Jan 2, 2017, 7:37 pm
Last edit by: Marathon Man
NEW TO MS: Do some serious reading for a month of all the posts and wiki to get an understanding of MS before asking common questions.
Note: the 2016 version of this thread is here: www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1737819-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2016-a-39.html#post27694986, the 2015 version of the thread is here: www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1642283-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2015-a.html
Welcome to Manufactured Spending. Marathon Man did not write this message, but he has edited it and anyone can. If you are new here, please spend some time reading before posting. Most likely your questions have already been answered multiple times. Consider deals that you share. These threads are searchable by Google. A volatile deal may be worth holding close to the vest.
Hints
1) On FT, topics are heavily consolidated. Sometimes the title of the thread and first few posts may not properly reflect the broad range of discussion inside the thread. Be sure to visit any thread relating to the product or service you want to learn more about because you might be surprised by how in depth the discussion really is. High "View Count" and "Replies" are good indicators of active "master threads" on a specific topic.
2) Use Google to search FT. It works a lot better than the built-in search.
3) A glossary wiki for MS located in the thread Glossary, Manufactured Spending Forum
Important Rules
1) MSing is very YMMV. It varies by store, manager, and right down to the cashier working at the moment. Some might argue that MS is like card counting in a casino. It is not illegal but casinos don’t like it. Orhers have said it’s like having a fake ID in college to use just to get into bars where all the fun is. Just because it worked here yesterday doesn’t mean it will get you in today. MS is like being a wood worker constantly using a table saw. Always watch what you are doing—always! Or you will lose something. That being said, always be nice and courteous in the face of rejection. The biggest secret for success is to lay low so you can try again.
2) DO NOT spend more than you can afford. START WITH SMALL AMOUNTS TO TEST THE WATER! As an example.. don't start with a $5000 purchase of VGCs if you can't afford to float that much! Instead, buy one and try it, and scale up once you are comfortable with a new method. It's easy to lose track, or get robbed, when you are handling so much money. Getting a refund is NOT always possible.
3) DO NOT ask employees, cashiers, customer service representatives, etc... about how to MS, or about things you read on this forum. The information you read here are very specific, unknown, legal uses of products or services. Most employees, cashiers, and even managers do not know about them. At best you'll get bad information. At worst you'll create a lot of unnecessary misunderstanding.
4) It bears repeating that there are no guarantees. you could easily buy $10,000 in gift cards or some other instrument, only to discover that your method for liquidating them vanishes the very next day. MS is not "normal" financial activity ("normal" being defined by the banks), and thus is often perceived as "suspicious" even if it is legal.
5) never underestimate the risk of criminal activity. gift cards can easily be stolen, loaded onto a compromised account, loaded in a debit card skimmer, or even fraudulent (e.g., an already used card put back on the rack).
6) MSing can be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from smallish amounts to meet minimum spend requirements to get a credit card signup bonus, to accumulating huge numbers of points for travel/cashback/etc. Remember too that you will often have expenses such as purchase fees, liquidation fees, and gas.
If you have a question that does not seem to fit anywhere, or you have not found an appropriate place for it, post it here.
- A helpful note from seat17D about some of the inherent risks of MS
New MSers can also read all these threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending-719/
Note: the 2016 version of this thread is here: www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1737819-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2016-a-39.html#post27694986, the 2015 version of the thread is here: www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1642283-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2015-a.html
Welcome to Manufactured Spending. Marathon Man did not write this message, but he has edited it and anyone can. If you are new here, please spend some time reading before posting. Most likely your questions have already been answered multiple times. Consider deals that you share. These threads are searchable by Google. A volatile deal may be worth holding close to the vest.
Hints
1) On FT, topics are heavily consolidated. Sometimes the title of the thread and first few posts may not properly reflect the broad range of discussion inside the thread. Be sure to visit any thread relating to the product or service you want to learn more about because you might be surprised by how in depth the discussion really is. High "View Count" and "Replies" are good indicators of active "master threads" on a specific topic.
2) Use Google to search FT. It works a lot better than the built-in search.
3) A glossary wiki for MS located in the thread Glossary, Manufactured Spending Forum
Important Rules
1) MSing is very YMMV. It varies by store, manager, and right down to the cashier working at the moment. Some might argue that MS is like card counting in a casino. It is not illegal but casinos don’t like it. Orhers have said it’s like having a fake ID in college to use just to get into bars where all the fun is. Just because it worked here yesterday doesn’t mean it will get you in today. MS is like being a wood worker constantly using a table saw. Always watch what you are doing—always! Or you will lose something. That being said, always be nice and courteous in the face of rejection. The biggest secret for success is to lay low so you can try again.
