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)
#991
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 818
Went into a CVS tonight to buy some OVs (which I haven't done in a few months) and all the OVs, including those in the regular black and gray packaging, had a purchase fee of $5.95. Is that now the norm all at CVS nationwide?
#992
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,837
#993
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: IHG, Hilton diamond (IHG match) SPG gold
Posts: 105
DP Just got one 500 MB at ACME - just North of Manhattan. Handed cashier DL proactive, cashier was uncertain of procedure, but mgr was standing close by and walked her thru it manager held DL until everything was finished and handed back everything in a bundle (as if to make sure I got DL back)
#996
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 305
I did the same, but! some WMs have "cash or debit" rule for those. In those where my transactions went through it seems that my Freedom CC was taken as "debit" - no signature was required and the receipt said "debit". I am happy that it went through, but - is it typical when buying GreenDots at WMs?
#997
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 742
I did the same, but! some WMs have "cash or debit" rule for those. In those where my transactions went through it seems that my Freedom CC was taken as "debit" - no signature was required and the receipt said "debit". I am happy that it went through, but - is it typical when buying GreenDots at WMs?
#998
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 463
I noticed the Wiki mentions AutoZone as a "grocer". It's an auto-parts supply store. But I know some stores get classified very differently from what you would think they are. Is there a way to tell what category a credit card would classify AutoZone as?
#999
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 742
The better question might be, whats the best card for "auto parts spend", if you are going to frequent AZ.
Last edited by moops380; Dec 7, 2017 at 11:15 pm Reason: edit to add
#1000
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: EUG BKK
Programs: Zero Status Nexus
Posts: 432
Are the Auto Zone VGC Metas? Looking for an alternative $500's other than Simon. My local SMall seems to have regular issues with their computer terminal in their office, plus its too far from home. Thanks
UPDATE: Appears that Vanilla VGC's are limited at WM for MO so the Auto Zone Vanilla wont work for me.
UPDATE: Appears that Vanilla VGC's are limited at WM for MO so the Auto Zone Vanilla wont work for me.
Last edited by JetSetDave; Feb 11, 2018 at 7:31 pm
#1004
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 92
Stores in my town have small displays for GC just like in the photo. Some managers allow purchase with CC, other do not. I confirm that the system allows only $500 (plus fee) per transaction. Two cashiers would not let me include any other items on the transaction. But I'm not yet convinced that it is hard coded because they may be confusing what happens when you try to buy something at the same time as a $500 and go over the dollar limit. Every time I've purchased one the cashiers act really skittish, so I doubt they are big sellers. There are only a few on the racks.
#1005
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: IHG, Hilton diamond (IHG match) SPG gold
Posts: 105
My experience so far here in CO - they seem pretty happy to make a $500 sale - a couple clerks slightly skittish, after checking w manager who tells them, just check ID - no problems ( I preemptive show my ID and some don’t even pay attention)
timezone related? If I buy after 6pm activation authorizations fail -anybody experiencing time related fails?
how did you resolve?
i have two empty’s that I still need to follow up on
bought multiple items w/ gebit (lol autocorrect genitalia) on same transaction
Liquidate at local version of national grocery
rack on end cap, sort of, low stock maybe 10 pieces- I cleared out one location in the last 2-3 weeks (said should restock in a week)
one location has a sun faded from gold tint to silver tint package- on front of peg
timezone related? If I buy after 6pm activation authorizations fail -anybody experiencing time related fails?
how did you resolve?
i have two empty’s that I still need to follow up on
bought multiple items w/ gebit (lol autocorrect genitalia) on same transaction
Liquidate at local version of national grocery
rack on end cap, sort of, low stock maybe 10 pieces- I cleared out one location in the last 2-3 weeks (said should restock in a week)
one location has a sun faded from gold tint to silver tint package- on front of peg