Jan 9, 2016, 6:55 pm
Last edit by: ChrisFlyer66
This wiki is to an old thread and is no longer current and is no longer being maintained and/or updated.
Note: the 2015 version of the thread is here: New to Manufactured spending? Start Here(2015)
The 2017 discussion is here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1812407-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2017-a.html#post27694982
Welcome to Manufactured Spending. If you are new here, please spend some time reading before posting. Most likely your questions have already been answered multiple times. Consider deals that you share. These threads are searchable by Google. A volatile deal may be worth holding close to the vest.
Hints
1) On FT, topics are heavily consolidated. Sometimes the title of the thread and first few posts may not properly reflect the broad range of discussion inside the thread. Be sure to visit any thread relating to the product or service you want to learn more about because you might be surprised by how in depth the discussion really is. High "View Count" and "Replies" are good indicators of active "master threads" on a specific topic.
2) Use Google to search FT. It works a lot better than the built-in search.
Important Rules
1) MSing is very YMMV. It varies by store, manager, and right down to the cashier working at the moment. That being said, always be nice and courteous in the face of rejection. The biggest secret for success is to lay low so you can try again.
2) DO NOT spend more than you can afford. START WITH SMALL AMOUNTS TO TEST THE WATER! As an example.. don't start with a $5000 purchase of VGCs if you can't afford to float that much! Instead, buy one and try it, and scale up once you are comfortable with a new method. It's easy to lose track, or get robbed, when you are handling so much money. Getting a refund is NOT always possible.
3) DO NOT ask employees, cashiers, customer service representatives, etc... about how to MS, or about things you read on this forum. The information you read here are very specific, unknown, legal uses of products or services. Most employees, cashiers, and even managers do not know about them. At best you'll get bad information. At worst you'll create a lot of unnecessary misunderstanding.
4) It bears repeating that there are no guarantees. you could easily buy $10,000 in gift cards or some other instrument, only to discover that your method for liquidating them vanishes the very next day. MS is not "normal" financial activity ("normal" being defined by the banks), and thus is often perceived as "suspicious" even if it is legal.
5) never underestimate the risk of criminal activity. gift cards can easily be stolen, loaded onto a compromised account, loaded in a debit card skimmer, or even fraudulent (e.g., an already used card put back on the rack).
If you have a question that does not seem to fit anywhere, or you have not found an appropriate place for it, post it here.
- A helpful note from seat17D about some of the inherent risks of MS
Note: the 2015 version of the thread is here: New to Manufactured spending? Start Here(2015)
The 2017 discussion is here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1812407-new-manufactured-spending-start-here-2017-a.html#post27694982
Welcome to Manufactured Spending. If you are new here, please spend some time reading before posting. Most likely your questions have already been answered multiple times. Consider deals that you share. These threads are searchable by Google. A volatile deal may be worth holding close to the vest.
Hints
1) On FT, topics are heavily consolidated. Sometimes the title of the thread and first few posts may not properly reflect the broad range of discussion inside the thread. Be sure to visit any thread relating to the product or service you want to learn more about because you might be surprised by how in depth the discussion really is. High "View Count" and "Replies" are good indicators of active "master threads" on a specific topic.
2) Use Google to search FT. It works a lot better than the built-in search.
Important Rules
1) MSing is very YMMV. It varies by store, manager, and right down to the cashier working at the moment. That being said, always be nice and courteous in the face of rejection. The biggest secret for success is to lay low so you can try again.
2) DO NOT spend more than you can afford. START WITH SMALL AMOUNTS TO TEST THE WATER! As an example.. don't start with a $5000 purchase of VGCs if you can't afford to float that much! Instead, buy one and try it, and scale up once you are comfortable with a new method. It's easy to lose track, or get robbed, when you are handling so much money. Getting a refund is NOT always possible.
3) DO NOT ask employees, cashiers, customer service representatives, etc... about how to MS, or about things you read on this forum. The information you read here are very specific, unknown, legal uses of products or services. Most employees, cashiers, and even managers do not know about them. At best you'll get bad information. At worst you'll create a lot of unnecessary misunderstanding.
