Okay I'm halfway there!
 

Data point - I'm in Humble, TX. Was able to use my CSP to put $30 on a VGC at the local Kroger last week, now trying to work up the nerve to use it to order a money order!

I'm just starting out in the MS game, getting my feet wet. If these little tests work, I'll be opening up the floodgates shortly :cool:

Hi All so cal MSers. Just wanted to check in and get an independent poll from those who buy their gift cards from Ralph's grocery in So Cal.

I've never had an issue with purchasing variable load gift cards in the past. I even asked what the policy was from corporate to make sure there was no misunderstanding.

Seems now, I've been told NO, more often in the past week. That it's cash only. I reached out to Ralph's corporate again and they now say effective 2/1/15 (notice that was way back in Feb) that they DO NOT accept Debit or Credit for these cards. However, back in May, they said, it was no problem. You were allowed to purchase them with a Debit or Credit card, however, they don't qualify for the fuel points purchase. OK, no problem.

If this were the case, the register would be hard coded, correct, if that was the official policy? Why don't they have signs that say CASH ONLY posted for these cards?

What kills me is if they are so worried about fraud, what's the difference in me using a stolen credit card to buy $2,000 worth of apple gift cards and go buy a new mac book with that and resell it. I get their argument for fraud, but it's stupid because fraud can happen with ANY of those gift cards.

Thoughts, feelings about this? Is it the OFFICIAL policy or is this again, maybe a holiday thing? Or is Ralph's dead.

Thanks

No issues using CC at my Ralph's in SoCal. Up to $2k per trip.

not to be snarky, but you can't have your user name and make this post!

if you're "MSLA" you MUST know this is a ymmv sport. further, you answered your own question: it's ymmv unless/until it's hard coded.

it's gotten difficult to do a lot of things in a lot of places. anyone who says differently lives in a different area (probably the flyover part). from buying to liquidating, the more dolts enter the game, the harder it gets- and there are a LOT of stupid people doing stupid things now. when a store gets hit by fraud, often that regional sends down a fatwa and everyone gets scared. remember, these people earn very little money, don't have a killer resume with multiple offers via linkedin, and when mgmt makes a big deal about something bad that happened in the region, it'll scare everyone into going overboard. your killer smile/ms needs take a back seat to them still having a job tomorrow.

in an area of TX i was just in, they were hit by fake credit cards on gift cards for over $3k. the reaction was only buying at CS center- and with $1000 (arbitrary) limit, which also means no buying after 8pm. several stores impacted.

as always, don't make a scene, walk away, try another area, be smart.

Addendum to my last post - just happened to be in Wal-Mart this morning so I tried to see if loading the VGC onto my Bluebird card would work...and it did!

KATE wasn't working (surprise, surprise, it's always out of order), and there's a big sign on each register saying that all card loads need to be done at Customer Service, so I went there expecting to get shut down. Thankfully, the line was short, and the CS lady was very friendly. Didn't ask to see my cards or anything! Just walked up, told her I wanted to do a money load. She asked me how much, and then entered it in. Then, I slid in my VGC, typed in my PIN, and it was done!

Data Point - it was just a $30 load. We'll see if anything changes when I try something bigger, but so far so good. Still intend on trying MO at Kroger though, as I'm considering keeping a diverse array of unloading methods. Shoutout to shitrus for your helpful recs!

Does Krogers' fuel point add up
 

I have 600 Fuel points earned on November which expires on Dec 31 and this month I earned around 450 points And expires on Jan 31...

When I purchase fuel before Dec 31, can I redeem $1 per gallon combining both the points or can I use only 600 points?

The points can't be combined month to month. It will automatically deduct the highest available discount, in this case 60 cents per gallon. If you had 600 points from November & 1000 in December, you have to manually enter in the 60 cent discount, otherwise it will take the max $1 from your December points.... If you are gassing up towards the end of the month make sure you are using the points that expire first, otherwise you'll lose them.

This is the correct answer.

Wow, thanks for the clarification! I didn't even know the points cannot be combined month to month. I had about 300 pts in a month and then 1200 pts in the next and it did take $1/gallon. I just assumed it used the "expiring" points first.

Great to know the "hint" now because I started using Kroger fuel points a little more with the death of Safeway "glitch".

Just got into the MS game and did my first $25 visa gift card deposit into my amex serve account.

I bought another visa gift card for $500 at kroger/king soopers tonight and they let me use a credit card at the self checkout just fine(got a $200 bonus meeting the $500 min spend already!). This is in Colorado. They did ask for my drivers license as well.

Yeah, you can use self-checkout, but it will flag the employee to come take your DL info. Not a big deal with 1 card, but a bit more of a hassle with 4, because I think it pings them after each one. I just go to CS desk almost every time now. Vary the amount on the last card a bit (use that one for MOs.) Fast and easy.

Confirmed that Krogers doesn't really have much of an issue using credit cards? I've struggled at 2 walmarts already trying to buy the $500 gc. I get the "cc or debit only"

I never have any cc issues with Kroger at ATL for the past 3 years. Of course it is YMMV. I did have issues with WMs with cash or debit only a couple of times. This is one of the reasons I am willing to purchase VGCs from Kroger even Kroger charges one dollar more than WM. The other reason is I can walk to Kroger within 10 minutes for office lunch break.

Please explain what you mean by "I think it pings them". I always have to give my DL at the regular check out. I have also bought a $500 and split the pay to 2 or 3 cards. With each card they have to put in my DL.

When I split the cost to 2-3 cards does the cc company see the full receipt? Say full receipt was $742.35. 242.30 on AmEx, 300.50 Chase, and 199.55 on Barclay. Do they all get copy of full receipt?

When using the self checkout lane, you can't proceed any further unless they assist and enter amount and when paying they have to enter DL.

Just use one card. If you want to mask the GC purchase, add a small item, like a donut or something.