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)
#181
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: HNL
Programs: HA, UA, DL, HHonors, Hyatt, Chase
Posts: 79
Im based in HNL and I agree with OP. Hawaii is pretty barren for finding gift cards. I've been many times to CVS, 711, safeway, office max, walmart, walgreens and sears. can't find anything. It's actually making me pretty nervous because I need to make the 10k spend with the Citi AA card, and they stopped the VRs right after I applied for it... ugh.
#182
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
Im based in HNL and I agree with OP. Hawaii is pretty barren for finding gift cards. I've been many times to CVS, 711, safeway, office max, walmart, walgreens and sears. can't find anything. It's actually making me pretty nervous because I need to make the 10k spend with the Citi AA card, and they stopped the VRs right after I applied for it... ugh.
#183
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 9
Tons of birthdays kind& vgc at cvs and walgreens in my area! Even VRs (which i don't get 'em)-stacked without being touched, I would think.
I can't believe I purchased today 3
VGCs with my AGCs , one being OV.
Will go back tomorow.Amex_?, finally learned to get rid of them
It's being very easy now at some walgreens
Depending which neibourhoods,of course!
I can't believe I purchased today 3
VGCs with my AGCs , one being OV.
Will go back tomorow.Amex_?, finally learned to get rid of them
It's being very easy now at some walgreens
Depending which neibourhoods,of course!
#184
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DEN
Programs: SPG Gold; HH Diamond
Posts: 223
Im based in HNL and I agree with OP. Hawaii is pretty barren for finding gift cards. I've been many times to CVS, 711, safeway, office max, walmart, walgreens and sears. can't find anything. It's actually making me pretty nervous because I need to make the 10k spend with the Citi AA card, and they stopped the VRs right after I applied for it... ugh.
#185
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
#186
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 647
With CVS (still actually called Longs here) no longer taking CCs for VRC I've been exploring other avenues.
I'd be fine buying $500 OV or Visa GCs if I could find them. Wondering if anyone has suggestions on other places that sell these cards? Specifically interested in locations in Maui/Hawaii (Home), Southern California and Las Vegas.
I've been to 3 CVS/Longs - the highest value VGC they have is $50. The don't have OneVanilla (only MyVanilla).
7-Eleven - barren
Office Max - I found a $200 VGC for $7. I'm just meeting minimum spend so I'd do this in a pinch, but it's going to be hard to do $5k/m this way.
WalMart - Saw debit/gift cards in the check out aisles, but only WalMart/Green Dot MoneyPaks. No OV. I did see a 2 $25/50 Visa GC's that gave me hope, but that was it.
I'm going to give up soon and just buy online from gift card mall. Which might be better anyway since I can get my name printed on them, but thought I'd ask just in case anyone had other locations to share.
I'd be fine buying $500 OV or Visa GCs if I could find them. Wondering if anyone has suggestions on other places that sell these cards? Specifically interested in locations in Maui/Hawaii (Home), Southern California and Las Vegas.
I've been to 3 CVS/Longs - the highest value VGC they have is $50. The don't have OneVanilla (only MyVanilla).
7-Eleven - barren
Office Max - I found a $200 VGC for $7. I'm just meeting minimum spend so I'd do this in a pinch, but it's going to be hard to do $5k/m this way.
WalMart - Saw debit/gift cards in the check out aisles, but only WalMart/Green Dot MoneyPaks. No OV. I did see a 2 $25/50 Visa GC's that gave me hope, but that was it.
I'm going to give up soon and just buy online from gift card mall. Which might be better anyway since I can get my name printed on them, but thought I'd ask just in case anyone had other locations to share.
You can do Amex with cashback or something else and have it mailed to you... I do 5k a month
also giftcard mall via internet, etc
Lots of ways
#187
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DEN
Programs: SPG Gold; HH Diamond
Posts: 223
#188
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 15
Im based in HNL and I agree with OP. Hawaii is pretty barren for finding gift cards. I've been many times to CVS, 711, safeway, office max, walmart, walgreens and sears. can't find anything. It's actually making me pretty nervous because I need to make the 10k spend with the Citi AA card, and they stopped the VRs right after I applied for it... ugh.
#189
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
Im based in HNL and I agree with OP. Hawaii is pretty barren for finding gift cards. I've been many times to CVS, 711, safeway, office max, walmart, walgreens and sears. can't find anything. It's actually making me pretty nervous because I need to make the 10k spend with the Citi AA card, and they stopped the VRs right after I applied for it... ugh.
But I do have to agree with you about HNL being barren. I went to HNL for a day a few months ago and wasn't able to find anything bigger than a $25 card.
#190
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: HNL
Programs: HA, UA, DL, HHonors, Hyatt, Chase
Posts: 79
Oh and one more thing those of us in Hawaii can't take advantage of: staples.com won't ship to hawaii! im missing out on the $200 GC via staples.com with ink bonanza! arrrgh!
#191
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
yeah, i've already been doing AP for a while now. But I see that some people take AP to a whole new level...
Oh and one more thing those of us in Hawaii can't take advantage of: staples.com won't ship to hawaii! im missing out on the $200 GC via staples.com with ink bonanza! arrrgh!
Oh and one more thing those of us in Hawaii can't take advantage of: staples.com won't ship to hawaii! im missing out on the $200 GC via staples.com with ink bonanza! arrrgh!
#194
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 672
yeah, i've already been doing AP for a while now. But I see that some people take AP to a whole new level...
Oh and one more thing those of us in Hawaii can't take advantage of: staples.com won't ship to hawaii! im missing out on the $200 GC via staples.com with ink bonanza! arrrgh!
Oh and one more thing those of us in Hawaii can't take advantage of: staples.com won't ship to hawaii! im missing out on the $200 GC via staples.com with ink bonanza! arrrgh!
#195
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 4
Are you using ShopKick and Plink? http://hackmytrip.com/2014/03/new-wa...facture-spend/
I'm hoping to take advantage of them.