Aug 2, 13, 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)
Oct 9, 13, 9:59 pm
#2431
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA, AA, US, DL, PC Plat, Dollar, Avis, National, SPG, HH Gold, CC Gold
Posts: 1,212
Uhh...streamlined? Are we talking about the same site?
Old site: Enter PIN and card number. Click load. Click accept. Done. In and out in literally 10 seconds.
New site: Wait 5 minutes for site to load. Enter PIN. Wait 5 minutes. Enter card number. Hit continue button. Hit it a few more times because the site javascript is garbage until it finally registers the click. Wait another 5 minutes. Hit confirm. Hit load a couple more times because the site spits out "PIN already redeemed" errors a couple times. Finally done.
The new site is garbage, plain and simple. There is no possible way on earth it's faster to load on the new site than the old one...took me at LEAST five times the time to load VR's today as it did in the past, probably closer to 10 times longer.
Old site: Enter PIN and card number. Click load. Click accept. Done. In and out in literally 10 seconds.
New site: Wait 5 minutes for site to load. Enter PIN. Wait 5 minutes. Enter card number. Hit continue button. Hit it a few more times because the site javascript is garbage until it finally registers the click. Wait another 5 minutes. Hit confirm. Hit load a couple more times because the site spits out "PIN already redeemed" errors a couple times. Finally done.
The new site is garbage, plain and simple. There is no possible way on earth it's faster to load on the new site than the old one...took me at LEAST five times the time to load VR's today as it did in the past, probably closer to 10 times longer.
Oct 9, 13, 11:05 pm
#2432
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: MR, SPG, IHG, HH, CC, AA, UA, BA, DL
Posts: 270
Oct 10, 13, 12:09 am
#2433
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,184
Great, so let's say it only took you a minute. That's still easily 5x as long as it took to load on the old site with a simple autofill program. Old site took me maybe 10-15s per card when loading a stack. New stack takes at least a minute or two, depending on how many times the site hangs or throws bogus errors. When you're loading a stack of 10+, that starts adding up to a significant waste of time.
Oct 10, 13, 6:12 am
#2434
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: CT
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 426
Nobody seems to understand that simple is good.
Oct 10, 13, 7:32 am
#2435
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 417
This new method was also successfully implemented by the new government healtcare.gov website.
Oct 10, 13, 7:23 pm
#2436
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 84
Does anyone with a Citi TYP card have a duplicate on a recent CVS VR transaction? I have 2 *1K from 10/8 showing twice as 10/8 and 10/10 purchase in pending transactions!
Oct 11, 13, 6:11 am
#2437
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Under an ORD approach path
Programs: DL PM, MM. Coffee isn't a drug, it's a vitamin.
Posts: 12,933
I got random capcha errors on the vanilla debit card site and system errors or pin has already been used errors on the reload site; in almost all cases eitehr clicking submit a couple more times or going back and starting over worked. A couple times I called in and loaded via the phone system. Bottom line, the errors cost at most a minute of time till you get past them.
Oct 11, 13, 12:39 pm
#2438
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,059
Been seeing TONS of these cards again - at CVS!!! NorCal is back baby!!!
Oct 11, 13, 3:16 pm
#2439
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Heaven
Posts: 552
South Bay still looks pretty dry....haven't seen any VR's at nearby CVS's. I am VeRy hungry now !!
Oct 11, 13, 5:57 pm
#2440
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: MR,UR, UA, BA, AA, Hotels
Posts: 581
Oct 11, 13, 7:12 pm
#2441
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,646
I've been told by store managers that they do lots of 300 as well. Trucks come twice a week and the shipment usually doesn't last a day on the shelves.
Oct 11, 13, 8:15 pm
#2442
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 498
well definitely some MS'ers, not sure if from FT, in the Buffalo, NY area as my local CVS was drained today when I went. Got some visa gc instead. Hope to hit up my RA for MP tomorrow. My fellow MS'ers must not know about that store or use MP
Oct 11, 13, 9:24 pm
#2443
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: PVD
Programs: AA Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Gold, National EE
Posts: 135
. While I doubted his claims of keeping supplies up, I've bought all $10k worth for the month for my two birds from that store over the past week. I've only gotten lucky at that location one or two times before this month. He knew all about the game, and my experience over the past week indicates many cashiers at that store do as well. I'm hoping his claims to keeping them in stock will extend to Nov. and beyond....
Oct 12, 13, 2:24 am
#2444
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1,179
Are folks using VRs for other things besides BB? I seem to hit my BB limits within the first week of the month and wondering if there were other ways to use VRs where it can be liquidated easily? Any ideas?
