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 23, 2014, 5:43 pm
#4681
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Ok let me tell you how I do it, I just buy 5K one day the next day buy 5K more then the following day 5K more, you get the hint... This is much faster then wasting time doing the other way. But other people have their way of doing it
Feb 23, 2014, 5:45 pm
#4682
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
Isn't that basically what I said? What about it doesn't make sense?
Feb 23, 2014, 5:46 pm
#4683
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I didn't find his comments rude, just honest... Even though this game is YMMV, many of use having been doing this for a while and have tried so many angles that truly the best way if to buy as much as you can at once... So what is you get a fraud alert on her account, it takes 45 seconds to fix it and you can continue with the purchase...
Feb 23, 2014, 5:47 pm
#4684
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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One take, I just don't want to have my license scanned. I just show it. They match the name, it's all good. Hey, the nice manager even gets me an envelope from photo to put all the cards into! 
I also don't get needless fraud alerts right when I'm standing at the counter because I changed from $500 per transactions to $1k purchases.
PS. Welcome to FT!
I also don't get needless fraud alerts right when I'm standing at the counter because I changed from $500 per transactions to $1k purchases.
PS. Welcome to FT!
Feb 23, 2014, 5:53 pm
#4685
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Feb 23, 2014, 5:54 pm
#4686
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 203
The paranoia on display by some is astounding. All that time/stress spent to try and hide what is so obvious - I just don't get it.
Feb 23, 2014, 6:01 pm
#4687
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Feb 23, 2014, 6:02 pm
#4688
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Feb 23, 2014, 6:17 pm
#4689
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 203
I myself also find the behavior to be abhorrent. In the case of CVS, they are a private company and they have every right to ask information of you. They have a duty establish reasonable policies that help prevent theft, money laundering, chargebacks, etc. Capitalism works because of the fostering of relationships of trust. Those that skirt CVS's rules are bad customers, and are the types that create ripples in the system that punish those who play the game fairly.
Besides the whole philosophical bs, there's also the idea that they're wasting other peoples' time. There's the additional time the cashier must spend processing separate transactions; there's the time other customers spend needlessly waiting due to another's irrational feelings; there's the wasted productivity for CVS because others must be called to the front as back-up cashiers. I don't expect them to care though. They hardly care about their own time, so I shouldn't expect them to be concerned about the time and money of others.
Feb 23, 2014, 6:24 pm
#4690
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 546
Why on earth do you care if they scan your DL? You should put the max of $500 on each card. Anything less is being foolish. The only people I know who would not allow their DLs to be scanned are either obsessed about privacy or are government conspiracy believers. You don't appear to fall in either category. I'm dying to hear your reasons.
Last time I went over the cashier had to hand type in my DL #, which is long in my state. She was trying to figure out how to enter, advance screen, etc. A line started lengthening and she seemed annoyed. Thus, I try to stay under $1k, because I won't get 5% for going over 1k and it saves the cashier a hassle and I want to be on good terms with her.
Feb 23, 2014, 6:40 pm
#4691
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Minneapolis/St. Paul
Posts: 271
The managers at the CVS, grocery and gas stations I go to all know me. They dont even ask for my ID anymore. Neither do their staff.
They know that when I stop by it's always $1000 in MPs or GCs. I suppose I can push it by doing $5000 per visit. But I want to be doing this for many more years without having to get my accounts cancelled and recur the hassle of creating new accounts.
I tell them I buy a lot of these cards and give to my clients. Of course they ask for my business cards.
At the end of the day I build a trusting relationship with the stores I shop at. Most importantly all the stores have become part of my daily activities so no need to buy $5000 a time.
Many of these gas stations for example do about $20,000 in sales a day. Those people spending $5000 a day will definately get noticed because $5000 is 25% of the day's total sales.
They know that when I stop by it's always $1000 in MPs or GCs. I suppose I can push it by doing $5000 per visit. But I want to be doing this for many more years without having to get my accounts cancelled and recur the hassle of creating new accounts.
I tell them I buy a lot of these cards and give to my clients. Of course they ask for my business cards.
At the end of the day I build a trusting relationship with the stores I shop at. Most importantly all the stores have become part of my daily activities so no need to buy $5000 a time.
Many of these gas stations for example do about $20,000 in sales a day. Those people spending $5000 a day will definately get noticed because $5000 is 25% of the day's total sales.
Feb 23, 2014, 6:51 pm
#4693
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
<snip>
Last time I went over the cashier had to hand type in my DL #, which is long in my state. She was trying to figure out how to enter, advance screen, etc. A line started lengthening and she seemed annoyed. Thus, I try to stay under $1k, because I won't get 5% for going over 1k and it saves the cashier a hassle and I want to be on good terms with her.
Last time I went over the cashier had to hand type in my DL #, which is long in my state. She was trying to figure out how to enter, advance screen, etc. A line started lengthening and she seemed annoyed. Thus, I try to stay under $1k, because I won't get 5% for going over 1k and it saves the cashier a hassle and I want to be on good terms with her.
Feb 23, 2014, 8:40 pm
#4695
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,184
I tell them I buy a lot of these cards and give to my clients. Of course they ask for my business cards.
At the end of the day I build a trusting relationship with the stores I shop at. Most importantly all the stores have become part of my daily activities so no need to buy $5000 a time.
At the end of the day I build a trusting relationship with the stores I shop at. Most importantly all the stores have become part of my daily activities so no need to buy $5000 a time.
No offense, but that's not a very good strategy. You're not doing anything wrong, so why are you pretending to do something else? All of my best store relationships have been built by letting the right people know at the right time exactly what I'm doing, not making up some bogus reason that won't hold water the second someone starts asking questions or doing some basic arithmetic.