Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card
Dec 6, 2012, 12:21 pm
#3721
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
That's always really disheartening. I saw the exact same thing happen at OD the night before the cards got pulled from OD.
Dec 6, 2012, 12:21 pm
#3722
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Amex MR, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 518
Well, I don't need to create a panic, but I did experience some disconcerting situations at CVS stores today.
1) According to their inventory system, the Sunnyvale CVS apparently had 10 beans. I drove down there, and nope, no visible beans. The two staffers that were helping me had never seen anything other than the Vanilla Visas. They said, whoa, the El Monte store has *250* in stock, though, you should check that out!
1) According to their inventory system, the Sunnyvale CVS apparently had 10 beans. I drove down there, and nope, no visible beans. The two staffers that were helping me had never seen anything other than the Vanilla Visas. They said, whoa, the El Monte store has *250* in stock, though, you should check that out!
Dec 6, 2012, 12:27 pm
#3723
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
I remember reading in the past that some people are hiding VRs in the store like squirrels for the winter. They are worried about the store running out of VRs, so the hide a bunch behind the Cheerios. Maybe that's why the inventories reads plenty in stock, but none on the shelves.
Mike
Dec 6, 2012, 2:21 pm
#3724
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 267
I just found out that the Rite pharmacy sells the dots on credit in the SEA area. I was not so sure because I tried at WG and they were dead set against the CC purchase. I took the card to the register and asked the CSR if I could pay for this with a credit card. He looked it over (luckily did not see the part about cash only) and then went and asked another CSR and he said sure. So I did a $500 test purchase. I will go back and see if they will do $1000 either Sat or Sun. This put me back in the game for a while I hope.
Dec 6, 2012, 2:49 pm
#3725
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Bay Area (the one in CA)
Programs: UR, *A, UA
Posts: 26
VR run vs Mileage Run!
Weekend party here we come!
Dec 6, 2012, 2:51 pm
#3726
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Flyover Territory
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 687
Kansas City
I haven't bought any VR since mid-November and some of the posts here had me curious what I'd find.
My local CVS (Kansas City) still had them and still took credit cards.
Another close-by CVS didn't have any back in November but is now in stock and also took a credit card.
Many have noted that VR are easier to find in more marginal neighborhoods. In my case, one is in a wealthy neighborhood and one mid-range, so no apparent socioeconomic difference.
All's well for now here
My local CVS (Kansas City) still had them and still took credit cards.
Another close-by CVS didn't have any back in November but is now in stock and also took a credit card.
Many have noted that VR are easier to find in more marginal neighborhoods. In my case, one is in a wealthy neighborhood and one mid-range, so no apparent socioeconomic difference.
All's well for now here
Dec 6, 2012, 2:53 pm
#3727
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Bay Area (the one in CA)
Programs: UR, *A, UA
Posts: 26
Dec 6, 2012, 3:00 pm
#3728
Used to be garyjr316
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX or SBA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, Gold Passport, Hilton HHonors, Marriott
Posts: 800
It was like Christmas came early for me today! Went to check out a CVS to see if I could purchase some VR's with a credit card and sure enough it wasn't a problem... then as I'm leaving I see a Walgreens across the street... I figure sure.. why not... and what do you know they have VR's and accepted a credit card as well! Hello minimum spend. Done and done in about 5 minutes span!
Dec 6, 2012, 3:26 pm
#3729
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
It was like Christmas came early for me today! Went to check out a CVS to see if I could purchase some VR's with a credit card and sure enough it wasn't a problem... then as I'm leaving I see a Walgreens across the street... I figure sure.. why not... and what do you know they have VR's and accepted a credit card as well! Hello minimum spend. Done and done in about 5 minutes span!
Dec 6, 2012, 3:27 pm
#3730
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern California
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, HH Gold, SPG Gold, National EC Executive, AA Platinum
Posts: 606
No, sorry, none in SD or Orange County. They have been banned for years; you know, local municipal ordinance and all. Try Kansas City or DC!!
Dec 6, 2012, 4:14 pm
#3731
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,708
*shrug*...all the CVS's i'm going to allow me to use Amex GC's, so i'm not too worried about the total. I did have a store show me that they can only do 2 bean loads at a time. Maybe i'll run into something with Amex on the gift card thing, since i'm buying a ton, we'll see.
Dec 6, 2012, 4:15 pm
#3732
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1
OD calling the Card Issuer to confirm address
I stopped at an OD in MD tonight on my way home from work to pick up 2 $500 visa gift cards at the register they took my Ink card and ID then called a number for what I assume was Chase to confirm the billing address was the same as my ID address. It was my first time at the OD, but added about 15 minutes to the process. Others haven't done that.
The other troubling thing was my local Cee vee see is running low on beans. I'm hoping they restock soon. I need to load up early this month.
Has anyone else encountered this at OD? I like the security just wish it didn't take so long.
Oh and the other thing was they had a lot of AMEX reloadables, but the cards didn't specify if they could be loaded to Bluebird and my quick research led me to believe they were more like Serve reloads. I haven't seen anything in this thread about that other than a reference to OD adding an AMEX reloadable to replace the beans option.
The other troubling thing was my local Cee vee see is running low on beans. I'm hoping they restock soon. I need to load up early this month.
Has anyone else encountered this at OD? I like the security just wish it didn't take so long.
Oh and the other thing was they had a lot of AMEX reloadables, but the cards didn't specify if they could be loaded to Bluebird and my quick research led me to believe they were more like Serve reloads. I haven't seen anything in this thread about that other than a reference to OD adding an AMEX reloadable to replace the beans option.
Dec 6, 2012, 4:19 pm
#3733
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,708
I stopped at an OD in MD tonight on my way home from work to pick up 2 $500 visa gift cards at the register they took my Ink card and ID then called a number for what I assume was Chase to confirm the billing address was the same as my ID address. It was my first time at the OD, but added about 15 minutes to the process. Others haven't done that.
Dec 6, 2012, 4:20 pm
#3734
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,708
It was like Christmas came early for me today! Went to check out a CVS to see if I could purchase some VR's with a credit card and sure enough it wasn't a problem... then as I'm leaving I see a Walgreens across the street... I figure sure.. why not... and what do you know they have VR's and accepted a credit card as well! Hello minimum spend. Done and done in about 5 minutes span!
Dec 6, 2012, 4:29 pm
#3735
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: AA Plat, UA Gold, AS MVP Gold, HH Diamond, SPG Gold, Club Carlson Gold, US
Posts: 956
Went to a San Jose CVS and talked to a manager. As per her, they are putting weekly orders for the VR but the warehouse is always empty..
I guess all the Southern stores are getting it..
I guess all the Southern stores are getting it..