2) DO NOT spend more than you can afford. START WITH SMALL AMOUNTS TO TEST THE WATER! As an example.. don't start with a $5000 purchase of VGCs if you can't afford to float that much! Instead, buy one and try it, and scale up once you are comfortable with a new method. It's easy to lose track, or get robbed, when you are handling so much money. Getting a refund is NOT always possible.
3) DO NOT ask employees, cashiers, customer service representatives, etc... about how to MS, or about things you read on this forum. The information you read here are very specific, unknown, legal uses of products or services. Most employees, cashiers, and even managers do not know about them. At best you'll get bad information. At worst you'll create a lot of unnecessary misunderstanding.
4) It bears repeating that there are no guarantees. you could easily buy $10,000 in gift cards or some other instrument, only to discover that your method for liquidating them vanishes the very next day. MS is not "normal" financial activity ("normal" being defined by the banks), and thus is often perceived as "suspicious" even if it is legal.
5) never underestimate the risk of criminal activity. gift cards can easily be stolen, loaded onto a compromised account, loaded in a debit card skimmer, or even fraudulent (e.g., an already used card put back on the rack).
6) MSing can be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from smallish amounts to meet minimum spend requirements to get a credit card signup bonus, to accumulating huge numbers of points for travel/cashback/etc. Remember too that you will often have expenses such as purchase fees, liquidation fees, and gas.
If you have a question that does not seem to fit anywhere, or you have not found an appropriate place for it, post it here.
- A helpful note from seat17D about some of the inherent risks of MS
New MSers can also read all these threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending-719/
New to Manufactured Spending? Start here(2017-2018)
Sep 18, 2017, 6:04 pm
#286
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NRT
Programs: UA gold
Posts: 135
How do you know if your serve/bluebird is shut down? Tried to load bb yesterday and serve today. Both time POS said tender not available. Is this a sign of shut down?
Sep 20, 2017, 9:27 pm
#287
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
Checking out GC's in Grocery Stores
Hi,
Just starting on MS and did some searching for the GC's which are valid for MO's from Walmart and USPS. Found these :
In WM -
One Vanilla MC - issued by some other company (forgot name) but not bancorp..
In Fred Meyer
Visa GC - US Bank
MC GC - US Bank. (Seems this has a workaround to work in WM ? )
Reloadable Prepaid Visa - Green Dot
Reloadable Visa Prepaid - US Bank
Paypal Prepaid MC
From my limited knowledge of scrolling thru these forum's it seems Walmart stores do possibly accept Visa GC's issued by Metabank and MC's issued by US Bank (with a workaround).
And Post offices prefer Visa OV and Vanilla GC issued by Bancorp.
Question is which stores can I get the above ? I have most major stores within a 3-5 mile radius so can go around stores, but if I get a heads'up that would be nice
Thanks,
Just starting on MS and did some searching for the GC's which are valid for MO's from Walmart and USPS. Found these :
In WM -
One Vanilla MC - issued by some other company (forgot name) but not bancorp..
In Fred Meyer
Visa GC - US Bank
MC GC - US Bank. (Seems this has a workaround to work in WM ? )
Reloadable Prepaid Visa - Green Dot
Reloadable Visa Prepaid - US Bank
Paypal Prepaid MC
From my limited knowledge of scrolling thru these forum's it seems Walmart stores do possibly accept Visa GC's issued by Metabank and MC's issued by US Bank (with a workaround).
And Post offices prefer Visa OV and Vanilla GC issued by Bancorp.
Question is which stores can I get the above ? I have most major stores within a 3-5 mile radius so can go around stores, but if I get a heads'up that would be nice
Thanks,
Sep 20, 2017, 11:05 pm
#288
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SAN
Programs: Delta Gold. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Explorist.
Posts: 1,674
Hi,
Just starting on MS and did some searching for the GC's which are valid for MO's from Walmart and USPS. Found these :
In WM -
One Vanilla MC - issued by some other company (forgot name) but not bancorp..
In Fred Meyer
Visa GC - US Bank
MC GC - US Bank. (Seems this has a workaround to work in WM ? )
Reloadable Prepaid Visa - Green Dot
Reloadable Visa Prepaid - US Bank
Paypal Prepaid MC
From my limited knowledge of scrolling thru these forum's it seems Walmart stores do possibly accept Visa GC's issued by Metabank and MC's issued by US Bank (with a workaround).
And Post offices prefer Visa OV and Vanilla GC issued by Bancorp.
