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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 Nov 8, 2016, 3:55 pm
  #856  
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 818
711 near my house in NoVA is selling them again with CC. Tried on Sunday for kicks (trying to MS on Microsoft Earn before program ends). Didn't work but the cashier said they were doing a software update and it should work soon. Tried again today and it worked. Anyone know if 711 without gas pump codes as 3x on Citi Premier (would try myself obviously but don't have the card (yet)).

Last edited by bodiddely; Nov 8, 2016 at 4:01 pm
bodiddely is offline  
Old Nov 8, 2016, 4:06 pm
  #857  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: IAD
Programs: All of them to one degree or another
Posts: 447
Originally Posted by bodiddely
711 near my house in NoVA is selling them again with CC. Tried on Sunday for kicks (trying to MS on Microsoft Earn before program ends). Didn't work but the cashier said they were doing a software update and it should work soon. Tried again today and it worked. Anyone know if 711 without gas pump codes as 3x on Citi Premier (would try myself obviously but don't have the card (yet)).
Awesome. And thanks for the tip.

Yes, the 7-11 in centreville (on 29) doesn't have pumps and always coded at 3x with citi back before they shut it down pending chip adoption.
DeaconY is offline  
Old Nov 14, 2016, 7:15 am
  #858  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: So.FL
Programs: AA Platinum Jet Blue Mosaic
Posts: 106
Originally Posted by Jesusdyd4u
Which specific VGC would you recommend to purchase at MD area Giant and/or S&S to liquidate to a MO?
chipcollector is offline  
Old Nov 19, 2016, 10:41 pm
  #859  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Food Lion MVP
Posts: 114
Originally Posted by AlohaDaveKennedy
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.
ADK, are Southwest Airlines / Carnival Cruise Lines $500 gc's able to be unloaded via MO? How do you liquidate?
MYRflyer is offline  
Old Nov 19, 2016, 10:44 pm
  #860  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Food Lion MVP
Posts: 114
Local Lowes Foods has taken all Visa/MA/Amex gc's of $25 or higher off the shelf, they have them dumped in baskets behind customer service. "We've been instructed to take these off the shelves". I'll check the other locations later in the week for confirmation.
MYRflyer is offline  
Old Nov 20, 2016, 4:17 am
  #861  
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Northeastern United States
Posts: 597
If you live in the Northeastern region of the US, Demoulas Market Basket grocery chain just started setting up GCM gift card displays in their stores this month. However, as of right now you can only buy Amex, MC, or Visa GCs with Cash or Debit until they get their POS terminals chip compliant which supposedly will happen by the end of January.
Prometheus77 is offline  
Old Nov 21, 2016, 6:38 pm
  #862  
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 8
For New England (Maine specifically), can report that Hannaford does sell variable Meta VGCs up to $500 and took my CC no problem. Shaws used to sell $500 VGCs but I could only find variable up to $200 when I tried today.
Jmclark is offline  
Old Nov 23, 2016, 3:16 pm
  #863  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: United Gold (frmer. 1k and GS), AAdvantage Platinum, Alaska MVP Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 200
My Bay Area WF has $500 AMEX and VGCs.

Does anyone know if office supply stores carry variables to $500? Meeting spend on Chase Ink Plus.
lesamuel is offline  
Old Nov 28, 2016, 10:26 am
  #864  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 740
Originally Posted by lesamuel
Does anyone know if office supply stores carry variables to $500? Meeting spend on Chase Ink Plus.
Nope, up to $200 in stores and fixed $300s online.
Java Cool Dude is offline  
Old Nov 28, 2016, 10:30 am
  #865  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 740
My local Von's is once again packed with $500 VGCs and the fee is $5.95
I am thinking about MSing with my Chase Freedom Unlimited and here's how the math breaks down:
$505.95 = 758.925 Pts
758.925 Pts = $7.58 cash for a lousy profit of $1.25 after factoring the cost of a MO.
758.925 Pts = $11.38 in travel expenses booked through Chase Reserve for a net profit of $4.73
Java Cool Dude is offline  
Old Nov 28, 2016, 9:21 pm
  #866  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 62
Originally Posted by Java Cool Dude
My local Von's is once again packed with $500 VGCs and the fee is $5.95
I am thinking about MSing with my Chase Freedom Unlimited and here's how the math breaks down:
$505.95 = 758.925 Pts
758.925 Pts = $7.58 cash for a lousy profit of $1.25 after factoring the cost of a MO.
758.925 Pts = $11.38 in travel expenses booked through Chase Reserve for a net profit of $4.73
Don't forget to add the J4U offer: $10 off $200+ VGC. (one-time use, ends 12/3)

Repeat for each of your J4U accounts ...
pwned is offline  
Old Nov 28, 2016, 9:53 pm
  #867  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 740
Originally Posted by pwned
Don't forget to add the J4U offer: $10 off $200+ VGC. (one-time use, ends 12/3)

Repeat for each of your J4U accounts ...
My man!
Java Cool Dude is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2016, 9:58 am
  #868  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 740
I was told it was cash only at my Mission Hills Von's:
Manager: It's cash only
Me: That's weird
Manager: It's not weird, it's our policy
Me: That's a weird policy
Manager: Okay!


****!
Java Cool Dude is offline  
Old Dec 6, 2016, 12:39 am
  #869  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 197
Originally Posted by Travelz
Here are some options:
Buy metabank visa gift cards from
- giftcards.com using TCB portal for 1.25% back which almost covers the fees or
Is this still a viable option to liquidate @ WM? Also how do you know if it's a metabank VGC or bancorp on giftcards.com?
unkn0wns0ldier is offline  
Old Dec 6, 2016, 9:25 am
  #870  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,837
Also posted in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...765.html#11463

Has anyone noticed that the newer Vanilla VGCs dont have a barcode and none of the numbers match the packaging?

The older VVGCs have a 'hole' in the packaging so when CSRs scans the barcode, its the barcode on the card.

The newer ones, barcode is on packaging.
lumangoy is offline  


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