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Old Dec 2, 2012, 9:06 pm
  #16  
 
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Originally Posted by DaveInLA
but OD cashiers told me of folks walking out with $10K worth of VR. Whoever was lucky (err... greedy) enough to do that couldn't load it all onto a single BB card.
I would assume that folks buying that many have multiple BB cards spread amongst their relatives.
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Old Dec 2, 2012, 9:13 pm
  #17  
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Originally Posted by Yarhead
I purchased a Vanilla Reload today for the first time, but I'm worried that it isn't activated. Haven't scratched off the code yet to load BB; what should I do?

Went to See Vee Ess. Took VR card to self checkout machine. Scanned it. Specified the load amount of $500. Machine said employee needed to come help. She came and said gift cards generally have to be purchased at the register, but the machine gave me the opportunity to pay, so I paid the $503.95, she approved it, and I was on my way. I now just have the card that was available on the rack, and I paid $503.95 for it.

Is there a chance that it's not activated? Was I supposed to be given a different card (if I'd purchased at the register)?
What machine ?
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Old Dec 2, 2012, 9:22 pm
  #18  
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Originally Posted by FlightNurse
What machine ?
Maybe self-checkout register.
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Old Dec 2, 2012, 9:48 pm
  #19  
 
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Originally Posted by philemer
Maybe self-checkout register.
I've never tried taking a reload/gift card to a self-check out register at a drug store or grocery store. I've always assumed that it would require a human cashier to check ID. Maybe I'll try it one day.
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Old Dec 3, 2012, 12:47 am
  #20  
 
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Originally Posted by Yarhead
I purchased a Vanilla Reload today for the first time, but I'm worried that it isn't activated. Haven't scratched off the code yet to load BB; what should I do?
Scratch it off and load it.
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Old Dec 3, 2012, 11:01 am
  #21  
 
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all my cvs receipts show an activated line with the last 4 of the bar code number, if the receipt says activated it should work.
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Old Dec 3, 2012, 11:02 am
  #22  
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Originally Posted by DaveInLA
I've never tried taking a reload/gift card to a self-check out register at a drug store or grocery store. I've always assumed that it would require a human cashier to check ID. Maybe I'll try it one day.
You talking about at WallMarts, since CVS and WallGreens do not have self serve check outs.
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Old Dec 3, 2012, 11:06 am
  #23  
 
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CVS has self-checkout registers, depending on the location.
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Old Dec 3, 2012, 11:09 am
  #24  
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Originally Posted by bthotugigem05
CVS has self-checkout registers, depending on the location.
thanks, not here in PHX
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Old Dec 3, 2012, 11:20 am
  #25  
 
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Thanks to all for replies. The card was indeed activated, and I successfully loaded it to BB. And it was a CVS.
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Old Dec 3, 2012, 11:42 am
  #26  
 
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Have any of you had success not having a CVS employee come over with self check out lanes. Every time I purchase a vanilla an employee has to scan their card.
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Old Dec 3, 2012, 11:59 am
  #27  
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Originally Posted by FlightNurse
You talking about at WallMarts, since CVS and WallGreens do not have self serve check outs.
We've got them in Boston. At CVS, it's the cashiers, not the SSCOM that are hard to find!

Originally Posted by DL172
Have any of you had success not having a CVS employee come over with self check out lanes. Every time I purchase a vanilla an employee has to scan their card.
Nope. Originally, the employee told me that it could be done at the SSCOM but it has since changed.

Mike
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Old Dec 3, 2012, 12:00 pm
  #28  
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Originally Posted by tyfabes
Not sure if this is the right area (mods please move if not), but looking for some insight into a Vanilla Reload issue that I'm having with my father in-law:

  • Father in-law bought 2 x $500 from Walgreens last weekend on his Chase Southwest card to help meet minimum spend (2 separate transactions)
  • He got his Bluebird card in the mail today and activated it
  • When trying to load both VRs to his Bluebird account, only one card worked
  • The second card gave an error of 'Card is Deactivated (4002)'
  • Called the Vanilla Reload CSR line and she said the card was never activated and to go back and talk to Walgreens to resolve the issue

I'm not entirely postive, but I believe he was charged for both cards. He is in process of verifying with Chase.

Say worse comes to worst, is Walgreens on the hook to refund the $500? Or would he be liable? Has anyone had any experience in a situation like this?

I realize I should have checked the cards immediately after leaving the store, but I've bought close to 20 cards and never had an issue.
What does the receipt say?

It should give you the last 3 or 4 digits of the card(s) being activated, and has the wording - Activated next to it.

THAT is your proof of the card activated or not. If you tossed out the receipts then you really have very little recourse to prove anything.

Originally Posted by stalker
I had the same issue a couple of weeks ago.
What had happened was that I had bought 2 cards to the register. Gotten 1 activated and decided not to get a second one.
When I walked out of the store, I went with the wrong card. Got home and got 4002 on trying to load.
Went back to the Walgreen. Store clerk was super helpful and even offered to let me scratch all cards they had in stock to figure out which one was mine. Was also told they had a bunch of cards locked in the managers office which I could check the next day. I declined scratching all they had and went back the next day. The manager had found mine (from the marks left by the swipe on the terminal).

Pretty sure they can't do anything more than that (let you scratch all cards, if at all). So you would be liable.
No need to scratch the cards for the PIN which does NOT show on the receipt. It is the UPC code that would resolve the issue. The last digits of the bar code show up on your receipt AND the register system - that is how the manager can find it.

Originally Posted by particlemn
all my cvs receipts show an activated line with the last 4 of the bar code number, if the receipt says activated it should work.
EXACTLY. This IS the mechanism for ALL Gift Cards sold at retailers. The receipt would show the last 4 digits of the bar code and the notation of Activated whether you bot a bean or a Shell or an Outback GC.
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Old Dec 7, 2012, 5:15 pm
  #29  
 
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i just bought two cards from CVS and one did not get activated. I went back to CVS with the receipt however they said they would have to open a ticket with the corporate office. I called the corporate office and they said I would have to wait 5 to 8 days until its resolved. Worse case I can always dispute the charge.
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Old Dec 7, 2012, 5:33 pm
  #30  
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Just a quick update on my situation:

I called Walgreens to explain the situation. The manager said that their customer receipts do not print with any pin or activation information, but he would have to review the store camera tape to figure out what happened.

After taking a day to review everything and piece together the series of events, it turns out the cashier most likely gave my father in-law a blank card, while keeping around the activated card. They asked him to bring his receipts to the store and they would get him a new card without any issue.

The situation couldn't have been easier to resolve and the Walgreen's management handled everything better than I could have imagined. I am very impressed with Walgreens.

Last edited by tyfabes; Dec 7, 2012 at 5:44 pm
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