Thanks but this was all from the mall manager's discretion. So I'm apparently just SOL for this avenue. (Not that it was really a big money maker anyways though good for min spend cards.)

Just move along and try somewhere else. I have a few stores I avoid because people working there are jerks.

^

Same reason so many places say cash only: a vague discomfort, worries about fraud (stolen credit cards being used), and not wanting to get in trouble. It's the easiest path to just refuse. Zero risk, and no downside to the employee/manager who says no. Can you blame them?

It's not a constitutional right to buy gift cards with a CC. If somebody says no, smile, shrug and move on. Pressing the issue will not result in a positive outcome, but usually just reinforces their suspicion that something shady was going on.

^

I think another reason why some merchants go to cash only (no to DC also) is because of the fees they pay for taking DC/CC. For that reason, I don't blame them but if they put a premium on volume sales, I'm sure they'll get a lot of sale if they accept DCs and CCs.

as to being rejected, I agree to just move on and try other establishments. Using CCs to purchase anything is not an inherent right and retailers have the right to refuse them as much as customers have the right to choose the retailer to patronize. Calling attention to oneself by challenging store management when not allowed to buy with CC is just asking for trouble.

Yep.

I went to buy a GC today at a store (store #1) that has always allowed me to use a CC. There were 3 cashier lines going. One had a cashier that had sold them to me with a CC before, but hers was the longest line. Being impatient, I tried the short line. As I got up to the front, I noticed the cashier;s name badge said "supervisor". She scanned the GC, looked up at me and said "you know, these are cash only..." I smiled and said "oh really, is that a fact? Well, I don't have that much cash on me, so let's skip that, I'll just take the beer." No scene, no hassle, everyone was friendly, I moved on. And I learned who not to go to.

I drove a few blocks and stopped in at store #2 that was happy to sell me the same GC with nary a mention of cash.

Next time I go to store #1 I'll know to avoid "kathy the supervisor" and go to the 3 or 4 other cashiers who have never batted an eye when I buy one with a GC. Just part of the game.

I think this whole, "if they say cash only just move on" is bad advice. If a store becomes a total lost cause, I don't see any drawback in arguing the point with them. What do you have to lose?

Come in when it's really busy and make a small scene and tell them that they are violating their contract with visa/ mastercard.

Concerning your last sentence: exactly.

Not sure if it's what you were getting at but it's more suspicious to just leave than to try to at least make some kind of an argument for them to sell you with a credit card.

One time I was trying to buy a GC with a CC and the manager said that limit for CC is $250. I said oh, ok and then just proceeded to pay the whole thing with my credit card.

I think the Simon GC Visa MS technique is about over. Too many people are abusing it. My local mall in Minneapolis now will not sell them any more because they told me, they are onto the "scheme".

Simon malls in Atlanta told me the same. But they still sell the Amex GC. Another story of a MS technique getting shut down due to too many people making it too obvious what they are up to.... sad.

Why does it matter to a merchant why I'm buying their product? Just being the world's nanny and trying to protect the CC companies' interests? Naw. And if they're onto the "scheme" they should know there's little/no risk of chargebacks or fraud from those customers.

I think they had to be losing money all along on large cards paid for with a CC, but offered it as a convenience and ate the small losses. Only now the volume is starting to matter.

For those who prefer to argue and call attention to themselves when it's the supervisor/SM they're dealing with, I'd say these are the ones ruining it for everyone else. I don't blame those stores who go to the extreme with rules that ALL GCs (even the store GCs like Taco Bell, JCP, HD, Lowes, etc with no AFs) can be sold CASH ONLY. Then everyone is punished for the actions of a few who think making a fuss/bullying store management will bring the results they want.

I think sometimes the lower-level people who have never considered MS or never worked with professional budgets (money in, money out) see someone buying "huge" amounts of debit or gift cards and they can't find a reason for it. A "normal" person only buys for birthdays. Or holidays. They don't come in every day or week to buy the same "large" amount. So even though they have no clue what you are doing, it "seems fishy." --And that's the only reason they shut you down. Because they can't find a logical reason, they figure it must be bad in some way, even if you have ID and your own credit cards.

THiS ... cannot emphasis enough how much some of these vigilante wannabe low-level associates tick me off -__-

I'm all for flying under the radar, but if they won't sell it to you period, and it's because they are making .... up, I don't see why not go all nuclear especially IF you are very sure you are not going to do business with them.

For e.g. WM not accepting OV MO that's not a good reason because other MO purchases are still possible.

But SM refusing to sell for made up reasons? It's not as if they are allowing you to pay with a different card. Screw em... what do we have to lose?

Agreed. If someone doesn't want to make waves with one cashier, I totally get it. But if a store manager is outright lying to you ("it's against the law to sell GC with CC", or "it's national policy" when it most obviously is not), I think it's okay to tell him/her that you know they're making stuff up. I'm okay with some minimum-wage clerk not knowing what they're doing, and I'm okay with a store manager telling me it's that store's policy not to sell for whatever reason. I've had both happen, and I've thanked them and went on my merry way. But if the store is closed to MS because of some incompetent day/night shift manager that doesn't have the dignity to be honest with a customer, I think that person doesn't deserve a pass.