Jan 31, 2017, 9:50 pm
Last edit by: shdflyer
11/3/17: The vast majority of popular prepaid debit cards are now blocked via a register hardcode at most locations.
This is the thread for 2017. The previous discussion can be found here.
Newbies: READ for days and learn before trying. It is best to know what you are doing, so start slow. Refer to cards as "Debit" not gc.
"Money orders can be purchased at any Post Office™ location.
Pay for your money order with cash, debit card, or traveler’s checks."
Fees:
$0.01 to $500.00: $1.20
$500.01 to $1,000.00: $1.60
Most post offices allow split payment (multiple debit cards) for one money order up to a max of $1000.
Example of how to split payment:
1. "One MO please for $998.40. Id like to pay with 2 debit cards, $500 on each."
2. Swipe first card and enter pin.
3. Remind teller that its "$500 on that card". They will change the amount on their screen to $500. Transaction goes through and a small receipt prints.
4. Swipe 2nd card, enter pin.
5. Done.
Note: If you encounter a problem with the second card and have to cancel the transaction, it can be very difficult to recover your funds on the first card. Always have a back-up payment method available (bank debit card or cash).
GC Information: The fine print on the back of the package shows the bank issuer. Don't buy GCs with tampered packaging and always use cards ASAP.
Visa OneVanilla and Vanilla GC issued by Bancorp work at PO.
Visa/MC Gift Cards issued by MetaBank have not had any success at MOST USPS anywhere in the country since around September 2016.
These will NOT work if the clerk uses a touchscreen
These MAY work, and often do, at small, rural post offices where clerks do not have touch screens.
Visa Gift Cards from Walmart issued by Green Dot have stopped working for MO purchases for some.
GAME MOSTLY OVER, MOST USPO are HARD CODED to NOT ACCEPT NON BANK DEBIT CARDS
Exception seems to be small, rural post offices where clerks do not use touch screens.
This is the thread for 2017. The previous discussion can be found here.
Newbies: READ for days and learn before trying. It is best to know what you are doing, so start slow. Refer to cards as "Debit" not gc.
"Money orders can be purchased at any Post Office™ location.
Pay for your money order with cash, debit card, or traveler’s checks."
Fees:
$0.01 to $500.00: $1.20
$500.01 to $1,000.00: $1.60
Most post offices allow split payment (multiple debit cards) for one money order up to a max of $1000.
Example of how to split payment:
1. "One MO please for $998.40. Id like to pay with 2 debit cards, $500 on each."
2. Swipe first card and enter pin.
3. Remind teller that its "$500 on that card". They will change the amount on their screen to $500. Transaction goes through and a small receipt prints.
4. Swipe 2nd card, enter pin.
5. Done.
Note: If you encounter a problem with the second card and have to cancel the transaction, it can be very difficult to recover your funds on the first card. Always have a back-up payment method available (bank debit card or cash).
GC Information: The fine print on the back of the package shows the bank issuer. Don't buy GCs with tampered packaging and always use cards ASAP.
Visa OneVanilla and Vanilla GC issued by Bancorp work at PO.
Visa/MC Gift Cards issued by MetaBank have not had any success at MOST USPS anywhere in the country since around September 2016.
These will NOT work if the clerk uses a touchscreen
These MAY work, and often do, at small, rural post offices where clerks do not have touch screens.
Visa Gift Cards from Walmart issued by Green Dot have stopped working for MO purchases for some.
GAME MOSTLY OVER, MOST USPO are HARD CODED to NOT ACCEPT NON BANK DEBIT CARDS
Exception seems to be small, rural post offices where clerks do not use touch screens.
Buy MO's at Post Office(2017-2018)[Gift Cards no Longer Allowed]
Jan 6, 2017, 5:12 pm
#31
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: United Gold (frmer. 1k and GS), AAdvantage Platinum, Alaska MVP Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 200
I'm aware of this - I hadn't filled out the form until this and purposefully wanted to trigger it. Why? Let's just say a few of the local Bay Area POs know me as the "$500 gift card" person and I was consistently buying just under $2k (998.40x2). In case of any investigation, I'd rather there not be a open-shut case of structuring.
Last edited by lesamuel; Jan 6, 2017 at 11:37 pm
Jan 6, 2017, 5:17 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Posts: 522
Even if someone wanted to answer this more seriously they wouldn't be able to since they didn't see the cards and you didn't provide enough description. It's likely there's no difference though. Why did you buy at Walgreens, do you have a card that earns rewards at drugs stores?
I do have a rewards card, but I forgot to use it, doh!
Jan 6, 2017, 5:28 pm
#33
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 284
I'm aware of this - I hadn't filled out the form until this and purposefully wanted to trigger it. Why? Let's just say a few of the local Bay Area POs know me as the "$500 gift card" person and I was consistently buying just under $2k (998.40x2). In case of any investigation, I'd rather there not be a close-shut case of structuring.
