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)
Feb 15, 2014, 8:23 am
#4396
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
I just counted my used GCs and I was amazed to find that I had over 200 Vanilla cards alone. Since all of them were loaded with $500, that means I did just over $100,000 MS using VGCs since July last year.
Adding up my Chase GCs as best I could and adding the occasional $100 and $200 card from OM, it appears I did close to $140K in GCs since April. Add 94 VRs and it gets to well over $180K MS total since I started doing this last Spring.
I might still be in the low range of MSers, but this is way more than I thought I was doing. I better slow down.
Adding up my Chase GCs as best I could and adding the occasional $100 and $200 card from OM, it appears I did close to $140K in GCs since April. Add 94 VRs and it gets to well over $180K MS total since I started doing this last Spring.
I might still be in the low range of MSers, but this is way more than I thought I was doing. I better slow down.
Feb 15, 2014, 8:25 am
#4397
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Feb 15, 2014, 11:06 am
#4398
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,269
I just counted my used GCs and I was amazed to find that I had over 200 Vanilla cards alone. Since all of them were loaded with $500, that means I did just over $100,000 MS using VGCs since July last year.
Adding up my Chase GCs as best I could and adding the occasional $100 and $200 card from OM, it appears I did close to $140K in GCs since April. Add 94 VRs and it gets to well over $180K MS total since I started doing this last Spring.
I might still be in the low range of MSers, but this is way more than I thought I was doing. I better slow down.
Adding up my Chase GCs as best I could and adding the occasional $100 and $200 card from OM, it appears I did close to $140K in GCs since April. Add 94 VRs and it gets to well over $180K MS total since I started doing this last Spring.
I might still be in the low range of MSers, but this is way more than I thought I was doing. I better slow down.
Feb 15, 2014, 11:12 am
#4399
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SNA/LAX
Posts: 1,407
^ ^ ^
Sorry, I didn't think it was that confusing, but maybe if you're just learning the game... CVS doesn't code transactions according to what you buy, so therefore AMEX GC's bought at CVS wouldn't be different from VR's bought at CVS.
I was speaking in regards to AMEX online purchased GC's.
Feb 15, 2014, 11:18 am
#4400
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,052
Feb 15, 2014, 11:35 am
#4401
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 14,162
Feb 15, 2014, 1:32 pm
#4402
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New Jersey
Programs: Delta P, SPG G, Marriott S, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,007
On the next episode of Hoarders...
Feb 15, 2014, 1:36 pm
#4403
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MCO
Programs: DL-DM/1MM, HILTON-DIA, .HYATT-DIA/GLOB , IHG-PLT,HERTZ 5*, NATIONAL ES
Posts: 8,691
Feb 15, 2014, 2:09 pm
#4404
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 58
I am new to the whole MS scene and registered for BB yesterday. Once I get my BB card in the mail, I will hit up my local CVS and pick up a few VR cards and try this out 
Feb 15, 2014, 2:29 pm
#4405
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Rust belt
Posts: 300
Seems my CVS has a new rule. I walk in there with my SO and the clerk comes to me and tells me if I buy VR my SO cannot since we are breaking the 5k a day rule. I ask can I buy a non-VR from the rack. "No that is against the rules."
I guess it has somehow changed to $5k per household although no other store has ever had a issue with the both of us buying VR cards. We are Non-white and obviously I do not believe it has to do with anything regarding race although since we walked in together.....it should be assumed we are together. I also do know that there is a worker there who has told me he/she buys those cards so they can travel for free so my mind came up with a possible reason why this rule was instilled.
I guess it has somehow changed to $5k per household although no other store has ever had a issue with the both of us buying VR cards. We are Non-white and obviously I do not believe it has to do with anything regarding race although since we walked in together.....it should be assumed we are together. I also do know that there is a worker there who has told me he/she buys those cards so they can travel for free so my mind came up with a possible reason why this rule was instilled.
Last edited by snugglening; Feb 15, 2014 at 5:44 pm Reason: Needless info
Feb 15, 2014, 3:00 pm
#4406
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 920
Seems my CVS has a new rule. I walk in there with my SO and the clerk comes to me and tells me if I buy VR my SO cannot since we are breaking the 5k a day rule. I ask can I buy a non-VR from the rack. "No that is against the rules."
