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)
Mar 7, 2014, 5:42 am
#5131
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHL
Posts: 930
In that case, you can still reload Serve with VR.
There is NO reason to not have Serve over BlueBird, unless you need the checks. That is why we are keeping one BB, and converting rest to Serve.
Even still, Serve has...
1. Higher Limits on loads, $7k between store/credit/debit.
2. NO FEES on instore cc loads.
3. NO NEED to to hunt down VR.
Even if CVS takes away the credit card loads, even if.... you can still load with vanilla reload, AND credit card online.
...but it's ok, keep using BB. Less on Serve. =)
So far, the 5 or 6 CVS stores I visit, I am one of the only ones reloading Serve at cash register. I do know 3 of my stores are visited by other MS'ers, and still hunt VR.
There is NO reason to not have Serve over BlueBird, unless you need the checks. That is why we are keeping one BB, and converting rest to Serve.
Even still, Serve has...
1. Higher Limits on loads, $7k between store/credit/debit.
2. NO FEES on instore cc loads.
3. NO NEED to to hunt down VR.
Even if CVS takes away the credit card loads, even if.... you can still load with vanilla reload, AND credit card online.
...but it's ok, keep using BB. Less on Serve. =)
So far, the 5 or 6 CVS stores I visit, I am one of the only ones reloading Serve at cash register. I do know 3 of my stores are visited by other MS'ers, and still hunt VR.
Mar 7, 2014, 5:45 am
#5132
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Warm, sunny Florida
Posts: 251
The $500 per swipe limit @ CVS would drive me nuts though. Not to mention that $1k of it comes from Debit (I know ST Debit). BB just seems more convenient to me I think.
Mar 7, 2014, 5:50 am
#5133
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: PHL based
Programs: USAir, UA, AA, BA, Hyatt, HHonors, SPG, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 356
New register requirement.. had CSR's at 2 different CVS's in northern Philly burbs comment on this in the past day... register now flashing a button asking CSR "Is the customer standing in front of you" when initial VR is rung up.
Both CSR's said there has been a lot of "very odd" activity lately with VRs and green dots..... individuals calling into the stores (mostly on overnight shift) trying to get CSR to activate cards and give PIN numbers to caller.....
Hopefully this new requirement works and cuts down on fraud activity.... if not, and if CVS can't effectively stop the fraudsters, the end may be in sight for CVS allowing CC for VRs
Both CSR's said there has been a lot of "very odd" activity lately with VRs and green dots..... individuals calling into the stores (mostly on overnight shift) trying to get CSR to activate cards and give PIN numbers to caller.....
Hopefully this new requirement works and cuts down on fraud activity.... if not, and if CVS can't effectively stop the fraudsters, the end may be in sight for CVS allowing CC for VRs
Mar 7, 2014, 6:28 am
#5134
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHL
Posts: 930
I have heard the same. Too bad those idiots ruin it for the rest of us.
Mar 7, 2014, 6:31 am
#5135
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,066
I haven't heard about this. Are you in Bucks County too?
Mar 7, 2014, 6:36 am
#5136
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: PHL based
Programs: USAir, UA, AA, BA, Hyatt, HHonors, SPG, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 356
Mar 7, 2014, 6:47 am
#5137
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Midwest U.S.A
Programs: Too many to list. Since the early 90's.
Posts: 1,407
You idiots that abuse a system, take things too far, hide VRs or other cards because you can't buy as many as you want at one visit, you who step over the line of legal manufactured spending, please stop for a moment and take time to think. You ruin systems, businesses and profit for all. You get yourself shut down as well as many others who, unlike you, stay within the rules. You are not interested in longevity. You only focus on right now and your habits. You know what I'm talking about.
Mar 7, 2014, 7:30 am
#5138
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: CHS
Programs: United 1K, Globalist Hyatt, Plat Marriott
Posts: 289
I'm sure some of those idiots read this forum. Let me address them for a moment:
You idiots that abuse a system, take things too far, hide VRs or other cards because you can't buy as many as you want at one visit, you who step over the line of legal manufactured spending, please stop for a moment and take time to think. You ruin systems, businesses and profit for all. You get yourself shut down as well as many others who, unlike you, stay within the rules. You are not interested in longevity. You only focus on right now and your habits. You know what I'm talking about.
You idiots that abuse a system, take things too far, hide VRs or other cards because you can't buy as many as you want at one visit, you who step over the line of legal manufactured spending, please stop for a moment and take time to think. You ruin systems, businesses and profit for all. You get yourself shut down as well as many others who, unlike you, stay within the rules. You are not interested in longevity. You only focus on right now and your habits. You know what I'm talking about.
