Aug 2, 2013, 6:51 pm
Last edit by: CWAL
A new thread was created for the new year in 2017. This is the old thread. For the 2017 on this topic, go here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1819562-cvs-master-thread-2017-a.html
CVS is cash only for all Incomm-related reloads and reloadable cards, including Vanilla Reloads and Serve swipe reloads. See memo to stores for complete list. Other cards at CVS can still be bought using credit, but YMMV depending on location, Manager, etc.
New limits rolling out starting 10/20:
Transactions with $300 or more of card face value require ID.
Limit $2000 of card face value per 24 hour rolling period.
Limit of 10 cards per 24 hours.
Cashback posted in 48 hours.
Cash Register Freezing
Multiple reports that the CVS cash register will freeze and lock after scanning the ID when purchasing multiple prepaid cards. Then the register's computer needs to be restarted. Some report that "swiping" the ID instead of "scanning" will avoid the issue.
Limit of 7 tenders (swipes) per transaction. This is most commonly run into when using low-value AGCs. After seven, the transaction must be complete, no cash (or any other payment method) will be accepted to pay the balance.
CVS is cash only for all Incomm-related reloads and reloadable cards, including Vanilla Reloads and Serve swipe reloads. See memo to stores for complete list. Other cards at CVS can still be bought using credit, but YMMV depending on location, Manager, etc.
New limits rolling out starting 10/20:
Transactions with $300 or more of card face value require ID.
Limit $2000 of card face value per 24 hour rolling period.
Limit of 10 cards per 24 hours.
Cashback posted in 48 hours.
Cash Register Freezing
Multiple reports that the CVS cash register will freeze and lock after scanning the ID when purchasing multiple prepaid cards. Then the register's computer needs to be restarted. Some report that "swiping" the ID instead of "scanning" will avoid the issue.
Limit of 7 tenders (swipes) per transaction. This is most commonly run into when using low-value AGCs. After seven, the transaction must be complete, no cash (or any other payment method) will be accepted to pay the balance.
CVS master thread(2013-2016)
Sep 5, 2013, 2:12 pm
#1681
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,470
I've seen this before with usage of Club Carlson cards (also issued by US Bank). I saw a receipt that was printed after swipe - "authorization code required". The cashier called, followed instructions and the system gave him authorization code. Then the purchase was cleared.
Sep 5, 2013, 2:33 pm
#1682
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Jackson, WY
Posts: 543
I've seen this before with usage of Club Carlson cards (also issued by US Bank). I saw a receipt that was printed after swipe - "authorization code required". The cashier called, followed instructions and the system gave him authorization code. Then the purchase was cleared.
FWIW, I've been a US Bank customer for 7 years though. Flexperks was my regular card for about 6 years (before I knew better!) although it isn't a terrible card.
Sep 5, 2013, 2:52 pm
#1683
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 67
My first shot at VR at CVS went as follows:
1) Find plenty of VR cards on kiosk rack in store (bad omen?)
2) Ask checkout girl to load with CC (concern registers on face, calls mgr.)
3) Waiting for mgr. to reply, I say, "why not just try and see if it goes thru?"
4) CG says, "Oh it will go through, but CVS stores have different policies and I might get in trouble." (she works at more than one CVS location?)
5) Mgr. says cash only (I leave with my toothpaste and greeting card, rejected and dejected)
On the way home I had to stop in Walgreens anyway, asked clerk if she could load VR with CC, she said let's see...yep, cash only.
All around
1) Find plenty of VR cards on kiosk rack in store (bad omen?)
2) Ask checkout girl to load with CC (concern registers on face, calls mgr.)
3) Waiting for mgr. to reply, I say, "why not just try and see if it goes thru?"
4) CG says, "Oh it will go through, but CVS stores have different policies and I might get in trouble." (she works at more than one CVS location?)
5) Mgr. says cash only (I leave with my toothpaste and greeting card, rejected and dejected)
On the way home I had to stop in Walgreens anyway, asked clerk if she could load VR with CC, she said let's see...yep, cash only.
All around
Sep 5, 2013, 2:55 pm
#1684
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
An interesting new thing happened to me at CVS today. I bought $1000 in VRs using a card I'd never used for this before, the USBank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa. The cashier asked for my ID as usual, but then she said she needed to call in to confirm the purchase with USBank. Apparently the register told her to do this. She called, listened to some prompts, keyed in something and then hung up, wrote something down on a piece of paper and finished the purchase. I guess my usage of this card never included a $1000 purchase before. This hasn't happened with any of the Chase, Citi and Barclays cards I've used there, including several new CCs.
I'm kind of wondering what additional information she had to put in to satisfy the bank.
I'm kind of wondering what additional information she had to put in to satisfy the bank.
Sep 5, 2013, 2:57 pm
#1685
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA, UA, US
Posts: 525
My first shot at VR at CVS went as follows:
1) Find plenty of VR cards on kiosk rack in store (bad omen?)
2) Ask checkout girl to load with CC (concern registers on face, calls mgr.)
3) Waiting for mgr. to reply, I say, "why not just try and see if it goes thru?"
4) CG says, "Oh it will go through, but CVS stores have different policies and I might get in trouble." (she works at more than one CVS location?)
