Questioning a stated cash-only policy is a very bad idea. Doesn't matter if the policy exists or if you've bought with CC before -- if you're told "cash only", you move on and come back later. Otherwise you're drawing attention to it and are likely to make the cashier/supervisor/whatever dig in further against you.

Both times she called the popos nobody answered.
Don't remember her exact words, but to paraphrase:
She replied to her colleague "God forbid if there was an actual emergency (or if we were getting robbed), they wouldn't pick up/get here."


Agreed, lesson learned.

^

The few times I've heard "cash-only," I surreptitiously make note of the cashier (if it's a store where I've had success before) and just walk away, saying "I don't have the cash right now, let me go to the ATM."

My store has a custom policy of their own - gift card purchases over $100 are cash only. Oh well, there that goes.

Or maybe she was bluffing? If she threatened me with that crapolla - id encourage her to call them. I have my CC and ID card on me at all times. I am not doing ANYTHING illegal.

In OC CA, the 4 stores I visit also have a $1000/day limit, but don't have any other rules. They still allow purchasing using gift cards that I hoarded from OD before they stopped selling variable load Visas. There is alot of drama lately from people reporting that the VR game is ending and I rush to my local stores to load up; only to find that it was just a one-off situation.

I know of a local store that is taking names and other info and using IRS laws as reasoning, but it is only 1 out of 10 stores I visit. Even if the VR game is ending, we will soon see the next game pop up. My experimenting with the "Home Fixer Card"is going well and is probably the next VR.

FYI - A prominent travel blogger posted that as of this morning, all NYC stores owned by Albany LLC are only accepting cash for VR. And yes, it's the store most of us frequent.

Damn. That goes on in my head every day:rolleyes: Just one more won't hurt!


I get a lump in my throat if I happen to get a call or text anywhere close to when I've just left my local CVS.

Honestly, people are way too afraid of FR. Yeah, it's a pain, but unless you lied about your income on your application, a FR is way less scary than Chase-style adverse action (instant execution).

just wondering the best way to unload the VRs? Do you actually use it to pay rent/mortgage/other non-cc expenses? I don't mind doing it but just not convinced BB will send these out on time.. A mixture of ATM withdrawals/checks to friends/family seems to be the cleanest approach.. thoughts?

Cheers,

Most of us are either using BB to pay rent/mortgage/other bills that don't accept CC, or paying CC directly (most don't pay Amex, but some do). I have three mortgages and use BB to pay all of them. Payment usually takes 2 business days to arrive.

pay the cc you got the VRs from.

My local CVS is now storing the beans behind the cashier next to the cigarettes. The spot in the gift card holder is replaced with a paper sticker that says that the cards are behind the counter. They still take credit cards though but the limit is one card per transaction.

can CVS do anything about buying in the morning AND the evening? I mean.. they dont track the name / credit card number and then make sure you only buy once a day, do they?

You can do it if you get different cashier or the cashier doesn't remember you.