Mar 7, 2014, 7:32 am
#5139
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: CHS
Programs: United 1K, Globalist Hyatt, Plat Marriott
Posts: 289
My cashier asked me today if I knew the person I was giving the VRs too. I chuckled and confirmed ‘yes.’ He said an older Asian man came in to buy $3,500 because someone impersonating his son called him and asked him to buy VRs and send them overseas.
Mar 7, 2014, 7:40 am
#5140
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 457
Deleted.
Last edited by MsArbi; Oct 29, 2014 at 11:48 pm
Mar 7, 2014, 7:51 am
#5141
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 117
5K a day, in one swipe is efficient and pays off handsomely. Further, I would think that would give the CC issuers reason to look at that card closely. But like I said, if you got all the time to spend going from CVS to CVS, > YMMV
Mar 7, 2014, 8:25 am
#5142
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 274
How do you switch an account from BB to Serve? Do you have to contact AmEx and make a request, or can you just sign up for a Serve account with a SSN and they'll just cancel the existing BB account and set up the Serve?
Mar 7, 2014, 8:25 am
#5143
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: SFO/ORD
Posts: 212
In that case, you can still reload Serve with VR.
There is NO reason to not have Serve over BlueBird, unless you need the checks. That is why we are keeping one BB, and converting rest to Serve.
Even still, Serve has...
1. Higher Limits on loads, $7k between store/credit/debit.
2. NO FEES on instore cc loads.
3. NO NEED to to hunt down VR.
Even if CVS takes away the credit card loads, even if.... you can still load with vanilla reload, AND credit card online.
...but it's ok, keep using BB. Less on Serve. =)
So far, the 5 or 6 CVS stores I visit, I am one of the only ones reloading Serve at cash register. I do know 3 of my stores are visited by other MS'ers, and still hunt VR.
There is NO reason to not have Serve over BlueBird, unless you need the checks. That is why we are keeping one BB, and converting rest to Serve.
Even still, Serve has...
1. Higher Limits on loads, $7k between store/credit/debit.
2. NO FEES on instore cc loads.
3. NO NEED to to hunt down VR.
Even if CVS takes away the credit card loads, even if.... you can still load with vanilla reload, AND credit card online.
...but it's ok, keep using BB. Less on Serve. =)
So far, the 5 or 6 CVS stores I visit, I am one of the only ones reloading Serve at cash register. I do know 3 of my stores are visited by other MS'ers, and still hunt VR.
(ISIS is the payless wallet , competing against Google Wallet ?)
$40 signup bonus -- sign up for Serve via ISIS: http://slickdeals.net/f/6669596-40-f...ount-thru-isis
AT&T promo: http://slickdeals.net/f/6767562-free...er-transaction
Wells Fargo Credit Card holders get 20% cashback on all eligible ISIS purchases: http://slickdeals.net/f/6668964-isis...0-off-free-320
Mar 7, 2014, 8:33 am
#5144
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: SFO/ORD
Posts: 212
You can only have 1 account open at a time. Make sure you have cleared out your BB balance (have it zero'd from Bill Pay, ATM withdrawals, etc.) Buying a temp card is useless -- as you can only load money. You can't use Serve BP features until you get the permanent card. It only took 5 days for the perm. card to arrive.
Definitely recommend looking into the ISIS payment before jumping in... to leverage the signup bonuses. Also ISIS gives you higher CC online load limits!!!!
Technically -- though it's probably already discussed in the thread below -- you could have $5K in BB loaded and then tap out another $6-7K for Serve in that one month when you switch over.
Follow the instructions in the wiki:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...-payments.html
Mar 7, 2014, 10:06 am
#5145
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 908
Has anybody tried to load Serve at CVS today?
I went to my CVS, and one my favorite cashier (who never loaded Serve before, VRs yes).
She press on her monitor "load Prepaid", then the amount. Then swipe the Serve card, and a denied screen came up. She tried it like 4 times with two different Serve card.
I told her that was weird since her manager did it yesterday. She said,"Sorry, next time you see the manager, ask him how he does it"
I don't think there is anything special, and I think she is doing it right.
FYI: 1 Serve card was new, and activated last night. 2nd Serve card only has 3k load this month.
I went to my CVS, and one my favorite cashier (who never loaded Serve before, VRs yes).
She press on her monitor "load Prepaid", then the amount. Then swipe the Serve card, and a denied screen came up. She tried it like 4 times with two different Serve card.
I told her that was weird since her manager did it yesterday. She said,"Sorry, next time you see the manager, ask him how he does it"
I don't think there is anything special, and I think she is doing it right.
FYI: 1 Serve card was new, and activated last night. 2nd Serve card only has 3k load this month.