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)
Nov 7, 2013, 8:08 am
#2881
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,052
Observation, FWIW --
In Orlando this week, went to one CVS on not-so-nice side of town, sign posted requiring cash to purchase any type of GC, clerk said no exceptions. Went to another CVS in more upscale neighborhood, no such restriction, plenty of beans, so guff from clerk.
In Orlando this week, went to one CVS on not-so-nice side of town, sign posted requiring cash to purchase any type of GC, clerk said no exceptions. Went to another CVS in more upscale neighborhood, no such restriction, plenty of beans, so guff from clerk.
Nov 7, 2013, 8:32 am
#2882
Join Date: May 2002
Location: St Louis, MO
Programs: AA L.T. PLT
Posts: 3,273
Now that my CVS lets me buy $5,000 VR's at one time, they are missing me since I now only need to go in 3 times a month instead of the "usual" 15. 
Nov 7, 2013, 10:53 am
#2883
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 153
I'm sorry if this sounds dense, since I'm a newbie, but my question is: What's the perk of getting VR as CVS? The $3.95 fee for $500 is a bit high IMO. If you buy VR at OD for 5 point / dollar I can understand, but $3.95 for 500 points is pretty expensive. It IS a profit, but just not as much as other avenues.
Or maybe I'm missing something, where one can get more than 1 point / spend at CVS? AFAIK, it's not classified as groceries by most card companies.
Or maybe I'm missing something, where one can get more than 1 point / spend at CVS? AFAIK, it's not classified as groceries by most card companies.
Nov 7, 2013, 11:05 am
#2884
Join Date: May 2002
Location: St Louis, MO
Programs: AA L.T. PLT
Posts: 3,273
I'm sorry if this sounds dense, since I'm a newbie, but my question is: What's the perk of getting VR as CVS? The $3.95 fee for $500 is a bit high IMO. If you buy VR at OD for 5 point / dollar I can understand, but $3.95 for 500 points is pretty expensive. It IS a profit, but just not as much as other avenues.
Or maybe I'm missing something, where one can get more than 1 point / spend at CVS? AFAIK, it's not classified as groceries by most card companies.
Or maybe I'm missing something, where one can get more than 1 point / spend at CVS? AFAIK, it's not classified as groceries by most card companies.
Nov 7, 2013, 11:12 am
#2885
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 801
I'm sorry if this sounds dense, since I'm a newbie, but my question is: What's the perk of getting VR as CVS? The $3.95 fee for $500 is a bit high IMO. If you buy VR at OD for 5 point / dollar I can understand, but $3.95 for 500 points is pretty expensive. It IS a profit, but just not as much as other avenues.
Or maybe I'm missing something, where one can get more than 1 point / spend at CVS? AFAIK, it's not classified as groceries by most card companies.
Or maybe I'm missing something, where one can get more than 1 point / spend at CVS? AFAIK, it's not classified as groceries by most card companies.
Nov 7, 2013, 11:12 am
#2886
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 153
If you are clever about spending miles / points, I do think you can get a really high cpm, but still 0.79 cpm (for VR) sounds expensive.
Nov 7, 2013, 11:15 am
#2887
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
I'm sorry if this sounds dense, since I'm a newbie, but my question is: What's the perk of getting VR as CVS? The $3.95 fee for $500 is a bit high IMO. If you buy VR at OD for 5 point / dollar I can understand, but $3.95 for 500 points is pretty expensive. It IS a profit, but just not as much as other avenues.
Or maybe I'm missing something, where one can get more than 1 point / spend at CVS? AFAIK, it's not classified as groceries by most card companies.
Or maybe I'm missing something, where one can get more than 1 point / spend at CVS? AFAIK, it's not classified as groceries by most card companies.
If you are using a 1x card, you're looking at buying points/miles for .8 cents per mile, which is weak for domestic economy redemption but good for international premium. Personally I would not use a 1% cash back card for this.
The other reason is that VR's are cheaper than most gift cards and are easier to unload.
