Didn't work for me at a couple I tried a few days ago. In SLC.

Edit: both cashiers said it was cash only after I dipped my chip CC.

Today in Albertson's they only had variable $100s and $200s. They even had a 'fake' $500 in the form of a flower style variable $200 that, other than the fee and amount, looked exactly like the flower $500s..

Publix is back allowing the purchase of $500 (loaded) SWA and Carnival Cruise Lines GC again after their POS terminal upgrade. Seems the new chip enabled terminals resolved their fraud liability concerns. :cool:

Interesting! Maybe they'll allow $500 VGCs, but alas no fuel perks. :P We're traveling so it will be a month before I can check Publix out. Thanks for sharing.

Publix has never had $500 VGC, I doubt they ever will. It's not really in their business model to need to attract customers..

I keep eagerly looking out for GCs in local grocery stores here in NoVA. Giant has them but have a cash/debit only policy still, despite now being EMV compliant. The latest Blackhawk earnings call gives me hope this will change soon. Has anyone experienced grocery stories re-adding $500 VGCs since becoming EMV compliant lately?

http://seekingalpha.com/article/3989...nscript?page=2

"Now moving to slide 6. We provided an update on the EMV-related impact to our U.S. gift card business. We continue to dialog regularly with our non-EMV-compliant distribution partners to understand when they will become EMV-compliant. On the balance, our partners are achieving their forecasted compliance dates, which factor in hardware and software upgrades, internal testing, and third-party certification. Of our top 25 accounts, 14 are now compliant versus eight a quarter ago, three are partially compliant, and eight are tracking toward their compliance date versus four prior. Since our last call, two moved up their dates and two have moved back their date.

Our updated forecast assumes no further delays from the currently communicated schedules. Based on the information currently being provided by our partners, we are estimating that stores representing a vast majority of open loop gift TDV will become EMV-compliant by the end of September. Some store compliance will fall into October. Importantly, our estimates do allow for a sales ramp period following compliance and we are currently forecasting the full-year 2016 EMV impact will be $47 million on AOR versus $51 million prior, and $40 million on adjusted EBITDA versus $44 million prior.

While EMV-related headwinds are significant, we continue to believe this issue is limited to 2016. Both our internal consumer research and third-party research conducted by the National Retail Federation indicate the popularity of gift cards remains high for retail consumers.

Moving to slide 7. For the balance of the year and moving into 2017, our number one goal in U.S. Retail is to energize the rebound in TDV at our top distribution partners post EMV. We are coordinating merchandising to restore open loop inventory levels to pre-EMV levels. We are working with our partners to implement marketing programs designed to raise consumer awareness and drive sales growth post EMV. In U.S. Retail, we're also rolling out new category cards and Visa 5% cash back products in each of our top 10 distribution partners. Finally, plans for expansion of Cardpool, our card exchange business, have been pushed to the back half of 2016, benefiting 2017."

Giant (DC/MD/VA) now accepts CC for GC - a change from their previous cash or debit only policy. I've updated the wiki to reflect. Made my month!! Now time to reallocate some credit limit back to my AmEx BCP lol. And possibly get a PRG...

Whole Foods now has stacks of MB variable $500 cards at the registers.Bought a few today.
They also started taking chip cards.

Mine didnt last long. One location implemented debit/cash only, though I don't think its hard coded in register.

Thr other needed manager approval and wont allow split payments.

Both were comparing DL with CCs.

Anyone know of any gas station chains that carry $500 VGCs? Looking specifically in DC/MD/VA area, but any intel would be appreciated. Sunoco used to sell OVs but, at least as of a few months ago, were hardcoded against it (maybe that will change if/when they become EMV compliant).

I last did the gas station thing in 2015, but in my experience, Exxons in central MD were about 50/50 willing to sell me $500 Vanillas using a CC.

Thanks. I'm in NoVA and the few Exxons I've tried don't carry any VGCs but I'll check them out a bit more extensively.

Well then this ine definitely won't last long. It's the biggest WF in my area. I bought a couple again today and for some reason there was no fee.

Looking back over my spreadsheet, my data points are from Exxons that have some kind of convenience store attached to it, like a Circle K or a 7-Eleven.

If you find this is still true in 2016 and consistent, I'd love to hear about it.

Couldn't find BJs which carries GCs.
Rite Aid did not accept Card for variable ones.