The mall I go to isn't Simon, so maybe it will be spared :)

Is SM down and out? Planned on a trip there tomorrow. Previous visits were successful.

It's all about regional restrictions. Maybe someone in the ORD area can update.

I'm not out yet, no upcoming strikeout without going and knowing.

Maybe a phone call before going.

Very grateful it's still working for me in my area. :) I've got the bug so I almost wish I could go today!

I think MS in my area is limited. Although I could measure it a bit better at CVS. Maybe Simon is just not as "fun".

This is my kind of post.

SM is just fine. I think the previous poster's issues were specific to that SM and not indicative of any system-wide changes. I was able to buy 2 VGCs in the max denomination last night with no issue. Called to get the pins, visited Kate, and now my bird is singing a sweet song.

Oh, that's better than I had guessed when you started. I thought you were making the rookie mistake: insure your house, and several of the neighbors, and then a tragic fire burns them all down. For some reason, insurance agencies, arson investigators and law enforcement agencies look into these situations very closely, almost as much as a Walmart associate examining a Visa Gift card you are trying to load a Bluebird with.

I haven't gotten this to work flawlessly yet as I don't understand the criteria to make it happen completely but more often than not when I order something (usually site-to-store) online from Wal-Mart through ShopDiscover (I assume other shopping portals will work) and make a return in-store I receive cash back rather than them refunding my CC.

My personal findings lead me to believe it has something to do with certain online items not being in the brick-and-mortar computer systems. Would be nice to figure this out since I haven't really seen anything searching through FT about this, hopefully it's not old/common knowledge.

just went to a SM. everytime i go they make me fill out an app with all my info. i give them all my info cuz i know its a legit sale. they say its for their records in case of fraud. i was informed today that they send these forms to their corporate. what do you think could happen from this? im worried corporate may contact chase/citi to see if the CCs are fraudulent and notify chase/citi that its GCs that im purchasing. in about 3 weeks time, ive purchased 9500 in vgc. i may keep my purchases just to 500 from now on to avoid filling out the form. does anyone else have to fill out this form?

I haven't. The only thing they do for me is 1-they have to get authorization for any purchases over $500 and 2-they check name to ID.

Make smaller purchases or there is always that risk that could happen.

Its all apart of the game.

I applied for the volume purchase account, and I got declined. Simon Mall refuses to tell me why. Is anyone in the same boat? I don't want to purchase from the consumer side because the fees are higher.

Maybe you look shady? @:-)

everything in life is YMMV - just accept it and move on. So you are complaining about paying a $2.95 fee for Simon I wished I had your problems.

Jesus - Please help us.. Simon mall requires a form or any purchase over 3K. Buy $2999 or $2500 and you are free from your paranoid fears. Just Kidding...

I think that I definitely stick out like a sore thumb at the mall. I don't imagine other people come in buying multiple $500 GCs. Yesterday while I was there, the cashier, with ID and credit card in hand, (same from two days before) had to call the manager to ask for approval for my $1500 purchase. Cashier: "I have a young lady here to purchase $1500 of Simon GCs" Manager: "blah blah" Cashier: "Yes she looks familiar". Cashier then turns a little to say something that I didn't hear. Purchase went through fine though. I wonder if part of it has to do with the fact that I am using a personalized Amex GC. At least the name matches when I have been turned away with a regular GC. Nonetheless, I don't think that I am going to push this method. Seems too much of a chance of being turned away and remembered. Not like CVS where one store says no and you come back during a different shift/visit the half a dozen other CVS's in the area.

only 1 time ive purchased 3k, every other time was either 2k or 2.5 and ive had to fill out the form

I think it depends on the location. I buy from mine all the time and they require the form for over 3k but it really just depends.