How best to explain MS to unkowing store clerks?
Apr 18, 2014, 7:59 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 76
Store clerks have asked me why we (ms'ers they see in store) buy GCs and reloadables all the time and I simply tell them we get more miles or points on our cards so we can go on free vacations. They are overjoyed when they here that and suddenly it all makes sense for them and they are happy to be a part of helping us anyway they can. I really don't know why ms'ers feel they have to be sly about this. It's no big deal when you tell them you want more cc points, cash back or miles. Every clerk I know who understands the why loves the idea of helping ms'ers get there cb, free flights, free hotels and more. But, I don't live in a big city so maybe our Midwest town treats ms'ers better, but not sure.
It eliminates the suspicion that causes so much trouble. Our transactions are not going to be some fraudulent activity that harms their business. We're good customers who bring money into their business on a regular basis, so no need to hide that.
Also...Remember to support the businesses that support you.
Apr 18, 2014, 8:44 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 546
I have a question for fellow members?
How best to explain the reasons behind needing to buy 5k worth of visa gift cards to aw struck grocery store store clerks? I realize that this question has come up in various other threads but, given that the CVS deal is dead and we're going to have to interact with store clerks more often it is more important than ever to come to a consensus on this
For example,
Today I was at Tom thumb (safeway) and I swear the guy"s jaw dropped when I, a 21 year old disabled college student casualty roll up to buy 5k worth of cards. The guy and his manager looked at me for the longest time like I was a thief or drug Lord! I swear, this is the worst part of the whole MS game. It's not my fault that some A## holes buy gift cards with stolen credit cards and ruin the fun for all of us
sorry for the if this sounds like a rant
(by the way, Tom thumb has no know limit on value of cards one can buy with no need to fill out paperwork
How best to explain the reasons behind needing to buy 5k worth of visa gift cards to aw struck grocery store store clerks? I realize that this question has come up in various other threads but, given that the CVS deal is dead and we're going to have to interact with store clerks more often it is more important than ever to come to a consensus on this
For example,
Today I was at Tom thumb (safeway) and I swear the guy"s jaw dropped when I, a 21 year old disabled college student casualty roll up to buy 5k worth of cards. The guy and his manager looked at me for the longest time like I was a thief or drug Lord! I swear, this is the worst part of the whole MS game. It's not my fault that some A## holes buy gift cards with stolen credit cards and ruin the fun for all of us
sorry for the if this sounds like a rant (by the way, Tom thumb has no know limit on value of cards one can buy with no need to fill out paperwork
I've developed relations with my local stores over months and years. They all know me by name and sell me GCs on CC like packs of gum. I started off by buying groceries and throwing in ONE $500 card. I started some small talk at the register. Then, later in the week bought some more groceries with ONE $500 card. Met knew cashiers and managers - more small talk. Then, next week more groceries, more small talk ONE more card. I got to know about the cashiers/managers - their hobbies, pets, recreational activities etc. And they got to know me. After a few months, I am "the card guy". For one store, their comfort zone is $1,000 a visit and about three visits per week - so I don't push it.
Just last week, a new cashier was clearly uncomfortable with the GCs and called over a manager. The manager came over and said "Oh, that's just 'Silver4300' he comes in all the time, he is OK. If there was a problem, it would have happened many moons ago.". . . I guarantee if a stranger came in and tried to buy $5,000 worth - all sorts of red flags and alarms would go off and I doubt the manager would allow the transaction.
Apr 18, 2014, 9:07 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Uranus
Posts: 333
If you want to cultivate a relationship with a store, why on earth would you start off trying to buy $5,000 worth of GCs? That is about the worst thing you could do. Think about it from their point of view. Imagine you are a manager at a local grocery store and a stranger comes in trying to buy $5,000 worth of GCs. Good lord. . .
I've developed relations with my local stores over months and years. They all know me by name and sell me GCs on CC like packs of gum. I started off by buying groceries and throwing in ONE $500 card. I started some small talk at the register. Then, later in the week bought some more groceries with ONE $500 card. Met knew cashiers and managers - more small talk. Then, next week more groceries, more small talk ONE more card. I got to know about the cashiers/managers - their hobbies, pets, recreational activities etc. And they got to know me. After a few months, I am "the card guy". For one store, their comfort zone is $1,000 a visit and about three visits per week - so I don't push it.
Just last week, a new cashier was clearly uncomfortable with the GCs and called over a manager. The manager came over and said "Oh, that's just 'Silver4300' he comes in all the time, he is OK. If there was a problem, it would have happened many moons ago.". . . I guarantee if a stranger came in and tried to buy $5,000 worth - all sorts of red flags and alarms would go off and I doubt the manager would allow the transaction.
