New to Manufactured Spending? Start Here.
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#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Beverly Hills
Posts: 713
New to Manufactured Spending? Start Here.
Never bought VRs before, looking to maybe get into Manufactured Spend on my Barclays US card (not playing games with Citi/Amex/Chase loyalty). Can a mod shoot this into which ever thread discusses what VRs are, how to use them for manufactured spend, etc. Not trying to be lazy, it just seems like there are a million threads with specific questions or with specific providers, but I haven't been able to find a "here's how to use VRs for manufactured spend" thread.

#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...rd-online.html

#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Beverly Hills
Posts: 713
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, albeit with flaming. I don't necessarily *care* about "Loading VRs Online" because I don't know why that is a big deal. Again, I was looking for an introduction, not particular questions about the process. But thanks for the help nonetheless.

#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 45,181
Moderator action
Vanilla Reloads are one method of adding value to an American Express Bluebird account. The wikipost at the top of this thread summarizes why a Bluebird account is useful, read some posts in that thread and its predecessor to flesh out your understanding.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...er-checks.html
There are other instruments which can be used to add value to a Bluebird account. See these threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...bit-cards.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...er-checks.html
There are other instruments which can be used to add value to a Bluebird account. See these threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...bit-cards.html
Last edited by mia; Aug 1, 13 at 3:05 pm

#5
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1
Confused- Too many Vanillas- should I buy?
I'm newbie here but have tried to read some of the threads on Vanilla but just can't get all the names right. Confusing to me and don't want to buy the wrong cards.
I recently moved to New York and although there are lots of CVS stores in NYC area, almost none seem to have the Vanilla Prepaid card needed to load for Bluebird. Unlike my old home town, NYC do not have any walmarts anywhere near and I no longer have a car as parking spots are extremely expensive. I do not the option of going to nearby Walmart to load debit cards to BB and only convenient if have the correct Vanilla card to do so online.
CVS stores seem to have lots of "One Vanilla cards" and "My Vanilla cards"-which said this is not a GC but reloadable.
I ask the CVS staff if there are any differences in Vanilla cards and all said they are the same? Cant trust their words on this as I think they are not the same ones I need.
So what are the differences between the Vanilla card I need to buy inorder to load BB online and One Vanilla and My Vanilla. I think they are all debit cards right as all 3 have PIN numbers. Also all 3 have the Vanilla symbol (vanilla ice cream cone symbol).
Thanks
I recently moved to New York and although there are lots of CVS stores in NYC area, almost none seem to have the Vanilla Prepaid card needed to load for Bluebird. Unlike my old home town, NYC do not have any walmarts anywhere near and I no longer have a car as parking spots are extremely expensive. I do not the option of going to nearby Walmart to load debit cards to BB and only convenient if have the correct Vanilla card to do so online.
CVS stores seem to have lots of "One Vanilla cards" and "My Vanilla cards"-which said this is not a GC but reloadable.
I ask the CVS staff if there are any differences in Vanilla cards and all said they are the same? Cant trust their words on this as I think they are not the same ones I need.
So what are the differences between the Vanilla card I need to buy inorder to load BB online and One Vanilla and My Vanilla. I think they are all debit cards right as all 3 have PIN numbers. Also all 3 have the Vanilla symbol (vanilla ice cream cone symbol).
Thanks

#6
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 19
You want the Vanilla Reload packs. They look like this:

Ask the cashier to put $500 on it (or whatever other amount you'd want). Go to https://www.vanillareload.com/ to upload it to your Bluebird account using your Bluebird card number and the 10-digit PIN on the back of the Vanilla Reload pack.

Ask the cashier to put $500 on it (or whatever other amount you'd want). Go to https://www.vanillareload.com/ to upload it to your Bluebird account using your Bluebird card number and the 10-digit PIN on the back of the Vanilla Reload pack.

#7
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,073
No, the One Vanilla and My vanilla will not work. You want Vanilla Reload Network. Google it and you'll find lots of pictures on the blogs about which one to get and which ones not to.

#8
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MCO
Programs: AA 1MM, BA, UA, HH Dia, CC Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 795
Read this: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...hlight=vanilla
Then read this forum some more & more.
/spoon
Then read this forum some more & more.
/spoon

#9
VR (like the one in post two) will work. Vanilla gift cards can be loaded at WM. Read blogs, they're like FT in concentrated form.
Let me link you to a 541 page thread explaining how useless sending someone a 541 page thread is.
Read this: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...hlight=vanilla
Then read this forum some more & more.
/spoon
Then read this forum some more & more.
/spoon

