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)
Jan 15, 2014, 7:57 pm
#3736
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
There is no barrier. Just learn how to read a thread.
Most questions are usually asked a million times in the last 10 pages.
If you really want to be spoon fed. There is blogs made for just that.
Circles and arrows too!
Most questions are usually asked a million times in the last 10 pages.
If you really want to be spoon fed. There is blogs made for just that.
Circles and arrows too!
Jan 15, 2014, 8:59 pm
#3738
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: United 1K, American Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 430
Question for others: I'm only doing this to really pay rent to collect some miles, so the spending will be moderate. Maybe $1500 per month. I don't intend to ever try to float debt between different CCs, and I'll pay off my balances promptly. So...would you say that in my situation I'll be fairly under the radar and that my only true worry is to wonder how long this CVS/VR thing will last, rather than worrying about my credit card company shutting me down?
Jan 15, 2014, 9:03 pm
#3739
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,052
Congrats toxicity. I, like you, am a relative noob too. Did two transactions of 1000, then 500 earlier this month. Went smoothly.
Question for others: I'm only doing this to really pay rent to collect some miles, so the spending will be moderate. Maybe $1500 per month. I don't intend to ever try to float debt between different CCs, and I'll pay off my balances promptly. So...would you say that in my situation I'll be fairly under the radar and that my only true worry is to wonder how long this CVS/VR thing will last, rather than worrying about my credit card company shutting me down?
Question for others: I'm only doing this to really pay rent to collect some miles, so the spending will be moderate. Maybe $1500 per month. I don't intend to ever try to float debt between different CCs, and I'll pay off my balances promptly. So...would you say that in my situation I'll be fairly under the radar and that my only true worry is to wonder how long this CVS/VR thing will last, rather than worrying about my credit card company shutting me down?
Anything can change--vrs could go away next week or last for months and years. We never know.
But I would say you are well beliw the radar and it is a good use of the vr and a great way to start should you ever ramp up later
Good work!
mm
Jan 15, 2014, 9:03 pm
#3740
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: The Empire State
Programs: CO (RIP), US (RIP), Amtrak. Lots of CC programs.
Posts: 442
Jan 15, 2014, 9:04 pm
#3741
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: AL
Programs: All of the Above
Posts: 1,374
Congrats toxicity. I, like you, am a relative noob too. Did two transactions of 1000, then 500 earlier this month. Went smoothly.
Question for others: I'm only doing this to really pay rent to collect some miles, so the spending will be moderate. Maybe $1500 per month. I don't intend to ever try to float debt between different CCs, and I'll pay off my balances promptly. So...would you say that in my situation I'll be fairly under the radar and that my only true worry is to wonder how long this CVS/VR thing will last, rather than worrying about my credit card company shutting me down?
Question for others: I'm only doing this to really pay rent to collect some miles, so the spending will be moderate. Maybe $1500 per month. I don't intend to ever try to float debt between different CCs, and I'll pay off my balances promptly. So...would you say that in my situation I'll be fairly under the radar and that my only true worry is to wonder how long this CVS/VR thing will last, rather than worrying about my credit card company shutting me down?
Jan 15, 2014, 9:31 pm
#3742
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: United 1K, American Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 430
I totally get what I have to do in order to start ramping up: I need to redeposit money safely and cycle through; just not sure I want to go there. I regard this VR thing as a vast field of golden beans, just waiting for the taking. Right now I'm grabbing handfuls and stuffing them in my pockets. I'm not ready to fill up satchels and backpacks of the stuff, let alone wheelbarrows full.
Regardless, even if I limit myself to bona fide spending, the way I see it is that's 1000+ miles I'm earning monthly (for my rent) which I wasn't earning before! 
Jan 15, 2014, 9:42 pm
#3743
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SNA
Programs: United, Hilton, National
Posts: 128
$150,000/month in MS? Holy crap. I'm shocked there are even enough incentive programs to deal with that.
