Ok, now that I am into this and the one and only CVS near my place that will accept the CC has plenty of stock, if you were in my shoes (size 9 :D), would you go ahead and max out buying as many VR cards as possible? I don't want to sound crazy greedy but I don't want to start being recognized on all shifts by frequent visits.

I can spread the buys around on about 6 CC cards. With a $5k limit on each debit card I have chosen so far, 12 x 500, I am only up to $6k debit card deposits.. Today I bought 3 VR (included in the $3k bought so far), and bought 3 more on my return drive. I had about 45min between stops and had the same gal, who took great notice of my ID I offered.

My concern is one particular store (closest to me) has a very strict mgr. It's my strong belief that she pulled the Paypal MCs during the pre-BF event and advised her store didn't receive them. She runs a tight ship and has apparently advised staff no CC on debits, including VRs. I am concerned her influence may be contagious since there are five stores within a close radius.

It all comes down to your comfort level.

First, if you buy $5k can you unload that 5k in one day? So for folks who have multiple cards, yes, sure... but personally, I fear being stuck with cards. I want to load and unload as quickly as possible.

What I started doing was buying $2k for the card, late evenings, around 10 or 11pm, load $1k instantly, another $1k shortly after midnight, then bill pay immediately.

I would imagine most people buying a ton more VR's are loading for 4 to 10, maybe more bluebird accounts, and other prepaid debit cards reloadable with beans, then buying MO's from there. (which now that I think of it, makes sense.)

Wait till this lady gets promoted to district manager. Oh, the horror!!! :p

Hit up five in the east bay. It's a desert out here :(

Many many stores in SoCal did that (Facebook posts rescued us, what is this world coming to?), but there doesn't seem to be any correlation to that event and VR w CC availability. I wouldn't worry about that.

Forgive me, but let's make sure you understand the point here. The only reason for this exercise, is the accumulation of credit card miles/points/cashback. The other steps are necessary but earn nothing, zero.

Also, MS should not be done if one has any credit card debt at all.

Broke my cherry and did my very first VR purchase today after receiving my BB card in the mail yesterday. I live in nola and have 2 CVS's in my area, first one was dry but the clerk was very helpful and told me they replenish on Thursdays. The second one I struck gold (er, white)! I bought the 3 that they had, put $500 each on them and with a single transaction - paid $1511.85 and walked on out. Scanned my DL but other than that no issues with having to pre-notify or call my cc company (I used my Chase M/C) and was out the door in minutes.

Thanks to everyone on this board for your help!!! Oh yeah, I had a real stop to make at Walgreens on the way back to my house and just happened to see ~50 VR cards on the gift card rack. Figured I would at least try and the manager who rung me up (and was very friendly) turned the monitor around to show me the error message that said "cash transactions only for this type of purchase"...

She will be kicked out

CVS corporate (owner) is willing to sell on CC. The lady is against it.(against the owner?) She is not acting in the interest of the employer! How long U think she will last there?

Not even sure why 7-11 or Walgreens even bothers to sell VRs anymore. No one is going to buy it cash only. Not sure if OD still sells it but if they still do they mind as well rip all of the VRs down from the shelves because its just going to collect dust.

Forgive me, but let's make sure one understands the point I was making. I would like to make sure there are VR cards abundant for my MS plan. Available and close and if not, available and stocked up without stirring suspicion and losing out on my CC privileges. As for the MS, I have my reasons which are not unlike what MOST of these discussions are about. Not sure what else was interpreted from my post.

I prefer not to engage in discussing one's personal financial picture unless advice is specifically sought. My request was about VR availability, not opinion on credit card debt. Like it or not, the minute one's swipes a CC, one incurs and agrees to a debt, no matter how short term.

I hope there is no tit for tat in proceeding posts.

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Thanks for that post on your stop at Walgreens, NOflyer. :)

Thanks for your kind post and I like your methodology; thanks for sharing that. :)

We kind of know for a long time that Walgreens are the dead zone for VRs.:rolleyes:

NY and NYC is tough, it's one area I truly would think twice about getting into the MS game, unless I wanted to to do the Visa GC deal and load it at WM or just use the Visa GC and bought MO's. My last trip to Lawn Guyland I couldn't find one VR...

There are two schools of thought on this.

1) YMMV and so what you are comfortable with

2) screw it and get what you can the quickest way, and I'm leaning this way. Time is money so if I can walk into a CVS and buy 5K I'll buy 5K. Since that is the max Corp allows, but we all know that managers make up their own rules too, but the registers are hardwired for 5K/day if you DL is scanned. So what I have started to do is, if I'm close to a CVS, whether I'm in PHX or our traveling for work I stop in and look for the beans and if there are some, I buy the max I can.

Its very simple, many people actually do pay with ca$h and have no idea what MSing is. No different then I see people at gas stations that charge the same for credit or cash paying in cash. Or supermarkets where folks run up a large bill and then yep pay in cash, etc etc.

those paying for VRs with ca$h just happens to be the targeted audience that the VR folks are after, since they most probably dont have a CC or bank acct. We are not a part of the targeted audience and if anything are the nightmare to these companys.