4) It bears repeating that there are no guarantees. you could easily buy $10,000 in gift cards or some other instrument, only to discover that your method for liquidating them vanishes the very next day. MS is not "normal" financial activity ("normal" being defined by the banks), and thus is often perceived as "suspicious" even if it is legal.
5) never underestimate the risk of criminal activity. gift cards can easily be stolen, loaded onto a compromised account, loaded in a debit card skimmer, or even fraudulent (e.g., an already used card put back on the rack).
If you have a question that does not seem to fit anywhere, or you have not found an appropriate place for it, post it here.
- A helpful note from seat17D about some of the inherent risks of MS
New to Manufactured Spending? Start Here (2016)
Jan 8, 2016, 8:14 am
#31
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 910
Read up (I thought enough!) & bought two $200 Visa GCs at Staples, Not Vanilla. Metabank. Went to WM KATE kiosk to deposit as a debit. All went well til it asked for PIN. I entered the last 4 digits + Enter a number of times, just kept going in a circle. Came home, logged in to their website, it shows the $ are on the GCs. Went back to WM, same problem, so cancelled again. Hmm. Any ideas how to make this work? TIA for your help!
Either way, call the nr on the back of the card and ask the cust service rep to clear the pin, then try again.
Jan 8, 2016, 12:08 pm
#32
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: San Diego
Posts: 229
Goodbye n00bs!!! 
easiest MS methods (BB and Serve) are dead!
easiest MS methods (BB and Serve) are dead!
Jan 9, 2016, 11:55 am
#33
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 305
Probably dead soon, but not quite yet. Lots of people received emails informing them that they have to close their accounts, yet some mysteriously escaped this fate. No doubt it's just a matter of time, but still.
Jan 10, 2016, 4:04 pm
#34
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 35
Newbie with a couple of questions:
1) I have a new Serve card which will work until it doesn't.
I am loading to pay utility bills. Successfully loaded Serve at Kate with VGC. 496.26 plus 3.74 load fee=$500.
2) In the future>>>If I try two VGC's at same time (split load) , is there the same fee of 3.74 for the total when using Kate?
3) If I do it at a register, do I have to tell them it is a split load using 2 cards? Is the fee 3.74 total per transaction below the daily load limit).
4) Since keeping serve alive is the key, and we don't have many data points. I am going to do this very slowly.
1) I have a new Serve card which will work until it doesn't.
I am loading to pay utility bills. Successfully loaded Serve at Kate with VGC. 496.26 plus 3.74 load fee=$500.
2) In the future>>>If I try two VGC's at same time (split load) , is there the same fee of 3.74 for the total when using Kate?
3) If I do it at a register, do I have to tell them it is a split load using 2 cards? Is the fee 3.74 total per transaction below the daily load limit).
4) Since keeping serve alive is the key, and we don't have many data points. I am going to do this very slowly.
Jan 11, 2016, 10:58 am
#35
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
Read up (I thought enough!) & bought two $200 Visa GCs at Staples, Not Vanilla. Metabank. Went to WM KATE kiosk to deposit as a debit. All went well til it asked for PIN. I entered the last 4 digits + Enter a number of times, just kept going in a circle. Came home, logged in to their website, it shows the $ are on the GCs. Went back to WM, same problem, so cancelled again. Hmm. Any ideas how to make this work? TIA for your help!
Jan 11, 2016, 4:30 pm
#36
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 6
Where to buy $500 "debit" cards now?
Today I went out to finish the spending requirement on a card with about a week left to spend.
OfficeMax was of course out of the Metabank Visa variables, so I tried to buy a Mastercard instead. The register displayed a notice that all of the variable load MS type cards are now CASH ONLY. Yikes.
So, in desperation, I go to WM, and all the GreenDot VGCs are gone from the card rack. I pick up a variable card from Sunrise, I think, and head for checkout. "Invalid Payment Type". Yep, WM decided not to sell me VGCs on a credit card too.
So, where can I quickly pick up $2k in MS or advance spending, via debit cards that I can use in any store, or if necessary, to buy WM MOs with?
Today I went out to finish the spending requirement on a card with about a week left to spend.