Question is which stores can I get the above ? I have most major stores within a 3-5 mile radius so can go around stores, but if I get a heads'up that would be nice
Thanks,
Just starting on MS and did some searching for the GC's which are valid for MO's from Walmart and USPS. Found these :
In WM -
One Vanilla MC - issued by some other company (forgot name) but not bancorp..
In Fred Meyer
Visa GC - US Bank
MC GC - US Bank. (Seems this has a workaround to work in WM ? )
Reloadable Prepaid Visa - Green Dot
Reloadable Visa Prepaid - US Bank
Paypal Prepaid MC
From my limited knowledge of scrolling thru these forum's it seems Walmart stores do possibly accept Visa GC's issued by Metabank and MC's issued by US Bank (with a workaround).
And Post offices prefer Visa OV and Vanilla GC issued by Bancorp.
Question is which stores can I get the above ? I have most major stores within a 3-5 mile radius so can go around stores, but if I get a heads'up that would be nice
Thanks,
Sep 20, 2017, 11:07 pm
#289
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SAN
Programs: Delta Gold. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Explorist.
Posts: 1,674
They emailed me when mine was shut down. Tender not available is not necessarily an indicator that your card is shut down.
Sep 20, 2017, 11:33 pm
#290
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 542
Will $500 OV issued by meta work anywhere at all? What about western unions in grocery chains?
Sep 21, 2017, 10:35 am
#291
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 1
I am kind of new to this and all I have been doing so far has been buying Visa Debits at Simon Mall and loading them onto BB to actualyl just pay my mortgage and a couple other bills that I can't pay with my CC, about 2500 a month. I have done this successfully for the past two months then for some reason this week the debit cards would not load onto my BB. Let me clarify one went through no problem, then a second one went through after several calls and pin changes. I had three however that would go not go through at all. I called BB and they said my account was fine. I called SIMON mall card services and told them I was having trouble making a "debit" purchase at walmart. They looked into it and said the debit was being authorized but immediately being sent back. SO between walmart BB system and simon mall visa debit system something has changed where it appeares it recognizes if you are trying to load it into BB and doesnt allow it. The cards all worked fine for regular debit purchases.
In the end I was still able to use them to purchase money orders at WM for some reason.
In the end I was still able to use them to purchase money orders at WM for some reason.
Sep 21, 2017, 10:55 am
#292
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: WNY
Programs: UR, United MP
Posts: 8
Curious to know if anyone has used a cash registry, such as a honeymoon type thing for MS? Sure there's the 2.5% processing fee, but maybe a viable option for MSR?
Sep 21, 2017, 3:40 pm
#293
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
I'd also expect the US Bank-issued VGC to work at Walmart (you are correct that there is a workaround required for MC at walmart--i'd avoid those if possible). If there is a Simon Mall in your area, that would be a good place to get VGC that will work at Walmart. If you have a CVS, that would be a good place to get Vanilla VGC that should work at the PO.
These should work at the PO right ?
Sep 21, 2017, 4:07 pm
#294
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
yes, but to be on the safe side check for a grocery store(s) or gas stations that'll take them in case they won't go through at PO. it's always YMMV everywhere so don't get caught with a bunch of plastics that you don't know where to drain later. Good luck!
Sep 21, 2017, 4:40 pm
#295
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
Thanks.. will start with a small amount as soon as I receive the new cc i am waiting to be delivered.. :
Sep 26, 2017, 2:02 pm
#298
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7
Hey guys, I'm fairly new to the MS process and I just wanted to clarify something before I go into WM and am completely lost.
I've seen that the MoneyMart at WM uses forms that you have to fill out for a MO? Does everyone go through this process of filling out the form for every VGC or MC you change to an MO?
Thanks in advance for all the help! Just trying to learn the process
I've seen that the MoneyMart at WM uses forms that you have to fill out for a MO? Does everyone go through this process of filling out the form for every VGC or MC you change to an MO?
Thanks in advance for all the help! Just trying to learn the process
Sep 26, 2017, 4:35 pm
#299
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2
nvm..
Last edited by joesel917; Sep 27, 2017 at 7:31 pm Reason: nvm
Sep 26, 2017, 10:07 pm
#300
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
Hey guys, I'm fairly new to the MS process and I just wanted to clarify something before I go into WM and am completely lost.
I've seen that the MoneyMart at WM uses forms that you have to fill out for a MO? Does everyone go through this process of filling out the form for every VGC or MC you change to an MO?
Thanks in advance for all the help! Just trying to learn the process
I've seen that the MoneyMart at WM uses forms that you have to fill out for a MO? Does everyone go through this process of filling out the form for every VGC or MC you change to an MO?
Thanks in advance for all the help! Just trying to learn the process
Maybe those are for much higher amounts (guessing)