Aug 2, 13, 7:51 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)
Jun 10, 13, 9:09 pm
#691
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 14,161
There is an Extrabucks $5 offer for 2 Visa cards this week at CVS (tied to your Extracare card), so you can save a little on the activation fee. Unfortunately, it seems to be 1 time only, because when I tried again in another store, the receipt said "Offer Limit Reached" and I received no Extrabucks.
You also can't use the $5 coupon to purchase gift cards.
You also can't use the $5 coupon to purchase gift cards.
Jun 10, 13, 10:48 pm
#692
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,512
There is an Extrabucks $5 offer for 2 Visa cards this week at CVS (tied to your Extracare card), so you can save a little on the activation fee. Unfortunately, it seems to be 1 time only, because when I tried again in another store, the receipt said "Offer Limit Reached" and I received no Extrabucks.
You also can't use the $5 coupon to purchase gift cards.
You also can't use the $5 coupon to purchase gift cards.
Jun 10, 13, 11:01 pm
#693
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Marriott, Radisson, AA, UA
Posts: 360
There is an Extrabucks $5 offer for 2 Visa cards this week at CVS (tied to your Extracare card), so you can save a little on the activation fee. Unfortunately, it seems to be 1 time only, because when I tried again in another store, the receipt said "Offer Limit Reached" and I received no Extrabucks.
You also can't use the $5 coupon to purchase gift cards.
You also can't use the $5 coupon to purchase gift cards.
$5 extrabucks for VR cards too, or only Visa cards?
Jun 10, 13, 11:03 pm
#694
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: AL
Programs: All of the Above
Posts: 1,374
Not VR's. Happy, it may not be in the ad, but I bet you'd still get it. Worth a shot.
Jun 10, 13, 11:51 pm
#695
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 14,161
Jun 11, 13, 1:18 am
#696
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 153
Has there ever been reported luck at 7-11? All the ones near me are well stocked, but have never taken CCs. Can't ever remember seeing a confirmed instance there.
Jun 11, 13, 7:32 pm
#698
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 514
I can confirm one successful attempt! It was the last VR in the store and they never restocked. So I never found the chance to repeat the success story!
Jun 12, 13, 5:51 am
#699
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 26,356
The limits on amount are IRS rules to prevent money laundering. If you're using cash you are legally limited to a certain amount and anything over $1k in cash requires certain info to be logged. Since a credit card is linked to a person they're not required to gather all the info. However even with a cc there are limits that are supposed to be followed. Now unless the DEA comes in and starts requesting the info most companies are lax in collecting the information.
Bottim line gift cards are an easy way to launder money and thus when you hear these rules being enforced you can bet someone just took advantage of a stores lax policies and the store got caught with It's pants down by the IRS/DEA.
Also Fyi, any cash transaction for over $5k requires an IRS form nowadays. It used to be $10k, but got lowered as more people where using the loophole to launder money.
Bottim line gift cards are an easy way to launder money and thus when you hear these rules being enforced you can bet someone just took advantage of a stores lax policies and the store got caught with It's pants down by the IRS/DEA.
Also Fyi, any cash transaction for over $5k requires an IRS form nowadays. It used to be $10k, but got lowered as more people where using the loophole to launder money.
Jun 12, 13, 8:47 am
#700
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: PVD/BOS
Posts: 879
The limits on amount are IRS rules to prevent money laundering. If you're using cash you are legally limited to a certain amount and anything over $1k in cash requires certain info to be logged. Since a credit card is linked to a person they're not required to gather all the info. However even with a cc there are limits that are supposed to be followed. Now unless the DEA comes in and starts requesting the info most companies are lax in collecting the information.
Bottim line gift cards are an easy way to launder money and thus when you hear these rules being enforced you can bet someone just took advantage of a stores lax policies and the store got caught with It's pants down by the IRS/DEA.
Also Fyi, any cash transaction for over $5k requires an IRS form nowadays. It used to be $10k, but got lowered as more people where using the loophole to launder money.
Bottim line gift cards are an easy way to launder money and thus when you hear these rules being enforced you can bet someone just took advantage of a stores lax policies and the store got caught with It's pants down by the IRS/DEA.
Also Fyi, any cash transaction for over $5k requires an IRS form nowadays. It used to be $10k, but got lowered as more people where using the loophole to launder money.
2 stores near me, one cashier out of about 25 visits has said 1k per day, everyone else is happy as a clam to let me buy as many thousands as I want with as many transactions as I want.