OfficeMax was of course out of the Metabank Visa variables, so I tried to buy a Mastercard instead. The register displayed a notice that all of the variable load MS type cards are now CASH ONLY. Yikes.
So, in desperation, I go to WM, and all the GreenDot VGCs are gone from the card rack. I pick up a variable card from Sunrise, I think, and head for checkout. "Invalid Payment Type". Yep, WM decided not to sell me VGCs on a credit card too.
So, where can I quickly pick up $2k in MS or advance spending, via debit cards that I can use in any store, or if necessary, to buy WM MOs with?
Jan 11, 2016, 7:37 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: NYC
Posts: 25
Just curious.. Has anybody tried the Excella Prepaid Visa Debit Card? Can you load with gebit? I saw a sign near my house and got curious.. Can't seem to find any further information on the card.
Thanks in advance!!
Thanks in advance!!
Jan 11, 2016, 8:45 pm
#38
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 910
Where to buy $500 "debit" cards now?
Today I went out to finish the spending requirement on a card with about a week left to spend.
OfficeMax was of course out of the Metabank Visa variables, so I tried to buy a Mastercard instead. The register displayed a notice that all of the variable load MS type cards are now CASH ONLY. Yikes.
So, in desperation, I go to WM, and all the GreenDot VGCs are gone from the card rack. I pick up a variable card from Sunrise, I think, and head for checkout. "Invalid Payment Type". Yep, WM decided not to sell me VGCs on a credit card too.
So, where can I quickly pick up $2k in MS or advance spending, via debit cards that I can use in any store, or if necessary, to buy WM MOs with?
Today I went out to finish the spending requirement on a card with about a week left to spend.
OfficeMax was of course out of the Metabank Visa variables, so I tried to buy a Mastercard instead. The register displayed a notice that all of the variable load MS type cards are now CASH ONLY. Yikes.
So, in desperation, I go to WM, and all the GreenDot VGCs are gone from the card rack. I pick up a variable card from Sunrise, I think, and head for checkout. "Invalid Payment Type". Yep, WM decided not to sell me VGCs on a credit card too.
So, where can I quickly pick up $2k in MS or advance spending, via debit cards that I can use in any store, or if necessary, to buy WM MOs with?
In the case of your question, the MS forum here is full of such dedicated topics; looks like you haven't bothered to take much of a look besides posting your question on this thread. And to give you and other noobs another hint, if you don't know what specifically to look for, look at the trending threads on the MS forum here.
Jan 12, 2016, 1:03 am
#39
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 148
Where to buy $500 "debit" cards now?
Today I went out to finish the spending requirement on a card with about a week left to spend.
OfficeMax was of course out of the Metabank Visa variables, so I tried to buy a Mastercard instead. The register displayed a notice that all of the variable load MS type cards are now CASH ONLY. Yikes.
So, in desperation, I go to WM, and all the GreenDot VGCs are gone from the card rack. I pick up a variable card from Sunrise, I think, and head for checkout. "Invalid Payment Type". Yep, WM decided not to sell me VGCs on a credit card too.
So, where can I quickly pick up $2k in MS or advance spending, via debit cards that I can use in any store, or if necessary, to buy WM MOs with?
Today I went out to finish the spending requirement on a card with about a week left to spend.
OfficeMax was of course out of the Metabank Visa variables, so I tried to buy a Mastercard instead. The register displayed a notice that all of the variable load MS type cards are now CASH ONLY. Yikes.
So, in desperation, I go to WM, and all the GreenDot VGCs are gone from the card rack. I pick up a variable card from Sunrise, I think, and head for checkout. "Invalid Payment Type". Yep, WM decided not to sell me VGCs on a credit card too.
So, where can I quickly pick up $2k in MS or advance spending, via debit cards that I can use in any store, or if necessary, to buy WM MOs with?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...l-500-gcs.html
Jan 22, 2016, 12:01 pm
#40
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1
ways to get points for cash payments??
Hey y'all, I'm new to the MS/ points game. I pay my dad $1100 in cash monthly.
Any way I could get creative to pay him and get points??
