa GCs.
But, for now, I will be content with Simon.