It seems to me the ones I frequent have this banner at the top of the gift card center since the VRs changed.

Besides your math being off by a buck or so, this is a very specific case that requires 1. you have a 5x card, and 2. you have no other cash out methods whatsoever. Most people are not in that same situation. It requires a lot more work too, given that you now have to take an additional step. But if it works for you, why do you care what other people thing. Keep doing it and be happy.

Um, you can't buy VR with GC. At least no where that I've found.

you have tried as a debit transaction? what happened?

VRs at where I live are all cash only as well. No "debit or cash." Good old "cash or out"

Doesn't work. You get alternate tender required.

Since VGCs cannot be loaded at WM, I don't want to go to CVS any more.

Well this party sure died.

Stopped off at a CVS after making a MO deposit and was picking up 2 more OVs when it looked like there might be a problem when closing the transaction. Everything was going well. Handed over the OV's, handed over the ID and the CC and when the clerk was swiping for the payment alarms went off. I immediately tried to think 'did I hit my limit on the card?'. I purchased 2 OV's earlier and thought maybe they flagged my ID and it went through the whole CVS network!

The clerk stepped over to the phone and called up someone....I could see what she was doing.

What seemed like eons and feeling the line of customers growing behind me she came back and said...."see what you did" then smiled.

Turns out it was my CC company that thought it was an unauthorized transaction. I spoke with the CC rep and everything was fine.

*phew*

International Incident Averted!

Today a CVS cashier "wasn't comfortable" (?!) scanning my ID and wanted to do 4 separate transactions--one for each OV. I insisted a couple of times but relented and said I'll just get two OVs because I don't want a pocket full of receipts. The second one got a fraud alert and while I cleared it up on the phone, the second transaction wouldn't go through immediately so I ended up with just one card. The lady said she'd scan my ID next time. Jeez.

I love my CVS. Every time I walk in there they know EXACTLY what I'm getting. Don't even have to say anything and no one cares in the least.

I've known this particular cashier for years (I'd gone into the same place when I was in college) and the only MSing I've done there has been small denomination AGCs. But now I have a Citi Exec to spend on. :) It was just a new thing for her.

About to plan a churn of a few cards since I took a break for the last year or so.

Anyone have any favorite cards for CVS? Doesn't seem like many offer pharmacy bonus, except the random Freedom category.

And I've found a MO sweet spot, so my CVS still has a special place in my heart.

A couple cashiers at my local CVS know I'd come in regularly to buy cards... first the VR when you could still get them with a CC, and then the VGCs until WM killed those. Unfortunately nothing left to go there for, since all GCs are vanilla/incomm.

Suppose I can do the MO thing, but its pretty limited in my area with who accepts debit cards.

how did you find a MO spot before you picked the gift card!? do you know what even works over there.