mittenfingerz

I just know I've never asked most of the questions these people ask, but yet somehow I know the answers. And a lot of it comes before the time MS had its own subforum and there was wikis for every subject possible. If people are so inclined to be forever generous in answering questions, though, so be it.

MileageGoblin

Have you ever heard of the website google? There are LOTS of blogs with spoon-feeding on them.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+load+serve+at+family+dollar

Journey4Happy

The other day I bought $2k at SM that just installed the Chip reading keypad. I put in the card without showing the clerk and it got approved. I said, "That's it? You don't need to see my ID?" She had a confused look on her face and said, "Oh... I don't know. Let me see your card and ID" (to see that it matched). She would have never asked if I didn't mention it.

So anybody else use the Chip keypad and not have to cross-check card name with ID? If so, then we just need AMEX to make chip GCs (& start doing Cashback again).

Another practical use - with credit cards now cracking down on Authorized Users, it would be nice to be able to use my wife's card. (so how are Chip cards safer than swipe cards anyway?)

lazard

I've never been asked for show ID when using chip cards, domestic and international.

Chelski

.....

cdancer20

Where have you heard that credit cards are cracking down on AUs? I am having no issues. The only people I suspect do are ones who have tons of users for "other" reasons but I doubt adding 1 or 2 people will ever be an issue.

Frenchie Flyer

Folks are saying that Amex sent out emails shutting down loading Blue Bird and Serve.

ManImCool

Yep - until a new MS method similar to Serve emerges, I won't be seeing my friendly Simon Mall reps for a while

GetawaysRus

Short Simon stock.

That will be a new route for MS.

focusmmuter

Haha!

kenbks

Yup. Not only is your name gets printed on the receipt, the small POS screen also shows the name after transaction gets approved, so I assume the agent can easily see that on his/her screen as well. Besides, even if the agent may not check the names occasionally, that doesn't mean they would never check it at all. IME, sometimes they explicitly check the name on the receipt, other times they don't seem to bother (but I don't know if they have verified with a quick glance on the screen or not). But do you really want to risk caught using a card with a name other that what is on your ID? I think they keep a blacklist, and you don't want to be on there. Even with Apple Pay, you need to have the card and your ID handy, because the transaction might get declined and the bank may want the agent to check the ID and the card. For me, oddly charging thousands at SM never got declined due to fraud check (whereas sometimes just a single gift card purchase at other retailer would trip up the system.. maybe it's because they know SM is very good at checking ID..), so maybe it will never happen, but again, not worth the risk IMO.

FlightNurse

OR read the fourm and do a search, I know that many threads are hundreds and thousands of pages long, but the info is there... I tell people if you want to get into this game, READ the post and educate yourself on the game, not too sure why people don't want to do this. I also tell people to take a whole weekend to read everything...

cdancer20

Had my local Simon Mall's terminal completely freeze on me. Right when she was totaling it up, it couldn't send the information to the pin pad. She called help desk and we rebooted the terminal a couple of times but they still couldn't communicate. In the end, they determined that they might have to order a new one. She just suspended the transaction though and moved over to the other register to cash me out. (in my mind I was thinking that she should have done this earlier and troubleshooted on her own time LOL). But I really like this cashier so it wasn't a big deal.

Jesusdyd4u

Took my wife and her new Ink+ business card to the SM I've been going to for 6 months. The CSR's know me there, as well. Tried to buy 3K in VGC, and when using the new chip reading terminal, it just sat there for some time thinking, then spit out some terminal ID error. Manager was called down, who also recognizes me, and tells me they no longer can accept Business CC for personal VGC purchase.
The system is hard-coded for that, and that's why it froze.

droidcore

One more data point on the email...

Went and bought 3.5k at my local Simon Mall in ATL, today. Rep knows me well. First thing she says to me is, "I heard y'all got shut down!" There was an email that was sent out to all Simon Info Booth people this morning... I told her I wasn't aware of what she meant. She went on to say that she now knows what we're all doing, and that they call us "Gamers" (I think she meant "Churners") and that AMEX had just shut down our game, per the email. I asked her the reason for the email and was told that it was to reiterate that they would not refund any previously purchased gift cards. Like duh. She also said she was sad because she'd formed a relationship with some of us regulars. Anyway, I told her I wasn't there for the AMEX thing (kinda). But, they're very aware now... as if they weren't before. Not sure what affect this will have on anything.