Dollar General $500 OneVanilla Gift Cards - Success story
Apr 8, 2014, 3:49 pm
#46
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 546
I think there are multiple variables. My local C.U. has been grilling me with questions each time I deposit a MO. And I only deposit one $1,000 MO per month there. I've done 3-4k in a month at my other bank and they don't bat an eye. I know other FTers do much more than that.
Apr 8, 2014, 3:50 pm
#47
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 72
Yup..I went to the DG store and my purchase for OV would not go thru and then she noticed I was using an amex card and said they do not accept amex. However the DG site states that they do accept it. Might be a store to store policy?
Apr 8, 2014, 4:32 pm
#48
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: LIT/MEM
Programs: UA Gold;DL GM
Posts: 248
Was your OV purchase ok with a Visa/MC?
Apr 8, 2014, 5:41 pm
#50
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: PHL based
Programs: USAir, UA, AA, BA, Hyatt, HHonors, SPG, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 356
Apr 8, 2014, 5:41 pm
#51
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,507
I think there are multiple variables. My local C.U. has been grilling me with questions each time I deposit a MO. And I only deposit one $1,000 MO per month there. I've done 3-4k in a month at my other bank and they don't bat an eye. I know other FTers do much more than that.
Apr 8, 2014, 5:44 pm
#52
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: HH-Diamond, Hyatt-Glob, all else dirt level
Posts: 92
Attempted VR at DG a couple of months ago and the rack was full of dummy VR -like what you would pick up and take to the cashier at Costco. None of the clerks knew where to find an actual VR. Told me the rack was serviced by an outside vendor and they had never seen these before. It was in a sketch area of town, so I haven't gone back to see if they put real VR's on the rack.
Edit: Almost forgot - Welcome!
Edit: Almost forgot - Welcome!
Apr 8, 2014, 5:45 pm
#53
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 7
Thanks for the response! I guess you can't slim it down to just one trip to buy your OV at WM, then go put it in your BB when done, right? I was reading somewhere that WM doesn't accept CC's for GC's. True?
Apr 8, 2014, 6:07 pm
#54
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 51
Attempted VR at DG a couple of months ago and the rack was full of dummy VR -like what you would pick up and take to the cashier at Costco. None of the clerks knew where to find an actual VR. Told me the rack was serviced by an outside vendor and they had never seen these before. It was in a sketch area of town, so I haven't gone back to see if they put real VR's on the rack.
Edit: Almost forgot - Welcome!
Edit: Almost forgot - Welcome!
Apr 8, 2014, 6:44 pm
#55
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 546
Let's see. . .
The first time I bought an MO for $999.30. The teller looks at it and says "What was this for?. . . . . Rent?. . . . " This was the first time I was faced with a direct question and I waffled a bit and mumbled something. She then said "999.30 is an odd amount." I said there is a 70 cent charge so the cost rounded out to $1,000. Later, FT members said she was giving me the rent line as bait to feel me out- and in the future I should confidently tell the truth. Also, I never order odd figure MOs anymore.
The tellers at this CU look at the MOs carefully. I scribble an illegible signature for payer, yet the last teller still asked "did you buy this MO for yourself?" My answer: "Yes, I did." Maybe she matched up the address on the MO with my address on file?
Other questions:
"Where did you buy this MO". My answer "Walmart, next town over".
"Did you make this out to yourself". My answer: "Yes, I did."
I'm tempted to say my girlfriend is a stripper and I don't like carrying around a stack of 20s. Maybe that would shut 'em up.
My other two banks in town seem like they couldn't care less. We talk about the weather, sports etc. while they go through the motions.
Apr 9, 2014, 4:14 pm
#57
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 168
I was making daily deposits totaling in the $1k-$5k range and withdrawing the balance every few days. This was back before I found the forums and understood about SARS and the like. I can usually go for about 8 to 9 months before my banks start to ask questions so I'm probably due for another account closing soon. I think most MSers who go the MO route spread their deposits around different banks/CUs, but I think this reduces operating efficiency too much so now I'm working on manufacturing a business as a cover for my manufactured spend. I'm hoping with a business account and a legitimate reason for depositing large amounts of MOs the banks won't get in my way so much. We shall see.
I think you can only use the VRs at DG to load your prepaid card at the register, but I've never tried because I think they can only be purchased with cash.
I think you can only use the VRs at DG to load your prepaid card at the register, but I've never tried because I think they can only be purchased with cash.
Yes, you can likely get out of the audit unscathed, but are you sure that you want to try?
Apr 28, 2014, 1:54 pm
#58
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Programs: Amex Plat, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, Citi Premier
Posts: 37
UPDATE!
*****UPDATE******
First, thank you everyone for their warm welcomes to FT and your responses and discussion on this thread.
I have been alternating buying VGC's at Dollar General and Walgreens. I just attempted to make a purchase at Dollar General and the clerk asked if it was a credit card I was planning to use. I said yes, and he said I had to use cash or debit. I asked him if we could try anyway, and he said no, that he can get in trouble. This is what really surprised me:
He proceeded to show and read out loud an official-looking email printout. I'm paraphrasing, but the gist was "Effective immediately all gift cards and reload cards can only be purchased using a debit card or cash. Please sign below indicating you understand this policy" and below was a list of 6 or 7 signatures, presumably signatures of the staff. The clerk said he just signed it this morning.
