I'm sorry to hear that. I'm not the only one doing this for not just myself and family, but also for charity. Not that I expect everyone to do that. But every cb I get, part goes straight to charity. I've been at this (ms, points, miles, cb) since the late 90's utilizing many different ways as opportunities come and go. I'm one who won't hide VRs just because I can't buy them all and I suspect you're the same way and not really greedy. In fact, most people on this forum including yourself are here to help forum members and you in turn get knowledge too which helps generate points, miles and cashback. Maybe we just have a different view on what greed is and that's okay. To me, true greed is wanting to succeed at something even when others get hurt by one's actions. Striving to be successful, supplying your family's needs and even using your success to help those who can't help themselves is certainly not greed.

I was able to buy $2500 in Houston today.

Yes it does. Look at the pic again

Item #955073 Amex Swipe Reload should imply Amex Serve reload. I guess we'll see beginning tomorrow on 4/1 through 4/4.

I have $9K in reserve. If the effective date is 4/4, that would be nice. My cards will cycle in between and I could make another go at it.

Or I could just call it a day and go to the mall! :D

^

Ironic. Just saw on the local news in Atlanta about a guy using 4 fake $100 bills to buy moneypacks.

I'm guessing they can take everyone on this thread off the suspect list.

The charity angle reminds me of the Extreme Couponers who clear out a grocery store on some coupon deal and then donate some or all of the product to charity. Personally, I don't see this as charity, unless you subscribe to the Robin Hood theory of charity.

I'm not saying the people who MS are bad people. On average, we're probably no better or worse than anybody else. But the reality is that we're using our intelligence to game a system for personal enrichment. I can't claim it's a particularly noble endeavor. But if you're using the money for other good, more power to you.

Bought two in the east bay today just fine, cashier did say unprompted "I heard these were going away."

While we are trying to game the system and get extras I won't lose any sleep at night. The banks are making massive profits in general and know exactly what is going on. MS is built into their calculations and obviously they have the ability to shut it down if they wish.

+1
I stopped by 3 cvs's in the east bay area, 2/3 told me unprompted that on 4/3 all money packs and surprisingly all gift card were going cash only. Im not sure if i totally believe the gift card part.

Menlo Park CVS told me that too -- basically, that merchant gift cards (Starbucks, Amazon, etc) can be bought with CC but prepaids and VGCs/MGCs are going cash only.

+1...I could even go on about the financial crisis, but I will save it.

The yogurt guy?

Thanks. I don't see it as "gaming the system" at all. When programs are created and put in place, there are scenarios already expected and certain financial expectations and allowances thought out. Even 'free' award seats on planes actually are still in profit territory. They know how much a card issuer paid for those points which in turn went to the points redeemer. The card issuer knows how much it cost them to market and acquire a new customer and how much it's worth it to them to promote a campaign in which a few will reap greatly while the majority makes the card issuer more money. It is then up to each program participant how much they allow a certain amount of ms'ing. We spend by their own rules. Retailers have used 'loss leaders' for years to get customers in their doors. In the end, they make back their investment and then some, along with brand loyalty, trans fees and more.

If CVS does implement cash only in all stores and no more Serve loading with cc or even debit at registers then they will lose some customers and even pharmacy customers since some of us ms'ers found it convenient to bring our pharmacy needs to them. But, they've thought all that out and know what's worth it to them. Of course, no company can predict all effects when taking away a popular item that brought traffic in their stores, but I'm sure they've got some smart folks that have crunched the numbers to the best of their abilities.

In frequenting CVS for Serve loads I've found myself stopping by CVS for things even when I wasn't there for ms'ing. The marketing worked. Obviously, if CVS changes things at all stores my shopping habits will also change and I'll begin frequenting other avenues. There's so much online for ms'ers to order through so many portals. CVS was just one part of my spending and other pharmacies are available to me where my other ms journeys take me.

It's greed when it's GC promotions at OM or Staples or whatever and one tries to talk past limits. It's greed when retailers such as Wags and CVS have promotions that customers profit from and once again, one uses methods to go around limits, clearing shelves and thus keeping others from benefiting from products on special.

But, buying VRs with CCs as permitted to accumulate points and miles? Really? I have to agree to disagree.

If I go to Wags and buy something that I receive for free after RR and then I go again and again to get past the limit of the one per person, I likely have greed in my heart, no matter how I try and explain it away.

But, me going to CVS and buying VRs and they willingly sell them to me with CC payments and I don't go past any limits or take them all from the display? A form of addictive behavior, perhaps...