Nov 7, 2013, 11:37 am
#2888
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: MPC, Marriott, Hyatt
Posts: 407
I'm sorry if this sounds dense, since I'm a newbie, but my question is: What's the perk of getting VR as CVS? The $3.95 fee for $500 is a bit high IMO. If you buy VR at OD for 5 point / dollar I can understand, but $3.95 for 500 points is pretty expensive. It IS a profit, but just not as much as other avenues.
Or maybe I'm missing something, where one can get more than 1 point / spend at CVS? AFAIK, it's not classified as groceries by most card companies.
Or maybe I'm missing something, where one can get more than 1 point / spend at CVS? AFAIK, it's not classified as groceries by most card companies.
Nov 7, 2013, 11:50 am
#2889
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA BA CO DL UA US
Posts: 814
I've been searching without success for the past few weeks. They are not restocking them at all. In one of the remodeled stores, they have set up space for them in an area next to the counter (along with other prepaid cards), away from the gift cards. However, since they remodeled they haven't stocked any... If you do find them, please PM me, and I'll do the same.
Nov 7, 2013, 11:55 am
#2890
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
both td ameritrade and wells fargo have cards available today that give 5x cashback at drug stores for 6 months each. plenty of opportunities out there. i'm just a few months into the 12 months with citi 5x
Nov 7, 2013, 12:17 pm
#2891
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 71
Argh well in nyc where I've never been denied before. 3 stores in area said cash or debit only. Ok fine. But the sign on top of gift card center says this.
So they are wrong.
Zoom in on image.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/membe...rd-center.html
So they are wrong.
Zoom in on image.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/membe...rd-center.html
Nov 7, 2013, 12:45 pm
#2892
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: MKE
Posts: 73
6 days ago I was able to buy a VR at the local CVS, but today a clerk I had never seen before informed me that they had just changed the policy to cash only because people were using "fake credit cards". I didn't press the issue, and may try again in a few weeks.
Nov 7, 2013, 1:24 pm
#2894
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
As stated, OD was the way to go. Now there are a few cards that give more than 1 point/dollar, so these are your best bet.
If you are using a 1x card, you're looking at buying points/miles for .8 cents per mile, which is weak for domestic economy redemption but good for international premium. Personally I would not use a 1% cash back card for this.
The other reason is that VR's are cheaper than most gift cards and are easier to unload.
If you are using a 1x card, you're looking at buying points/miles for .8 cents per mile, which is weak for domestic economy redemption but good for international premium. Personally I would not use a 1% cash back card for this.
The other reason is that VR's are cheaper than most gift cards and are easier to unload.
eg JFK-SFO-LA earns 6100 EQMs and 12,200 RDMs for $79 Id say is a very sweet opportunity, yet whatever the real base fare is will count towards ones min Spend for the yr since its a rev tkt which will be $300+ towards the needed Spend
Nov 7, 2013, 3:07 pm
#2895
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 498
not really.
you can buy moneypack with CC (some RA not CVS) = plenty of outlets for money pack
you can buy vanilla gc and myvanilla with cc - gc with pc = moneyorder at worst
plenty of options out there. the question always, though, is it worth it. I find that MSing without a bonus goal may not be worth it for me due to my current options for where I am buying them - at 1x without a bonus goal it is not always worth it, as someone mentioned in the thread. I am better off MS with 2% cash back or with usbank. but I am still working on bonuses and will be for a while (25k spend on united, then after the new year 60k sw and then 25k united x 2 * I know the devaluation is coming*)
you can buy moneypack with CC (some RA not CVS) = plenty of outlets for money pack
you can buy vanilla gc and myvanilla with cc - gc with pc = moneyorder at worst
plenty of options out there. the question always, though, is it worth it. I find that MSing without a bonus goal may not be worth it for me due to my current options for where I am buying them - at 1x without a bonus goal it is not always worth it, as someone mentioned in the thread. I am better off MS with 2% cash back or with usbank. but I am still working on bonuses and will be for a while (25k spend on united, then after the new year 60k sw and then 25k united x 2 * I know the devaluation is coming*)