5) Mgr. says cash only (I leave with my toothpaste and greeting card, rejected and dejected)
On the way home I had to stop in Walgreens anyway, asked clerk if she could load VR with CC, she said let's see...yep, cash only.
All around
1) Find plenty of VR cards on kiosk rack in store (bad omen?)
2) Ask checkout girl to load with CC (concern registers on face, calls mgr.)
3) Waiting for mgr. to reply, I say, "why not just try and see if it goes thru?"
4) CG says, "Oh it will go through, but CVS stores have different policies and I might get in trouble." (she works at more than one CVS location?)
5) Mgr. says cash only (I leave with my toothpaste and greeting card, rejected and dejected)
On the way home I had to stop in Walgreens anyway, asked clerk if she could load VR with CC, she said let's see...yep, cash only.
All around
Sep 5, 2013, 3:04 pm
#1686
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
As noted, try more CVS stores. Or the same one you went to when different manager/cashier are working. You will be surprised at the variability of these policies.
Sep 5, 2013, 3:16 pm
#1687
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5
Are the Cards separate for each store, can WG card be used at CVS.
Sep 5, 2013, 3:29 pm
#1688
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Long Beach
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,171
Sep 5, 2013, 3:30 pm
#1689
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Jackson, WY
Posts: 543
I work in real estate. Not all, but some, CVS leases pay about 3% of sales as additional rent when sales hit a certain point. For example, when sales are $4,600,000 the lease may say "Pay an additional 3% for all sales over $4,000,000." So CVS is required to pay $600,000 x .03 = $18,000 additional rent.
Some landlord somewhere is thanking us! Next time I see one for sale that has that clause I'll have to check if their are any FT'ers shopping there. Time for a kickback from this landlord LOL.
Some landlord somewhere is thanking us! Next time I see one for sale that has that clause I'll have to check if their are any FT'ers shopping there. Time for a kickback from this landlord LOL.
Sep 5, 2013, 3:31 pm
#1690
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Long Beach
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,171
Sep 5, 2013, 3:39 pm
#1691
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: US CP, DL GM, AA Plat
Posts: 729
I work in real estate. Not all, but some, CVS leases pay about 3% of sales as additional rent when sales hit a certain point. For example, when sales are $4,600,000 the lease may say "Pay an additional 3% for all sales over $4,000,000." So CVS is required to pay $600,000 x .03 = $18,000 additional rent.
Sep 5, 2013, 5:39 pm
#1692
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 76
I work in real estate. Not all, but some, CVS leases pay about 3% of sales as additional rent when sales hit a certain point. For example, when sales are $4,600,000 the lease may say "Pay an additional 3% for all sales over $4,000,000." So CVS is required to pay $600,000 x .03 = $18,000 additional rent.
But CVS must be making a bit of a profit, because why else would they increase the limit from $1k to $5k?
Sep 5, 2013, 10:37 pm
#1693
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,424
When I went in today to buy $1000 of VRs, the clerk helpfully asked me if I wanted that split into separate transactions. I said "sure, why not." We then chatted and she said a previous customer asked her to do it that way. I assume it's to avoid the reporting requirements.
That said, I'm wondering if I should just try to buy several thousand at one time. I've avoiding doing this because my store managers have been a bit jittery about larger VR purchases (1 store only allows $500) and I think they will view it as "suspicious." I'm also worried how the credit card companies will react, particularly Citi. I would kind of expect a fraud alert to be triggered.
That said, I'm wondering if I should just try to buy several thousand at one time. I've avoiding doing this because my store managers have been a bit jittery about larger VR purchases (1 store only allows $500) and I think they will view it as "suspicious." I'm also worried how the credit card companies will react, particularly Citi. I would kind of expect a fraud alert to be triggered.
Sep 5, 2013, 11:39 pm
#1694
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
It's a low paying job and most might not have the credit to get the cards. BUT, there might be people who are willing to slide a clerk $20 or $50 bucks to be jerks to people and allow them to buy all the VRs. I had wondered about this one CVS by me, I can go in and they will have two racks of VR's, but wont sell them to me with a CC, and I'll go back in a day or two later and they are all gone.....
Sep 5, 2013, 11:42 pm
#1695
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
My first shot at VR at CVS went as follows:
1) Find plenty of VR cards on kiosk rack in store (bad omen?)
2) Ask checkout girl to load with CC (concern registers on face, calls mgr.)
3) Waiting for mgr. to reply, I say, "why not just try and see if it goes thru?"
4) CG says, "Oh it will go through, but CVS stores have different policies and I might get in trouble." (she works at more than one CVS location?)
5) Mgr. says cash only (I leave with my toothpaste and greeting card, rejected and dejected)
On the way home I had to stop in Walgreens anyway, asked clerk if she could load VR with CC, she said let's see...yep, cash only.
All around
1) Find plenty of VR cards on kiosk rack in store (bad omen?)
2) Ask checkout girl to load with CC (concern registers on face, calls mgr.)
3) Waiting for mgr. to reply, I say, "why not just try and see if it goes thru?"
4) CG says, "Oh it will go through, but CVS stores have different policies and I might get in trouble." (she works at more than one CVS location?)
5) Mgr. says cash only (I leave with my toothpaste and greeting card, rejected and dejected)
On the way home I had to stop in Walgreens anyway, asked clerk if she could load VR with CC, she said let's see...yep, cash only.
All around