May 29, 2014, 7:43 pm
Last edit by: prasha11
Does not work anymore, is dead..... what is the point to report 'not working'?
As of 08/25/2014, Bancorp cards (Vanilla Visa, OneVanilla, etc.) are rarely working first try for debit transactions at Walmart. There is no apparent geographical basis. Basically, it's a crapshoot.
Do not agitate a cashier or store and lose the ability to make these transactions in the future. Multiple failed swipes or transactions will likely increase scrutiny. You do not want that. It is best to stop using these cards.
Vanilla VISA defaulting to credit
As of 5/29/2014, at most Walmart locations, all Vanilla VISA cards issued by The Bancorp Bank are automatically recognized as credit. Most Mastercard have required a workaround for some time. The MoneyCenter Express (ATM, kiosk, Kate) is not affected by this change.
As of 08/25/2014, Bancorp cards (Vanilla Visa, OneVanilla, etc.) are rarely working first try for debit transactions at Walmart. There is no apparent geographical basis. Basically, it's a crapshoot.
Do not agitate a cashier or store and lose the ability to make these transactions in the future. Multiple failed swipes or transactions will likely increase scrutiny. You do not want that. It is best to stop using these cards.
Vanilla VISA defaulting to credit
As of 5/29/2014, at most Walmart locations, all Vanilla VISA cards issued by The Bancorp Bank are automatically recognized as credit. Most Mastercard have required a workaround for some time. The MoneyCenter Express (ATM, kiosk, Kate) is not affected by this change.
MO Purchases using OV @ WM
Aug 22, 2014, 9:46 am
#2401
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CA
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,879
Aug 22, 2014, 9:49 am
#2402
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Posts: 1,929
I am not sure that there is a loss at all.
Aug 22, 2014, 9:53 am
#2403
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CA
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,879
Field report on my WM (I know this is a thread about buying MO's at WM, not loading BB at WM, but posting here since this thread's Wiki most directly addresses the OV at WM issue):
- Bought 2 OV's at CVS on a CC
- Took them to WM. Neither loaded on Kate. (By the way, this might be something I missed, but Kate is charging $5 for $500 loads. Not for lesser loads, though - I stuck under $494.99 for simplicity.)
- Took them both to a register.
- OV#1 went through despite "tender not accepted" after the clerk swiped from his side. Interestingly, I don't think it ever asked me for a PIN.
- OV#2 was firmly "tender not accepted."
- Decided to let things cool off, as perhaps BB had been fooled into thinking I'd met $1K load/day even though less than $500 had actually cleared.
- Spent down the 1st OV at the cafeteria at work. (Interestingly, their register had no idea that my OV balance was $0.81 short of my bill and counted the whole sandwich as paid for.)
There have been many cases of this happening. Assuming it is, the clerk can get into a lot of trouble when their drawer is short $500. I believe most people have been honest and gone back to the WM and corrected the situation so that no one gets in trouble.
Aug 22, 2014, 10:22 am
#2404
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 511
Don't see how you think that.
You've got $0.40 in exchange fees.
You've got money going to Moneygram - probably at least a 25/75 split of the MO fee going to Moneygram - so $0.17 or so.
With an average labor cost of $12/hour (wage rate, social security/medicare taxes, etc. combined), that is still $0.20/labor a minute.
Then, you've got the cost to maintain their floor space and systems. You've got the opportunity cost of the floor space. You've got to pay the back office people supporting the Money Center desk who command much higher salaries than the CSR.
Throw in fraud loss or just straight stupid cashier loss. There are numerous examples, myself included and an example just a couple posts back of how it happens with Bluebird, of cashiers jacking up transactions and giving people $500/$1,000 MO and not charging the card. That eats the full revenue of hundreds of transactions by itself, not even looking at supposed profit.
You've got $0.40 in exchange fees.
You've got money going to Moneygram - probably at least a 25/75 split of the MO fee going to Moneygram - so $0.17 or so.
With an average labor cost of $12/hour (wage rate, social security/medicare taxes, etc. combined), that is still $0.20/labor a minute.
Then, you've got the cost to maintain their floor space and systems. You've got the opportunity cost of the floor space. You've got to pay the back office people supporting the Money Center desk who command much higher salaries than the CSR.
Throw in fraud loss or just straight stupid cashier loss. There are numerous examples, myself included and an example just a couple posts back of how it happens with Bluebird, of cashiers jacking up transactions and giving people $500/$1,000 MO and not charging the card. That eats the full revenue of hundreds of transactions by itself, not even looking at supposed profit.
Aug 22, 2014, 10:28 am
#2405
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Posts: 1,929
Rather, Returns and Money Center are combined. There is no extra floor space nor systems. And they often pull the same Cashiers from regular registers when it gets busy, so any added labor cost is not as linear as 20 cents per minute since they are on the clock anyways.
Aug 22, 2014, 10:52 am
#2406
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CA
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,879
I suppose the age of the store might have something to do with it, but I find few Walmarts with a separate Money Center.
