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Old Apr 8, 2014, 1:24 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: ericliujian
Grocery stores that sell variable GCs to $500. Please understand these are observations by those who contribute to this thread and are provided for the good of the community. Apologies if some chains are different in different areas. TY.

YES:
7-11 (Vanilla Visa $20-500) - Sometimes limited to 1x per buy. Sometimes buggy. Often codes as gas station.
Big Y (CT/MA): m̶a̶x̶i̶m̶u̶m̶ ̶$̶1̶0̶0̶0̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶c̶h̶a̶r̶g̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶c̶r̶e̶d̶i̶t̶ ̶c̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶s̶o̶n̶,̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶;̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶m̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶p̶a̶i̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶c̶a̶s̶h̶̶ Cash or debit only
CVS: Vanilla, $2000 max 24 hours
Family Fare (hit and miss)
Food Lion (Post 287 reports no good CC experience. YMMV, Manager override needed cash only memo)
Giant - now accepts CCs as of 10/1/16 - recent change from past cash or debit only policy.
Glens
Haggen
HEB -- usually limited to $1000 total (with fees) but many times they'll sell 2-3 if you split into separate transactions.
H-T
Hy-Vee ($500 limit)
Hannafords (multiple reports that Visa / MC / AMEX GCs are no longer sold at stores)
Kroger (DL will be requested and DL no. entered, even if just buying 1). If you use CHIP PIN card, no DL will be requested
Lowe's Foods (Manager override needed)
Marianos
Meijer Mastercard ONLY (US Bank)
QFC
Ralph's - in So Cal they sell $500 variable load cards
Safeway/Albertsons - most (all?) stores sell $500 variable load. Their banners include Acme, Randalls/Tom Thumb, Vons/Pavilions, Shaw's/Star, and others.
Stop & Shop (when it's stocked - manager override required for $500 and up)
Stater Bros
Walgreen: Vanilla
Weiss: cash only
Winn-Dixie ($500 and up in single transaction requires override from manager for each card - but some cashiers have the override code, and almost all customer service reps have it) (Cash/debit only per #544: edit: varies by region)

PREVIOUSLY:
A&P - Out of business
Acme (DE/MD/NJ/PA). Many in NJ now say NO and stock as been pulled
Albertsons ($1K and up in single transaction requires override from manager and every single VGC over $1K requires override each time)
AutoZone (Vanilla Visa $20-500). Pulled off the shelf now (4/2018) - Update: Was told by store MGR these are seasonal thus expect OCT-JAN each year. If in stock (in back) they can sell them all year.
Jewel
Ralph's
Randalls ($500 VGC purchase requires manager override and they usually check CC vs photo ID)
Safeway ($500 and up in single transaction requires override from manager just 1 time)
ShopRite (not all). SR no longer stock variable load up to $500.00. The variable loads the have now only allow a max of $200.00 for the same 5.95 fee.
Vons ($500 and up in single transaction requires override from manager just 1 time)
Whole Foods $500 (Now only $200 max)

NO:
Publix ($50 and $25)
Festival Foods
Giant Eagle
Bi-Lo

Grocers that sell $200:
Most Albertsons' subsidiaries listed in 'PREVIOUSLY'
Bashas'
HEB
McCaffrey
Piggly Wiggly-up to 200 max. of 1k per transaction 4.95 fee no ID required
Shaws/Star Market $500 Amazon GCs are still around, but all other GCs are only up to $200 at this time.
Shop Rite
Tops
Wegmans
Whole Food

Improvements and additions welcome.