If I do Paypal, i have to do the 3% fee which negates the benefits.
Also, buying a puppy in cash for $1000. Any ideas on how to get points for that? She's a private breeder so she'll take cash or check, but its not like I can charge it. Thanks!!
Any way I could get creative to pay him and get points??
If I do Paypal, i have to do the 3% fee which negates the benefits.
Also, buying a puppy in cash for $1000. Any ideas on how to get points for that? She's a private breeder so she'll take cash or check, but its not like I can charge it. Thanks!!
Jan 23, 2016, 9:49 am
#41
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 9
Does activating a Serve carve have any affect on Amex Plat (or any other card) approval? I know there's no credit check for the Serve but it seems weird to get one and then to turn around and apply for an Amex Plat which is the next card I intend to pick up.
Jan 23, 2016, 9:42 pm
#42
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 305
Hey y'all, I'm new to the MS/ points game. I pay my dad $1100 in cash monthly.
Any way I could get creative to pay him and get points??
If I do Paypal, i have to do the 3% fee which negates the benefits.
Also, buying a puppy in cash for $1000. Any ideas on how to get points for that? She's a private breeder so she'll take cash or check, but its not like I can charge it. Thanks!!
Any way I could get creative to pay him and get points??
If I do Paypal, i have to do the 3% fee which negates the benefits.
Also, buying a puppy in cash for $1000. Any ideas on how to get points for that? She's a private breeder so she'll take cash or check, but its not like I can charge it. Thanks!!
1. buy GDC with points-earning credit card
2. load it into Serve
3. write a check from Serve to the breeder (or - to skip this step - if the breeder would accept MO - buy a MO at a grocery store/or WM for $1000)
good luck with your purchase!
Jan 25, 2016, 6:04 am
#43
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
@onealtravels, in4tar gave good suggestions but keep in mind that MS is highly dependent on local factors. that means you have to go to grocery stores/drugstores/gas stations in your area to find out the ones that will sell you the variable VGCs (those are GCs that allow from $25 up to $500 load in them) if there's any. you will often see here YMMV which means, it worked for the OP but it may/may not work for you.
Buying the VGC with CC is just the first step, if you can convince the breeder to accept your VGC, good for you. If not, as suggested, ask if MO (money order) will do; if they say yes, then your next step is finding the grocery store to buy MO. This is the part where you have to do a lot of reading on the do's and don't's of what kind of VGCs to buy, how much fees are, pitfalls to avoid.
overall, it's easy on paper but when you go out there to find where to buy the VGCs with CC and/or where to buy MOs with VGCs, those are the challenging stuff you have to hurdle. Good luck!
Buying the VGC with CC is just the first step, if you can convince the breeder to accept your VGC, good for you. If not, as suggested, ask if MO (money order) will do; if they say yes, then your next step is finding the grocery store to buy MO. This is the part where you have to do a lot of reading on the do's and don't's of what kind of VGCs to buy, how much fees are, pitfalls to avoid.
overall, it's easy on paper but when you go out there to find where to buy the VGCs with CC and/or where to buy MOs with VGCs, those are the challenging stuff you have to hurdle. Good luck!
Jan 27, 2016, 7:33 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1
I am sure more experienced people would come up with better ways, but...if I were buying a puppy for a $1000, and the seller would only accept cash or check, that's what I would do:
1. buy GDC with points-earning credit card
2. load it into Serve
3. write a check from Serve to the breeder (or - to skip this step - if the breeder would accept MO - buy a MO at a grocery store/or WM for $1000)
good luck with your purchase!
1. buy GDC with points-earning credit card
2. load it into Serve
3. write a check from Serve to the breeder (or - to skip this step - if the breeder would accept MO - buy a MO at a grocery store/or WM for $1000)
good luck with your purchase!
Also, I haven't seen this routine that I though of posted elsewhere:
- Buy Vanilla Reload (or any other) prepaid debit card
- Use the debit card to purchase money order
- Use money order to pay bills/rent/self
Would this routine work?
Jan 27, 2016, 7:46 pm
#45
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 32
Yes, it will work. I usually go to the Post Office for money orders.