Rather, Returns and Money Center are combined. There is no extra floor space nor systems. And they often pull the same Cashiers from regular registers when it gets busy, so any added labor cost is not as linear as 20 cents per minute since they are on the clock anyways.
Rather, Returns and Money Center are combined. There is no extra floor space nor systems. And they often pull the same Cashiers from regular registers when it gets busy, so any added labor cost is not as linear as 20 cents per minute since they are on the clock anyways.
Aug 22, 2014, 10:59 am
#2407
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 14,162
I suppose the age of the store might have something to do with it, but I find few Walmarts with a separate Money Center.
Rather, Returns and Money Center are combined. There is no extra floor space nor systems. And they often pull the same Cashiers from regular registers when it gets busy, so any added labor cost is not as linear as 20 cents per minute since they are on the clock anyways.
Rather, Returns and Money Center are combined. There is no extra floor space nor systems. And they often pull the same Cashiers from regular registers when it gets busy, so any added labor cost is not as linear as 20 cents per minute since they are on the clock anyways.
Aug 22, 2014, 11:45 am
#2408
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,948
First, for fees your estimate is far too low even after Dodd Frank
Here
Wal-Mart is paying $0.45 or so per $500 in interchange fees. Plus MoneyGram is going to be getting a cut of the money order fee for actually processing the MO. Nevermind fraud loss / employee wages.
Definitely a net loss.
This was always the case even before we started doing this, but it was used as a way to get people in the store. If they are going to the Money Center, chances are they are going to do other shopping as well.
MSers have a tendency to go in the store, to the money center, and back out from what I've seen. We are by and large a parasite to merchants. But we are a parasite that is hard to eliminate without affecting actual profitable customers.
Here
Wal-Mart is paying $0.45 or so per $500 in interchange fees. Plus MoneyGram is going to be getting a cut of the money order fee for actually processing the MO. Nevermind fraud loss / employee wages.
Definitely a net loss.
This was always the case even before we started doing this, but it was used as a way to get people in the store. If they are going to the Money Center, chances are they are going to do other shopping as well.
MSers have a tendency to go in the store, to the money center, and back out from what I've seen. We are by and large a parasite to merchants. But we are a parasite that is hard to eliminate without affecting actual profitable customers.
Aug 22, 2014, 11:53 am
#2409
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 97
Think of it as a loss leader. Gets you in the store. I suspect that many of their other transactions *are* profitable, but they will intentionally price certain services at or below cost just to get you there.
FWIW - One of my WMs sells MOs for significantly less than $0.70. I guarantee you they aren't making money there.
FWIW - One of my WMs sells MOs for significantly less than $0.70. I guarantee you they aren't making money there.
Aug 22, 2014, 11:58 am
#2410
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,948
WHAT? $5 per $500 load? I was there yesterday and no fee for any amount of load at Kate. Including 1k.
Aug 22, 2014, 12:15 pm
#2411
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 511
As much as it pains me to stroll through WM getting groceries, I do shop there when I go for MS. It means I don't have to visit Kroger or Target, in addition. So they are definitely getting more of my money than they are losing on my swipes. Before I started MS, I don't think I had set foot in a WM in, no joke, 10 years.
You might already know that but I just wanted to clarify as sometimes the difference between revenue and profit, especially with low margin retailers, gets lost in discussions like these on the effect of (perhaps) loss leaders on foot traffic and profitability.
Last edited by hamhead; Aug 22, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Aug 22, 2014, 12:15 pm
#2412
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: Former UA 1K, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, IC AMB
Posts: 403
I've done BB loads without fees after the signage came up.
Aug 22, 2014, 4:14 pm
#2413
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 184
MC Gift C
So finally found a Giant , bought a MC Gift Card , was charged $ 5.95 fee. It is a printed card says DEBIT. No PIN creation instructions...
Still not clear how to now convert it at WM for a MO. I presume Kate refers to the self service kiosk ?
What are the mechanics of getting a MO or loading a BB card?
Thanks in advance.
Still not clear how to now convert it at WM for a MO. I presume Kate refers to the self service kiosk ?
What are the mechanics of getting a MO or loading a BB card?
Thanks in advance.
Aug 22, 2014, 4:36 pm
#2414
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 186
Look at the back of the card, see the wiki here.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...bit-cards.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...bit-cards.html
Aug 22, 2014, 5:23 pm
#2415
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 396
So finally found a Giant , bought a MC Gift Card , was charged $ 5.95 fee. It is a printed card says DEBIT. No PIN creation instructions...
Still not clear how to now convert it at WM for a MO. I presume Kate refers to the self service kiosk ?
What are the mechanics of getting a MO or loading a BB card?
Thanks in advance.
Still not clear how to now convert it at WM for a MO. I presume Kate refers to the self service kiosk ?
What are the mechanics of getting a MO or loading a BB card?
Thanks in advance.