#10
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 77
Vanilla GC question (newbie)
Hi all,
I'm fairly new to Manufactured Spending techniques, currently I've been purchasing Chase Gift Cards on my CSP, converting to MO's at WM, and paying off student loans with the MO's. I'm looking to get the AMEX Starwood and Club Carlson CC cards shortly (as well as a Bluebird AMEX account) and will need to find alternative methods to meet minimum spending requirements bc Chase GC's can only be purchased with Chase CC/DC's.
I had a couple questions with Vanilla Reloads. First off, I understand they're typically $3.95-$4.95 for a $500 card. When you either spend/deposit the initial $500, is there another $3.95-$4.95 charge for reloading on the same card? The major selling point for me with the Chase GC is that they're currently free of charge and I want to keep CPM down. Also, I've read some posts stating Office Depot will not be accepting CC's for gift cards (not that it necessarily affects me, I don't get 5x points for office supplies currently). Do you guys anticipate this trend to grow across other stores/will I struggle utilizing GC's to meet minimum spend? Finally, not having used Bluebird before, is it relatively hassle free to deposit GC's? I know there's plenty of tutorials across the blogs but I just wanted to get general consensus for an average person trying to reduce travel expenses through points/miles.
Any suggestions/comments are appreciated! Thanks.
I'm fairly new to Manufactured Spending techniques, currently I've been purchasing Chase Gift Cards on my CSP, converting to MO's at WM, and paying off student loans with the MO's. I'm looking to get the AMEX Starwood and Club Carlson CC cards shortly (as well as a Bluebird AMEX account) and will need to find alternative methods to meet minimum spending requirements bc Chase GC's can only be purchased with Chase CC/DC's.
I had a couple questions with Vanilla Reloads. First off, I understand they're typically $3.95-$4.95 for a $500 card. When you either spend/deposit the initial $500, is there another $3.95-$4.95 charge for reloading on the same card? The major selling point for me with the Chase GC is that they're currently free of charge and I want to keep CPM down. Also, I've read some posts stating Office Depot will not be accepting CC's for gift cards (not that it necessarily affects me, I don't get 5x points for office supplies currently). Do you guys anticipate this trend to grow across other stores/will I struggle utilizing GC's to meet minimum spend? Finally, not having used Bluebird before, is it relatively hassle free to deposit GC's? I know there's plenty of tutorials across the blogs but I just wanted to get general consensus for an average person trying to reduce travel expenses through points/miles.
Any suggestions/comments are appreciated! Thanks.

#11
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,073
Fee to purchase VR is 3.95. No fee to load to BB. Some places are hit or miss on accepting CC, but CV$ generally is a go (I've bought many there and never rejected).
Loading BB with gift cards is super easy, especially at kiosk. As you said, there are plenty of tutorials.
Loading BB with gift cards is super easy, especially at kiosk. As you said, there are plenty of tutorials.

#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 45,181
A Vanilla Reload is not a giftcard. It cannot be used to purchase goods or services. It can only be used to add value to a reloadable card, such as American Express Bluebird. Cards which can be loaded are listed on the packaging. The Vanilla Reload itself is a single use instrument - it cannot be loaded more than once.
Last edited by mia; Aug 2, 13 at 1:54 pm

#13
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9
Bluebird Process Clarification
Hi,
So I'm a college student, recently getting into the points game. I recently was approved for and received a Chase Saphire Preferred card with a $5,000 limit (college student).
Reading through this forum, I wanted to make sure that I fully understand the requirements for using manufactured flier points.
1. Register a bluebird account online.
2. Go to Walmart/CVS, buy a vanilla refill card, put $1,000 on two cards (max per day?)
3. Load money onto bluebird account
4. Go to ATM, pull out money from bluebird account
5. Rinse, repeat
Correct?
Also, considering my limit, what is the best amount to put on the card of manufactured purchases per month? Outside of that purchase will only be ~$500-1000
So I'm a college student, recently getting into the points game. I recently was approved for and received a Chase Saphire Preferred card with a $5,000 limit (college student).
Reading through this forum, I wanted to make sure that I fully understand the requirements for using manufactured flier points.
1. Register a bluebird account online.
2. Go to Walmart/CVS, buy a vanilla refill card, put $1,000 on two cards (max per day?)
3. Load money onto bluebird account
4. Go to ATM, pull out money from bluebird account
5. Rinse, repeat
Correct?
Also, considering my limit, what is the best amount to put on the card of manufactured purchases per month? Outside of that purchase will only be ~$500-1000

#14
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MCO
Programs: AA 1MM, BA, UA, HH Dia, CC Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 795

#15
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 749
First off, Welcome to FT.
Secondly; This is a game that can have some serious negative consequences. TTnC4me has linked you to an excellent thread on bluebird.
This is going to sound like a lot of work, but you really need to read the whole thread TTnC4me linked, along with the following two:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...ow-1k-day.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...pend-higc.html
The second one can show you what can go wrong if you don't really "Get" what you're doing. I realize reading those threads could take hours--but you wouldn't take an exam in school without preparing for it; similarly you shouldn't start down the roads you're asking about without reading these threads (at a minimum).
Secondly; This is a game that can have some serious negative consequences. TTnC4me has linked you to an excellent thread on bluebird.
This is going to sound like a lot of work, but you really need to read the whole thread TTnC4me linked, along with the following two:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...ow-1k-day.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...pend-higc.html
The second one can show you what can go wrong if you don't really "Get" what you're doing. I realize reading those threads could take hours--but you wouldn't take an exam in school without preparing for it; similarly you shouldn't start down the roads you're asking about without reading these threads (at a minimum).