Note: this thread began as an attempt to find out if a Kroger store in the area where jan_believes was travelling might have the variable $500 Visa GC since the store where I was at the time, did not. It has morphed into a discussion about MOs (at Kroger, although other stores MAY be included but not mentioned), as well. Not the intent of the discussion. Use discretion, please. Local rules apply.
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Stores that sell $500 GCs(up to 2019)

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Old Jul 27, 2014, 5:43 pm
  #301  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,164
Originally Posted by voodoomonkey
Vons is a big YMMV. If I've got a cart full of groceries with a GC added in, they pretty often let me buy it. Other times I've tried just a GC alone and been turned down.
I agree. i always put the gift card at the end of the groceries at Vons. and most likely they would let you pay with a CC.
ninim2200 is offline  
Old Jul 28, 2014, 12:50 pm
  #302  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Gulf Coast of FL
Posts: 115
Looks like 2K triggers an ID check and a form-filling at Winn Dixie.

I've been buying 1500 at a clip with only some frowns and the manager okay and override, but that extra 500 nearly sent them over the edge. I was waiting for the poor cashier to call the police (she was new to me and possibly had never seen a gift card before). After lots of dithering they sent me to customer service, where I had to show my ID. The manager (who was younger, which fits with what some of you have said about it being easier with younger folks and good heavens I feel old) didn't give me any grief, just did her job and let me go. Took an extra ten minutes though.

Whew. 1500 it is.

In other news, is anyone else running low on supply? There are 3-4 stores around me at which I seem to be the only person buying the variables, and they're not restocking. Eep.
nittanylion1 is offline  
Old Jul 28, 2014, 2:01 pm
  #303  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 168
Originally Posted by ninim2200
I agree. i always put the gift card at the end of the groceries at Vons. and most likely they would let you pay with a CC.
I have about a 90% success rate buying VGC at Vons. I almost always buy some groceries with the GC. Ive had around 3 occasions where the cashier said "cash only"

I have never had a problem buying $500 VGC at Ralphs in So Cal. I usually only purchase 1 at a time but never get any hassle there.
IWOL is offline  
Old Aug 1, 2014, 4:11 pm
  #304  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,273
My Indiana Krogers have pulled all variable GC from the racks.
ZzzzX is offline  
Old Aug 1, 2014, 4:41 pm
  #305  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: PHL based
Programs: USAir, UA, AA, BA, Hyatt, HHonors, SPG, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 356
Acme

Wiki says Acme (NJ) is a yes for $500 VGC, but I'm not having any success. Can anyone confirm wiki is still accurate for Acme? TIA
jiffyjiff is offline  
Old Aug 1, 2014, 11:11 pm
  #306  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Posts: 1,983
Originally Posted by jiffyjiff
Wiki says Acme (NJ) is a yes for $500 VGC, but I'm not having any success. Can anyone confirm wiki is still accurate for Acme? TIA
I was able to buy there in May 2014, have not tried since.

When you say "not having any success", are you not finding the cards, or are they refusing to sell to you, or refusing to let you pay with cc?
CaptainMiles is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2014, 7:18 am
  #307  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 144
shoppers

[QUOTE=dministrator;23236447]Friends,

Can someone local to the areas, please check and report on the following:

Shoppers Food (VA and MD) - www.shoppersfood.com

I tried to buy a vgc at shoppers in va and it was a no go. Looks like the register is hard coded because it would not even go to an overide. The manager said that I could buy the fixed gc with a credit card but variable are cash of debit.
ntjane66 is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2014, 8:16 am
  #308  
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: MD
Programs: UA,AA,SPG
Posts: 61
[QUOTE=ntjane66;23298154]
Originally Posted by dministrator
Friends,

Can someone local to the areas, please check and report on the following:

Shoppers Food (VA and MD) - www.shoppersfood.com

I tried to buy a vgc at shoppers in va and it was a no go. Looks like the register is hard coded because it would not even go to an overide. The manager said that I could buy the fixed gc with a credit card but variable are cash of debit.
Yes, they don't sell variables with CC in MD. It's mentioned on top of the GC rack too.
SVUS is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2014, 8:36 am
  #309  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 88
[QUOTE=ntjane66;23298154]
Originally Posted by dministrator
Friends,

Can someone local to the areas, please check and report on the following:

Shoppers Food (VA and MD) - www.shoppersfood.com

I tried to buy a vgc at shoppers in va and it was a no go. Looks like the register is hard coded because it would not even go to an overide. The manager said that I could buy the fixed gc with a credit card but variable are cash of debit.
I tried one near Bethesda, MD and it was no go. (Variable US Bank MasterCard gift card)
JW008 is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2014, 9:17 am
  #310  
jza
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: UA, AA, MP, RR
Posts: 37
Originally Posted by nittanylion1
Looks like 2K triggers an ID check and a form-filling at Winn Dixie.

I've been buying 1500 at a clip with only some frowns and the manager okay and override, but that extra 500 nearly sent them over the edge. I was waiting for the poor cashier to call the police (she was new to me and possibly had never seen a gift card before). After lots of dithering they sent me to customer service, where I had to show my ID. The manager (who was younger, which fits with what some of you have said about it being easier with younger folks and good heavens I feel old) didn't give me any grief, just did her job and let me go. Took an extra ten minutes though.

Whew. 1500 it is.

In other news, is anyone else running low on supply? There are 3-4 stores around me at which I seem to be the only person buying the variables, and they're not restocking. Eep.
I've always done less than $1k, since $1k requires approval. I have had the same experience with supply of RL running out and not being restocked. A store that had 20-30 a couple of weeks ago is now completely out.
jza is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2014, 1:09 pm
  #311  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: PHL based
Programs: USAir, UA, AA, BA, Hyatt, HHonors, SPG, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 356
Originally Posted by CaptainMiles
I was able to buy there in May 2014, have not tried since.

When you say "not having any success", are you not finding the cards, or are they refusing to sell to you, or refusing to let you pay with cc?
Refusing to let pay with cc. They're stocked and can buy with cash.
jiffyjiff is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2014, 1:41 pm
  #312  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: By the airport
Programs: US Airways Chmn,SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond,Club Carlson Gold,Hyatt Plat,Avis FP,IHG Plat,Marriott Plat
Posts: 36
Originally Posted by traveltogo
I don't know if this applies to EVERY Meijer out there, but my local store doesn't have anything over $100 that you can purchase with a credit card.
All the Meijers in my area have always been cash only.
pilotb757 is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2014, 2:43 pm
  #313  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Plat, SPG & Marriott Gold, CC Silver
Posts: 541
Originally Posted by jiffyjiff
Refusing to let pay with cc. They're stocked and can buy with cash.
The Acme on Passyunk in South Philly actually has a sign on the GC rack showing all the different CC they take for purchase. Nonetheless, BF was refused by one of the cashiers for a single $500 card. He just moved to another lane and successfully made the purchase.

I've had better luck with the service desk - they at least know the procedure, although some reps think they have to do multiple transactions for multiple GCs.
PHLisa is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2014, 7:39 pm
  #314  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: DCA
Programs: US GP, *G, HHonors Gold, SPG
Posts: 141
DC is definitely getting a lot tougher. HT has pulled all variable GCs (and should be removed from the wiki), Safeways are consistently moving in a cash only direction, with more and more locations now cash only. Giant now sells far fewer variables and when you can find them they are behind the customer service desk. They are usually only letting me buy one at a time, whereas I used to be able to purchase 4-5 pretty easily.

-4 is never in stock in the city for vanilla GCs anymore.

Not sure if its this way in other cities, but I find that once I get to the outer burbs buying GCs is far easier. Been doing this game for about 3 years, and the changes since April have been the biggest I've seen by far.
arrek is offline  
Old Aug 5, 2014, 12:00 am
  #315  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 148
Originally Posted by ZzzzX
My Indiana Krogers have pulled all variable GC from the racks.
I went to Kroger in Indiana today. Was able to purchase 2 Visa Gift cards for $1000 total with CC. However, They were not accepted at Walmart for BB. The bank issued was US National. So, looks like another bank has stopped allowing BB transactions. On a side note...the cashier said they have a Lawyer that comes in and buys $40,000 worth of GC at a time. Thats Crazy!
ajhardee is offline  


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