I've developed relations with my local stores over months and years. They all know me by name and sell me GCs on CC like packs of gum. I started off by buying groceries and throwing in ONE $500 card. I started some small talk at the register. Then, later in the week bought some more groceries with ONE $500 card. Met knew cashiers and managers - more small talk. Then, next week more groceries, more small talk ONE more card. I got to know about the cashiers/managers - their hobbies, pets, recreational activities etc. And they got to know me. After a few months, I am "the card guy". For one store, their comfort zone is $1,000 a visit and about three visits per week - so I don't push it.
Just last week, a new cashier was clearly uncomfortable with the GCs and called over a manager. The manager came over and said "Oh, that's just 'Silver4300' he comes in all the time, he is OK. If there was a problem, it would have happened many moons ago.". . . I guarantee if a stranger came in and tried to buy $5,000 worth - all sorts of red flags and alarms would go off and I doubt the manager would allow the transaction.
Nothing wrong with that approach, but I've found this to be unnecessary in my experience. You are dealing with people making $10 an hour. I have found they could give a fuc* less what you are buying as long as you don't look like a shady, sketchy, sweaty-palmed idiot. Maybe it's because I'm in a large metro and almost exclusively deal with 18-20 years old clerks.
Apr 18, 2014, 9:24 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 546
Nothing wrong with that approach, but I've found this to be unnecessary in my experience. You are dealing with people making $10 an hour. I have found they could give a fuc* less what you are buying as long as you don't look like a shady, sketchy, sweaty-palmed idiot. Maybe it's because I'm in a large metro and almost exclusively deal with 18-20 years old clerks.
Apr 18, 2014, 9:52 am
#21
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Uranus
Posts: 333
Apr 18, 2014, 10:16 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW,OVB (Russia)
Programs: AA HH Gold SPG Gold BA
Posts: 1,823
Apr 18, 2014, 11:11 am
#26
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 647
If you want to cultivate a relationship with a store, why on earth would you start off trying to buy $5,000 worth of GCs? That is about the worst thing you could do. Think about it from their point of view. Imagine you are a manager at a local grocery store and a stranger comes in trying to buy $5,000 worth of GCs. Good lord. . .
I've developed relations with my local stores over months and years. They all know me by name and sell me GCs on CC like packs of gum. I started off by buying groceries and throwing in ONE $500 card. I started some small talk at the register. Then, later in the week bought some more groceries with ONE $500 card. Met knew cashiers and managers - more small talk. Then, next week more groceries, more small talk ONE more card. I got to know about the cashiers/managers - their hobbies, pets, recreational activities etc. And they got to know me. After a few months, I am "the card guy". For one store, their comfort zone is $1,000 a visit and about three visits per week - so I don't push it.
Just last week, a new cashier was clearly uncomfortable with the GCs and called over a manager. The manager came over and said "Oh, that's just 'Silver4300' he comes in all the time, he is OK. If there was a problem, it would have happened many moons ago.". . . I guarantee if a stranger came in and tried to buy $5,000 worth - all sorts of red flags and alarms would go off and I doubt the manager would allow the transaction.
I've developed relations with my local stores over months and years. They all know me by name and sell me GCs on CC like packs of gum. I started off by buying groceries and throwing in ONE $500 card. I started some small talk at the register. Then, later in the week bought some more groceries with ONE $500 card. Met knew cashiers and managers - more small talk. Then, next week more groceries, more small talk ONE more card. I got to know about the cashiers/managers - their hobbies, pets, recreational activities etc. And they got to know me. After a few months, I am "the card guy". For one store, their comfort zone is $1,000 a visit and about three visits per week - so I don't push it.
Just last week, a new cashier was clearly uncomfortable with the GCs and called over a manager. The manager came over and said "Oh, that's just 'Silver4300' he comes in all the time, he is OK. If there was a problem, it would have happened many moons ago.". . . I guarantee if a stranger came in and tried to buy $5,000 worth - all sorts of red flags and alarms would go off and I doubt the manager would allow the transaction.
Apr 18, 2014, 12:16 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 140
Store clerks have asked me why we (ms'ers they see in store) buy GCs and reloadables all the time and I simply tell them we get more miles or points on our cards so we can go on free vacations. They are overjoyed when they here that and suddenly it all makes sense for them and they are happy to be a part of helping us anyway they can. I really don't know why ms'ers feel they have to be sly about this. It's no big deal when you tell them you want more cc points, cash back or miles. Every clerk I know who understands the why loves the idea of helping ms'ers get there cb, free flights, free hotels and more. But, I don't live in a big city so maybe our Midwest town treats ms'ers better, but not sure.
Apr 18, 2014, 12:18 pm
#28
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 140
Apr 18, 2014, 2:01 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 546
Do you really have a grocery store where you buy $5 at a time without issue?
Apr 18, 2014, 3:35 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW,OVB (Russia)
Programs: AA HH Gold SPG Gold BA
Posts: 1,823