Jan 6, 2017, 5:30 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
you didn't miss anything. Buying GCs at both WAG and CVS does not earn rewards at both drugstores.
When WAG has the offer buy any 2 vanilla, get $5 WAGgc, that is the time you let cashier scan your card because if you don't, it won't take off $5 loaded to the WAGgc so you end up paying for it. At CVS, I have yet to see ECBs offered to buy the vanillas. I see $5 ECB offer for buying the Netspend card.
When WAG has the offer buy any 2 vanilla, get $5 WAGgc, that is the time you let cashier scan your card because if you don't, it won't take off $5 loaded to the WAGgc so you end up paying for it. At CVS, I have yet to see ECBs offered to buy the vanillas. I see $5 ECB offer for buying the Netspend card.
Jan 7, 2017, 2:33 pm
#35
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: NY
Posts: 523
I've done 22k in one go. I just tell them 22k. they type in 9000, 9000 and 4000. any amount up to 9000 will automatically populate out in the highest denominations available. for example, tell them you want 4500, they type it in and it sets up 4x1,000 and 1x500.
My PO knows and loves me and have no problem with that.
I hand them my license and SSN typed into my phone and they type that into computer. don't need actual form
My PO knows and loves me and have no problem with that.
I hand them my license and SSN typed into my phone and they type that into computer. don't need actual form
Jan 7, 2017, 3:51 pm
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 198
Jan 7, 2017, 4:23 pm
#38
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
the form is in the system electronically and being filed with every purchase s/he makes. You don't need to turn in the form, all they need are your DL number and your SSN. They match your license to the info that pops up on the screen and you're good to go. The only one who needs an education is you, not their PO
And, I don't know why people are running to PO for converting a bunch of vanillas to PO MO since I have a cheaper and little more efficient way to liquidate 'em...it's location dependent as usual with any MS, but a lot would qualify for it...and it's not difficult to find it...
Last edited by vagrants; Jan 7, 2017 at 4:52 pm
Jan 7, 2017, 6:34 pm
#39
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 325
The very first form filing in the system electronically, the info being put into the system was not verified. How the hell do you know if the info put into the system for the first time is accurate if you don't even show your DL or did I miss the part this member had some kind of verification at the time this member's info was put into the system for the first time? If so, then my argument doesn't stand because my premise was wrong.
And, I don't know why people are running to PO for converting a bunch of vanillas to PO MO since I have a cheaper and little more efficient way to liquidate 'em...it's location dependent as usual with any MS, but a lot would qualify for it...and it's not difficult to find it...
And, I don't know why people are running to PO for converting a bunch of vanillas to PO MO since I have a cheaper and little more efficient way to liquidate 'em...it's location dependent as usual with any MS, but a lot would qualify for it...and it's not difficult to find it...
Good for you having a cheap and efficient method to cash out vgc. if it's walmart then i don't have that near me that works. if it's another way, then unless your willing to share, many of us do what we know. :-(
Jan 7, 2017, 6:35 pm
#40
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 325
usually i was fdoing between 10 and 20k. takes maybe 10-15 minutes including the printing of MO. i try to go when there isn't long line or when there's 3 windows working. That being said, i've seen people at the window longer than that just mailing 20 packages or futzing with international, so frankly it's not that unusual. Like i've said before, i take care of the staff there so they are totally cool with it. They know the entire game as well - i've long since explained it to avoid suspicion.
Jan 7, 2017, 6:38 pm
#41
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 325
I'm aware of this - I hadn't filled out the form until this and purposefully wanted to trigger it. Why? Let's just say a few of the local Bay Area POs know me as the "$500 gift card" person and I was consistently buying just under $2k (998.40x2). In case of any investigation, I'd rather there not be a open-shut case of structuring.
Jan 7, 2017, 10:46 pm
#43
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 325
Jan 8, 2017, 5:20 am
#44
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
The 1st time i did the form with DL. subsequently they only need license and ssn. Whether that constitutes verification is a separate issue, but as far as the PO goes that's what they require.
Good for you having a cheap and efficient method to cash out vgc. if it's walmart then i don't have that near me that works. if it's another way, then unless your willing to share, many of us do what we know. :-(
Good for you having a cheap and efficient method to cash out vgc. if it's walmart then i don't have that near me that works. if it's another way, then unless your willing to share, many of us do what we know. :-(
No, it is not. Speaking of WM, when my Serve was working like a year or more ago (I was shutdown on the 1st wave), I tried the famous <$49.99 thing. It didn't work. After the failure, I tried to purchase cheap real stuff like a tic-tack with vanilla, it didn't go through with debit at several locations....it's completely blocked.
Jan 8, 2017, 5:32 am
#45
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
And, I don't know why people are running to PO for converting a bunch of vanillas to PO MO since I have a cheaper and little more efficient way to liquidate 'em...it's location dependent as usual with any MS, but a lot would qualify for it...and it's not difficult to find it...
if it is, i dont know whether is it safe to scale up or not? have done it, but not in big volume bc i dont want to be banned by the store...