That was true about Washington, DC, when you posted but something bad has happened since then, at least at the downtown CVS stores. The large 24-hour CVS store on 14th Street has plenty of VRs but now sells them only for cash. It doesn't matter what time of day you go or which cashier you use. This has been in effect since December.

Other CVS stores that sold them behind the counter no longer stock the cards and say they haven't had any in weeks.

Anybody else in DC noticed the same thing? I don't go to the suburbs often, but I would be interested in knowing if this is now true across all of the DC Metro area.

Some do, some don't. Depends on if people do this regularly or if they have never come across an MS-er (if you will). At this point, all of my regular CVS's always go, "Are they for me this time?" So my answer would be, "no."

There are risks in this game, and along with losing money (via losing VR's, improper activation, etc.) it may be a financial review. I think the idea that has made it's way around the forums, is once you start the more routine it becomes and the less you may be considered a risk.

Expect to get some fraud calls/texts the first time you make a $1k+ purchase at CVS. No need to explain what you are purchasing, just verify that you in fact are the individual making the purchase. It's best to set your account settings to allow the bank to text you if they suspect fraudulent activity. That way you can simply verify yourself by sending a text back and the CVS employee can swipe it again.

Good luck! Also, I would peak around this forum. We've had fellow FTers go through it all, so most likely if you experience something odd, it's been discussed on here.

My first fraud experience was intense with Sapphire. They rang up the 1k at CVS, and they called Chase to verify it. I got a text immediately asking to respond yes or no. Then I got an e-mail a few minutes later. I got a phone call the next day again verifying it. Happy to do it though, no fraud alerts since.

Here in NoVa, they did sell VRs with CC but havent seen VRs at all this month. I've checked atleast 5-6 CVSs and non of them had them. Cashiers didnt even know what happened.

Since this was also the case at the CVS in downtown Madison, WI, where PaulMSN stated he could always get VRs, I am beginning to think CVS is no longer carrying VR cards because they are losing so much money on them. What we are seeing on the shelves is probably stock from 2013.

Look at my post above. They have plenty of VRs now at the CVS I go to. It was just a shipment issue, and short-term. I only had to delay my purchases a few days.

Supplies dwindled to near-zero in Northern VA, but I found at least one store that re-stocked in the last week. Perhaps they had something "in the back" but they did refill.

@DCBob, I hit 4 CVS locations last night around the Capitol and had no problems buying. After I maxed out my ID I bought four beans without ID (2 separate purchases in 2 different stores).

Beans are plentiful in the Middle TN area. I wish I knew who was buying all of the Visa GCs from OD though...

It's probably jcmitchell.

I need to revisit my favorite CVS then. Hopefully they've restocked too. My birds are starving and Citi AA bonus is at stake :D

I will check them out. Thanks.

The cashier at the downtown location told me they had not had ANY received during the last 3-4 shipments. I guess she was lying to me.

No, they told me they had been out for a while when I went in on the 2nd, but they were in stock yesterday. Well less than a month, since I filled up my BB with VRs in January.

My Boston location has been restocked. Hurray! I was getting worried.

I decided to try out a new store today, and I got my second "CASH ONLY!" cashier today and said any CVS employee would be immediately be fired for allowing a credit card to be used to purchase a VR. It sounded serious. :eek:

I drove down the road to one of my go-to locations and purchased $2k without any issue. :D

The only consistent thing about buying VRs is the inconsistency. :rolleyes: