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.
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
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.
Stores that sell $500 GCs(up to 2019)
#601
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
#602
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
Programs: DL Plat, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Credit Card Diamond
Posts: 8,789
#603
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: BOS
Posts: 814
Data point for Krogers in central Indy:
I went to three different Krogers today. Two Krogers allowed the purchase of the gift card (showed driver's license and all that), but at the third Kroger, they told me that, due to recent credit card fraud, they are no longer accepting credit cards for purchase of gift cards.
I went to three different Krogers today. Two Krogers allowed the purchase of the gift card (showed driver's license and all that), but at the third Kroger, they told me that, due to recent credit card fraud, they are no longer accepting credit cards for purchase of gift cards.
Visa: https://usa.visa.com/checkoutfees/contact.jsp
MasterCard: https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/cons...-shopping.html
#605
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
Merchants that take Visa and MasterCard cannot contractually refuse to accept them because of fraud committed by other people. File reports with Visa/MasterCard at the links below:
Visa: https://usa.visa.com/checkoutfees/contact.jsp
MasterCard: https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/cons...-shopping.html
Visa: https://usa.visa.com/checkoutfees/contact.jsp
MasterCard: https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/cons...-shopping.html
You can file those forms, I bet visa cannot do a thing about some of the complaints....
#606
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 427
As long as they aren't refusing to see to you because you're of a different race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, they can do whatever they want and are within their rights to do so.
My golden goose gas station took an $11K loss last week because of a credit card fraud purchasing VGCs. My manager friend was apologetic, but there was nothing he could do - he is now forbidden to sell these on a CC.
My golden goose gas station took an $11K loss last week because of a credit card fraud purchasing VGCs. My manager friend was apologetic, but there was nothing he could do - he is now forbidden to sell these on a CC.
#607
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 9
local Shop'n'save (small grocery chain in IL) stopped to allow cc for vgc purchase; I used to shop at Hy-Vee and buy 1000 vgc (500x2) per time, no problem. Although manager override is definitely needed (no matter how much I purchase, tried 490, still needs manager). Btw I truly like Hy-Vee cashiers. They are always so friendly and cheerful<3
#609
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: AZ
Posts: 250
Merchants that take Visa and MasterCard cannot contractually refuse to accept them because of fraud committed by other people. File reports with Visa/MasterCard at the links below:
Visa: https://usa.visa.com/checkoutfees/contact.jsp
MasterCard: https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/cons...-shopping.html
Visa: https://usa.visa.com/checkoutfees/contact.jsp
MasterCard: https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/cons...-shopping.html
Furthermore, it's entirely possible that large stores like Kroger, Target, etc. have negotiated custom agreements with Visa and MC and aren't bound by the publicly available policies.
#610
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 527
Oh baby. Papa just discovered a gold mine I intend to plunder. The joint is loaded to the gills with MB and USB fivers. Shoot, I thought I was gonna need a fainting couch.
Things have been getting kinda sparse at my usual haunts, so I took a little side trip to scout out some places and came up with nothing. Then I went into this place that I ALMOST DROVE ON PAST because I thought they probably didn't have anything.
Never know what you're gonna find at a sleepy little out-of-the-way place.
Things have been getting kinda sparse at my usual haunts, so I took a little side trip to scout out some places and came up with nothing. Then I went into this place that I ALMOST DROVE ON PAST because I thought they probably didn't have anything.
Never know what you're gonna find at a sleepy little out-of-the-way place.
#611
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: Southwest, SPG, IHG
Posts: 82
Gas/Grocery shops selling VGC's with CC in Iowa
Are there any gas stations/grocery stores in Iowa that allow VGC's to be bought with CC? I tried looking up all the ones that are listed in the wiki (the working ones), and none of them are either in Iowa or near me. I've tried cross referencing the Visa merchant code locator with the website for vgc availability, but all the gas stations I've been to don't allow VGC's to be bought using CC. (I'm especially interested in the gas stations, since I need to max out my Freedom before Sep 30th).
#614
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 148
YMMV, but the Jewel next to me just started limiting to $2000 a day. I can buy one gift card at a time and not need the Mangers "key". If you try to buy 2 at a time the Manager has to turn the key to accept payment. Manager told that Homeland Security is making them take down our information for anything over $1000 sale in GC. I filled out the paper work, but did not give them my SS # like it asked for. Instead used my DL#. NEVER give your Soc. #!!!!!!!!!!!
#615
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 348
I was able to take advantage of this week's WAG VGC sale in a store that previously had a one $500 card limit and without a fuss, if I may add. It was a different cashier. Brought her the 2 VGCs then pointed out the ad and to my surprise she said, "Sure". Finally! On top of that, I paid with AP. Couldn't be happier.