Also the cash transactions you reference are still 10k+ google is your friend.
Jun 12, 13, 8:53 am
#701
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,051
The limits on the amount have zero to do with the IRS do you think they care how much you are spending at CVS?
2 stores near me, one cashier out of about 25 visits has said 1k per day, everyone else is happy as a clam to let me buy as many thousands as I want with as many transactions as I want.
Also the cash transactions you reference are still 10k+ google is your friend.
2 stores near me, one cashier out of about 25 visits has said 1k per day, everyone else is happy as a clam to let me buy as many thousands as I want with as many transactions as I want.
Also the cash transactions you reference are still 10k+ google is your friend.
Jun 12, 13, 9:00 am
#702
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
Stop the blather, There is no IRS $1000 rule, CVS made it up and U go write a fictional book about it? This is already discussed
Jun 12, 13, 9:30 am
#703
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,051
Jun 12, 13, 10:00 am
#704
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
Yes, CVS can make up a rule, but be uniform in its implementation, if they are selective it can be 'discrimination'
Collecting 'data' with a pretext is questionable(privacy) these days....
Last edited by prasha11; Jun 12, 13 at 10:08 am
Jun 12, 13, 10:11 am
#705
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Runcorn aka Hades UK
Programs: HH, GP, PC
Posts: 92
So today I had a CVS clerk try to pull over an easily seen scam that I'm sure all of you will find amusing.
I stopped in prior to a graduation dinner at a CVS I've don't normally go to (They've never had VRs) to pick up a gift card to give to someone as an actual gift. When I went to pay the clerk informed me that ALL gift card purchases were cash only, no debit, no credit. Everything from Starbucks, XBox Live, to pre-paids. I thought he was joking at first, but he went on this big long rant about how his manager stated all gift cards were cash only with no exceptions.
I didn't really have the time to argue so I was actually going to pay cash for the Starbucks gift card. This was until he also told me it was also store policy to require me to pay for my gift card separately from the greeting card I also wanted, and he wasn't able to give a receipt for the gift card purchase.
I knew he was trying to get me to just hand over cash, pocket it himself, and give me an unactivated gift card. I told him thanks for the offer, I can't do it though since I need the receipt for business expense reimbursement.
I did however purchase the greeting card with cash to get a receipt with the cashier's name on it for proof. He conveniently also attempted to give me change for a $10 instead of the $20 I gave him. Once the transaction was done, I told him that maybe next time he'll have better luck picking someone to ripoff than the person who used to make a living investigating internal theft, as well as counting millions of dollar in cash and coins each day. I then made it a point to pull the receipt close up to my eyes like I was Mr. Magoo, read off his name and the transaction time real loud, and tell him I'm sure his manager and CVS corporate will get a huge laugh out of this in the morning.
By his loud expression of "Oh ****ing **** man, what the ****" while I was walking out I don't think he found it as amusing as I did.
I stopped in prior to a graduation dinner at a CVS I've don't normally go to (They've never had VRs) to pick up a gift card to give to someone as an actual gift. When I went to pay the clerk informed me that ALL gift card purchases were cash only, no debit, no credit. Everything from Starbucks, XBox Live, to pre-paids. I thought he was joking at first, but he went on this big long rant about how his manager stated all gift cards were cash only with no exceptions.
I didn't really have the time to argue so I was actually going to pay cash for the Starbucks gift card. This was until he also told me it was also store policy to require me to pay for my gift card separately from the greeting card I also wanted, and he wasn't able to give a receipt for the gift card purchase.
I knew he was trying to get me to just hand over cash, pocket it himself, and give me an unactivated gift card. I told him thanks for the offer, I can't do it though since I need the receipt for business expense reimbursement.
I did however purchase the greeting card with cash to get a receipt with the cashier's name on it for proof. He conveniently also attempted to give me change for a $10 instead of the $20 I gave him. Once the transaction was done, I told him that maybe next time he'll have better luck picking someone to ripoff than the person who used to make a living investigating internal theft, as well as counting millions of dollar in cash and coins each day. I then made it a point to pull the receipt close up to my eyes like I was Mr. Magoo, read off his name and the transaction time real loud, and tell him I'm sure his manager and CVS corporate will get a huge laugh out of this in the morning.
By his loud expression of "Oh ****ing **** man, what the ****" while I was walking out I don't think he found it as amusing as I did.
