Update: I bought 4 VGC’s from my local Tom Thumb last night. They look gold. I was able to buy 2 MO’s at my local Kroger again using split payment $500 each for 2 x $1000 (minus the MO fee).

So it seems my issues were tied to the VGC’s I bought at the Tom Thumb in my parents’ town that looks different than the ones at my local one.