I went to my local CVS yesterday for the first time to purchase OV with my Amex GC after using WG and RA recently. The CVS cashier made me split the transaction for two OV and the card machine made me hand her the card! A little awkward because as we know, the Amex GC has "Gift Card" in big letters. She didn't give me any issues, but was nothing like WG or RA where I just swipe and go.

Yesterday at local CVS: was getting 5 OVs, girl asks for SM, he comes over, she says" he is trying to buy these w CC, is it OK?" SM: " Does he have ID? Name matches on card? Then do it" Made my day....

An employee at the CVS I frequent told me a few days ago that in a few weeks they're switching to cash only. Only 2 of 5 in my in my general vicinity take cc. If this holds up, hopefully the citi exec card dies too, for my sake anyway. I'm still a rookie ms'er.

And why would they take weeks or months to roll out a simple change of policy? I haven't heard of CCs being an issue at any CVS thus far, only AGCs. Has anyone else here been rejected trying to use a regular CC?

Any transaction over $1000 requires the cashier to pretend to care about your ID.

I always found that people without knowledge ruin a good thing going for others, things that people do out of ignorance or greed can mess up a good thing going, there is no need to ask any cashier any questions about your GC purchase, walk in pickup you GF pay with CC and leave, if that doesn't work try a different store, if they don't take your CC find a different store, no need to make a fuss and ask questions, most of the employees at CVS, waly, rite aide, walgreen dont know every store policy so your questions to any of them wont get you anywhere and wont get you any credible information, i was told by a wally employee 5 days ago that they dont load BB in that store, i just tried again with a different person the next day and worked fine. the moral of the story is, would you please STOP ASKING QUESTIONS in the stores, if you have a question, ask it here, someone will answer you.

While I agree in general, disagree about CVS, at least in this area. You will find a few who say things can't be done, but if you ask again, they will generally find that it's OK. CVS is more or less MS friendly, and my perception is that the employees feel less threatened about keeping their jobs (better employer than walmart!) Yes, sometimes a mananger may make a negative decision that ruins the store, but that store would be brittle anyway.

There are many instances posted here that show that questioning or stating politely at CVS can save you having to come back again later. I've done it with newer employees, but then I know that my local CVS is cool about MSing, the $5K limit and AmEx GCs. You should use your best instincts, though, because every employee is different -- if it seems that the employee might take it the wrong way, don't do it.

This. Building a rapport is huge in this game. My CVS has asked me what I do with all the GCs I buy. I explained it to them in a simplified format. Their response? "This seems like a pain in the ...." :D

I have. Suburban Detroit area. After VR went belly up, my primary CVS still allowed me to buy OV with cc until about a week or two ago. Big giant sign near the gift cards and on every register saying "ALL gift cards now cash only."

Yeah, my local cashiers all know what's up too. A few of them have asked over the last year, and I told them that there was an online bill pay service (Evolve), but it required a prepaid card to use. Enough MSers operate in this area that there is no sense in keeping a sense of secrecy. The last thing we need to to get shut down due to them thinking it's some giant conspiracy.

In fact, I think I helped out the cause one day because the manager was telling me she denied a sale to some guy wanting to come in and pay with AmEx gift cards and asked me if I knew anything about that. I told her the explanation and said I personally hadn't gone through the extra steps to buy the gift cards online. She seemed satisfied with the explanation, so perhaps it wouldn't result in a denied purchase the next time around. ^

I think attitudes have relaxed quite a bit too as cashiers encounter more customers doing what we're doing and as MSers get more comfortable in the routine at least at CVS. ^ I'm more worried about amateurs at Walmart ruining a good thing.

The two I frequent have employees and a manager that are always willing to sell me OV with cc. We often share a few laughs. It's kinda fun doing this and I feel that they root for what I do. They got a new cashier who transferred from one of the other cvs whose manager told its employees to refuse cc purchase of OV despite the memo. She checked with her new manager when I checked out and the manager said cc was okay after she saw my SO and me. She told that cashier 'them and another couple come in here all the time to buy a bunch of these'.

The employee that told me about the 'coming change' was at my other go-to cvs. It didn't really phase me much nor did I pry, kind of a younger kid, but I've been checking out with him for about 6 months. Who knows maybe he had a recent breakup or something and venting on someone is enjoying life to the fullest. I'm taking it with a grain of salt. However, I am going to max out all 4 of family's BB this month. I'll go into my other cvs to see if I run into the manager who's fascinated with my OV purchases to see if she says anything first. If not, then I won't pry though I'll post an update if something comes up.

^

Obvisouly you have not read any of this thread...there are numerous reports about certain stores not allowing cc's. You do not even have to read very far to find many reports of them

Here in North Carolina some are saying cash only
And others are taking the CC asking to see the last four digits
after I swipe the card , another asked for ID. At one that said cash only
she said her manager got a memo from corporate saying cash only
to help avoid fraud..