Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card
#1216
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 670
Has anyone been to an OD that has restocked Vanilla Reloads in the past 2-3 weeks? That is, have you gone to an OD, seen the rack completely empty, gone back again another day, and seen the rack replenished? I don't recall seeing any reports of refreshed stock.
#1217
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: 25 million points to burn!
Posts: 1,522
Yeah. The one less than 5 minutes from my house was empty 2 weeks ago, and now has been restocked with a bunch. My wife bought 4K there a week and a half ago and I bought 2.5K there last week. The nice thing about BB is that now we can give a reasonable answer to the OD staff when they ask us what we need all these beans for.
Last edited by Preacher7; Oct 31, 2012 at 9:17 pm
#1219
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,918
Got this response to my registration:
Thank you for your recent registration for a Bluebird Account.
Unfortunately we are not able to validate your registration information at this time. In order for us to process your registration, please contact us at 1-866-340-2773 during the following business hours: Monday - Saturday, 6:00AM-6:00PM (MST).
Please be sure to call us within 2 weeks to ensure your registration is not cancelled.
Any thoughts on why? I will call when I get back in the country next week, but am just surprised they deny automatic registration like that. Anyone else have this happen to them?
Thank you for your recent registration for a Bluebird Account.
Unfortunately we are not able to validate your registration information at this time. In order for us to process your registration, please contact us at 1-866-340-2773 during the following business hours: Monday - Saturday, 6:00AM-6:00PM (MST).
Please be sure to call us within 2 weeks to ensure your registration is not cancelled.
Any thoughts on why? I will call when I get back in the country next week, but am just surprised they deny automatic registration like that. Anyone else have this happen to them?
#1220
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
All purchases from Super Wal-Marts and Neighborhood Wal-Marts are always classed as Grocery by Chase, I know that from previously this year during the Freedom 5X category bonus. Pretty sure Amex will class it as the same. We've done all our grocery shopping at WM for over a decade. Is it unusual for WMs not to sell groceries? I'm serious. I've never seen a WM in the US that doesn't sell groceries. In Canada, yes, but not south of the 49th.
#1221
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: ORD
Posts: 700
I try to be polite on discussion forums, but if you believe that there are folks that buy 50+ cards at a time on multiple occasions, then I got a bridge I can sell ya in Manhattan. And I accept Vanilla Reload cards for payment.
As for buying bean cards, I thinkiIt depends a lot on the store you go to...or for that matter, what manager is on duty. I got told one day at the OD I frequent that I can only buy one card at a time. I was told this was their "policy". I didn't bother pointing out that I've purchased several at a time on numerous occasions, because I didn't want the b*ttwipe going back to the management team in some meeting and actually changing the store policy. I just went back the next day, a different guy was on duty, and I bought 4.
Ultimately, if you get lucky enough to find a store that is well stocked, and you get to know the regular cashiers...THAT is the golden ticket. They smile when I walk in and never ask for ID any more. They just ring em up.
God I hope this lasts.
As for buying bean cards, I thinkiIt depends a lot on the store you go to...or for that matter, what manager is on duty. I got told one day at the OD I frequent that I can only buy one card at a time. I was told this was their "policy". I didn't bother pointing out that I've purchased several at a time on numerous occasions, because I didn't want the b*ttwipe going back to the management team in some meeting and actually changing the store policy. I just went back the next day, a different guy was on duty, and I bought 4.
Ultimately, if you get lucky enough to find a store that is well stocked, and you get to know the regular cashiers...THAT is the golden ticket. They smile when I walk in and never ask for ID any more. They just ring em up.
God I hope this lasts.
Thanks for your response
#1222
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM, SPG Plat
Posts: 885
Yeah. The one less than 5 minutes from my house was empty 2 weeks ago, and now has been restocked with a bunch. My wife bought 4K there a week and a half ago and I bought 2.5K there last week. The nice thing about BB is that now we can give a reasonable answer to the OD staff when they ask us what we need all these beans for.
#1223
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: 25 million points to burn!
Posts: 1,522
I bet it will. And when it does get converted, do a small, test purchase with your Amex 6X/% cards, and see what it's coded as. If it comes back as groceries, you're in!
#1224
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: 25 million points to burn!
Posts: 1,522
Yeah, with Christmas coming up, giving out reloads as bonuses is a plausible reason too.
#1225
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 774
I try to be polite on discussion forums, but if you believe that there are folks that buy 50+ cards at a time on multiple occasions, then I got a bridge I can sell ya in Manhattan. And I accept Vanilla Reload cards for payment.
As for buying bean cards, I thinkiIt depends a lot on the store you go to...or for that matter, what manager is on duty. I got told one day at the OD I frequent that I can only buy one card at a time. I was told this was their "policy". I didn't bother pointing out that I've purchased several at a time on numerous occasions, because I didn't want the b*ttwipe going back to the management team in some meeting and actually changing the store policy. I just went back the next day, a different guy was on duty, and I bought 4.
Ultimately, if you get lucky enough to find a store that is well stocked, and you get to know the regular cashiers...THAT is the golden ticket. They smile when I walk in and never ask for ID any more. They just ring em up.
God I hope this lasts.
As for buying bean cards, I thinkiIt depends a lot on the store you go to...or for that matter, what manager is on duty. I got told one day at the OD I frequent that I can only buy one card at a time. I was told this was their "policy". I didn't bother pointing out that I've purchased several at a time on numerous occasions, because I didn't want the b*ttwipe going back to the management team in some meeting and actually changing the store policy. I just went back the next day, a different guy was on duty, and I bought 4.
Ultimately, if you get lucky enough to find a store that is well stocked, and you get to know the regular cashiers...THAT is the golden ticket. They smile when I walk in and never ask for ID any more. They just ring em up.
God I hope this lasts.
Actually, n/m. Believe what you want.
#1226
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
#1227
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
#1228
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,377
BTW, my whole exposure to this stuff makes me wonder what percentage of Visa/Mastercard/AMEX "gift cards" are actually used for their supposed intention (gifting money so friends/family can buy things).
#1229
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
So they are getting big percents from those people instantly. And that's if they don't lose the card and take the entire thing as profit (where the BIG money is at!)