Jan 15, 2014, 9:51 pm
#3744
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 267
that is small potatos i churn almost 1mm per month with lots of hard work. not profit, i am talkin spending. you just need various methods. i have so much profit at this point i needed to convert much of my profit into gold coinage.
Jan 15, 2014, 11:40 pm
#3745
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 457
Deleted.
Last edited by MsArbi; Oct 29, 2014 at 11:22 pm
Jan 16, 2014, 2:25 am
#3746
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 454
I'm lazy and I did 50k on bluebirds this month. 10 trips to CVS all on Bluebirds. If I had 30 bluebirds, I could easily do 150k. One of my resolutions was that I would take less of a profit and stay out of Walmart for awhile. It always gave me a headache.
Everytime someone boggles at manufactured spending numbers, I shake my head. It would not surprise me if people in here were on teams doing 1 million with 5-6 people/license/well stocked CVS's with good networks with the manager.
I have one manager at CVS who keeps it stocked for me and thanks for helping numbers, and I'm not exactly personable. I rotate around 6-8 different CVS's so they should only see me 1-2 times at 5k per spend.
"How do you get 10 bluebirds?!" - Me, wife, mother in law, father in law, my mom, my dad, my military brother who is not interested in MS'ing, my grandmother in law, my grandfather in law and brother in law.
Everytime someone boggles at manufactured spending numbers, I shake my head. It would not surprise me if people in here were on teams doing 1 million with 5-6 people/license/well stocked CVS's with good networks with the manager.
I have one manager at CVS who keeps it stocked for me and thanks for helping numbers, and I'm not exactly personable. I rotate around 6-8 different CVS's so they should only see me 1-2 times at 5k per spend.
"How do you get 10 bluebirds?!" - Me, wife, mother in law, father in law, my mom, my dad, my military brother who is not interested in MS'ing, my grandmother in law, my grandfather in law and brother in law.
Last edited by horseymen; Jan 16, 2014 at 2:26 am Reason: Clarity for a sure-to-be-asked-question.
Jan 16, 2014, 7:05 am
#3747
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 457
Deleted.
Last edited by MsArbi; Oct 29, 2014 at 11:22 pm
Jan 16, 2014, 7:42 am
#3748
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: PHL - Go Flyers!
Programs: EMT-P
Posts: 564
Like toxicity, I did my first MS (CVS-->VR-->BB) after A LOT of reading and then finally saying "go for it". Easy as pie.
The one question I have: Right now I'm just charging on two Chase VISAs (one business one personal), then using the BB to pay my AMEX Plat. How often can I buy VRs with each Visa? Everyday for $500/each? 2x$500/each?
TIA
John
The one question I have: Right now I'm just charging on two Chase VISAs (one business one personal), then using the BB to pay my AMEX Plat. How often can I buy VRs with each Visa? Everyday for $500/each? 2x$500/each?
TIA
John
Jan 16, 2014, 8:18 am
#3749
Join Date: May 2002
Location: St Louis, MO
Programs: AA L.T. PLT
Posts: 3,294
Like toxicity, I did my first MS (CVS-->VR-->BB) after A LOT of reading and then finally saying "go for it". Easy as pie.
The one question I have: Right now I'm just charging on two Chase VISAs (one business one personal), then using the BB to pay my AMEX Plat. How often can I buy VRs with each Visa? Everyday for $500/each? 2x$500/each?
TIA
John
The one question I have: Right now I'm just charging on two Chase VISAs (one business one personal), then using the BB to pay my AMEX Plat. How often can I buy VRs with each Visa? Everyday for $500/each? 2x$500/each?
TIA
John
Jan 16, 2014, 8:58 am
#3750
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New England
Programs: DL PM, HH Gold, the rest come and go
Posts: 313
Unless you have another VR source, do many under $1k purchases or have multiple IDs/people, 150k/mo requires a trip to CVS every single day without missing a reset or a beat. Possible and not really difficult, but I wouldn't say it's easily doable or practical for most because of the schedule, the timing and the unexpected.