This, along with the news that OD is now only accepted cash, makes me wonder how long before all retailers transition to a cash-only policy when it comes to buying gift cards.
First, thank you everyone for their warm welcomes to FT and your responses and discussion on this thread.
I have been alternating buying VGC's at Dollar General and Walgreens. I just attempted to make a purchase at Dollar General and the clerk asked if it was a credit card I was planning to use. I said yes, and he said I had to use cash or debit. I asked him if we could try anyway, and he said no, that he can get in trouble. This is what really surprised me:
He proceeded to show and read out loud an official-looking email printout. I'm paraphrasing, but the gist was "Effective immediately all gift cards and reload cards can only be purchased using a debit card or cash. Please sign below indicating you understand this policy" and below was a list of 6 or 7 signatures, presumably signatures of the staff. The clerk said he just signed it this morning.
This, along with the news that OD is now only accepted cash, makes me wonder how long before all retailers transition to a cash-only policy when it comes to buying gift cards.
Apr 28, 2014, 2:32 pm
#59
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 546
*****UPDATE******
First, thank you everyone for their warm welcomes to FT and your responses and discussion on this thread.
I have been alternating buying VGC's at Dollar General and Walgreens. I just attempted to make a purchase at Dollar General and the clerk asked if it was a credit card I was planning to use. I said yes, and he said I had to use cash or debit. I asked him if we could try anyway, and he said no, that he can get in trouble. This is what really surprised me:
He proceeded to show and read out loud an official-looking email printout. I'm paraphrasing, but the gist was "Effective immediately all gift cards and reload cards can only be purchased using a debit card or cash. Please sign below indicating you understand this policy" and below was a list of 6 or 7 signatures, presumably signatures of the staff. The clerk said he just signed it this morning.
This, along with the news that OD is now only accepted cash, makes me wonder how long before all retailers transition to a cash-only policy when it comes to buying gift cards.
First, thank you everyone for their warm welcomes to FT and your responses and discussion on this thread.
I have been alternating buying VGC's at Dollar General and Walgreens. I just attempted to make a purchase at Dollar General and the clerk asked if it was a credit card I was planning to use. I said yes, and he said I had to use cash or debit. I asked him if we could try anyway, and he said no, that he can get in trouble. This is what really surprised me:
He proceeded to show and read out loud an official-looking email printout. I'm paraphrasing, but the gist was "Effective immediately all gift cards and reload cards can only be purchased using a debit card or cash. Please sign below indicating you understand this policy" and below was a list of 6 or 7 signatures, presumably signatures of the staff. The clerk said he just signed it this morning.
This, along with the news that OD is now only accepted cash, makes me wonder how long before all retailers transition to a cash-only policy when it comes to buying gift cards.
One time, a cashier insisted that the register would not accept credit. She got angry when I asked if she could try. She said she was a manager and was absolutely certain the registers reject credit. I was tempted to show my receipt from the day before (where I paid on credit on the very same register she was standing behind).
Apr 28, 2014, 2:51 pm
#60
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MCO
Programs: AA 1MM, BA, UA, HH Dia, CC Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 795
*****UPDATE******
First, thank you everyone for their warm welcomes to FT and your responses and discussion on this thread.
I have been alternating buying VGC's at Dollar General and Walgreens. I just attempted to make a purchase at Dollar General and the clerk asked if it was a credit card I was planning to use. I said yes, and he said I had to use cash or debit. I asked him if we could try anyway, and he said no, that he can get in trouble. This is what really surprised me:
He proceeded to show and read out loud an official-looking email printout. I'm paraphrasing, but the gist was "Effective immediately all gift cards and reload cards can only be purchased using a debit card or cash. Please sign below indicating you understand this policy" and below was a list of 6 or 7 signatures, presumably signatures of the staff. The clerk said he just signed it this morning.
This, along with the news that OD is now only accepted cash, makes me wonder how long before all retailers transition to a cash-only policy when it comes to buying gift cards.
First, thank you everyone for their warm welcomes to FT and your responses and discussion on this thread.
I have been alternating buying VGC's at Dollar General and Walgreens. I just attempted to make a purchase at Dollar General and the clerk asked if it was a credit card I was planning to use. I said yes, and he said I had to use cash or debit. I asked him if we could try anyway, and he said no, that he can get in trouble. This is what really surprised me:
He proceeded to show and read out loud an official-looking email printout. I'm paraphrasing, but the gist was "Effective immediately all gift cards and reload cards can only be purchased using a debit card or cash. Please sign below indicating you understand this policy" and below was a list of 6 or 7 signatures, presumably signatures of the staff. The clerk said he just signed it this morning.
This, along with the news that OD is now only accepted cash, makes me wonder how long before all retailers transition to a cash-only policy when it comes to buying gift cards.