I guess it has somehow changed to $5k per household although no other store has ever had a issue with the both of us buying VR cards. We are Non-white and obviously I do not believe it has to do with anything regarding race although since we walked in together.....it should be assumed we are together. I also do know that there is a worker there who has told me he/she buys those cards so they can travel for free so my mind came up with a possible reason why this rule was instilled.
Im a bit mad, but I am going to test this out tomorrow and bring a black friend who does not live at my residence and have them go in first and I will follow right behind to see if I get any push back that we together. Dont worry Fters I will not do anything ignorant to ruin this ,but I hope you can maybe see my point of view where I feel a bit singled out.
I guess it has somehow changed to $5k per household although no other store has ever had a issue with the both of us buying VR cards. We are Non-white and obviously I do not believe it has to do with anything regarding race although since we walked in together.....it should be assumed we are together. I also do know that there is a worker there who has told me he/she buys those cards so they can travel for free so my mind came up with a possible reason why this rule was instilled.
Im a bit mad, but I am going to test this out tomorrow and bring a black friend who does not live at my residence and have them go in first and I will follow right behind to see if I get any push back that we together. Dont worry Fters I will not do anything ignorant to ruin this ,but I hope you can maybe see my point of view where I feel a bit singled out.
Feb 15, 2014, 3:47 pm
#4407
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Uranus
Posts: 333
Seems my CVS has a new rule. I walk in there with my SO and the clerk comes to me and tells me if I buy VR my SO cannot since we are breaking the 5k a day rule. I ask can I buy a non-VR from the rack. "No that is against the rules."
I guess it has somehow changed to $5k per household although no other store has ever had a issue with the both of us buying VR cards. We are Non-white and obviously I do not believe it has to do with anything regarding race although since we walked in together.....it should be assumed we are together. I also do know that there is a worker there who has told me he/she buys those cards so they can travel for free so my mind came up with a possible reason why this rule was instilled.
Im a bit mad, but I am going to test this out tomorrow and bring a black friend who does not live at my residence and have them go in first and I will follow right behind to see if I get any push back that we together. Dont worry Fters I will not do anything ignorant to ruin this ,but I hope you can maybe see my point of view where I feel a bit singled out.
I guess it has somehow changed to $5k per household although no other store has ever had a issue with the both of us buying VR cards. We are Non-white and obviously I do not believe it has to do with anything regarding race although since we walked in together.....it should be assumed we are together. I also do know that there is a worker there who has told me he/she buys those cards so they can travel for free so my mind came up with a possible reason why this rule was instilled.
Im a bit mad, but I am going to test this out tomorrow and bring a black friend who does not live at my residence and have them go in first and I will follow right behind to see if I get any push back that we together. Dont worry Fters I will not do anything ignorant to ruin this ,but I hope you can maybe see my point of view where I feel a bit singled out.
Feb 15, 2014, 6:29 pm
#4409
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,708
Seems my CVS has a new rule. I walk in there with my SO and the clerk comes to me and tells me if I buy VR my SO cannot since we are breaking the 5k a day rule. I ask can I buy a non-VR from the rack. "No that is against the rules."
I guess it has somehow changed to $5k per household although no other store has ever had a issue with the both of us buying VR cards. We are Non-white and obviously I do not believe it has to do with anything regarding race although since we walked in together.....it should be assumed we are together. I also do know that there is a worker there who has told me he/she buys those cards so they can travel for free so my mind came up with a possible reason why this rule was instilled.
I guess it has somehow changed to $5k per household although no other store has ever had a issue with the both of us buying VR cards. We are Non-white and obviously I do not believe it has to do with anything regarding race although since we walked in together.....it should be assumed we are together. I also do know that there is a worker there who has told me he/she buys those cards so they can travel for free so my mind came up with a possible reason why this rule was instilled.
Feb 15, 2014, 7:02 pm
#4410
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 67
are you referring to South San Francisco Bay Area? I think there's a lot of competition for the cards here. The locations that I go to are restocked regularly. however the supply is usually depleted within a couple of days. It took awhile to figure out when they restocked.