Complain to CVS Corporate. The stores cannot make up their own policies.

Had one CVS in my area that was trying to be cash/debit only for ALL gift cards. Their corporate shut that down real fast. All CVS Stores in my area have the gift card policy posted at the checkout showing the ID requirement over $300 regardless of payment type (so as to not break any credit card network rules...), etc.

Interesting...I have one store where the same a-hole manager has been working forever and is only cash-only store in town. It's in a convenient location and I'd love to force him to sell those. Any particular customer service # you called to make this happen?

The general number is 1-800-SHOP-CVS. At the prompt, request complaint, then you have to climb the ladder of pressing buttons until you reach the correct department.

google provided this corporate number (401) 765-1550

IME, limited as it is, stores that got hit with stolen CCs resulting in lots of chargebacks are allowed to make their policy of cash only. Corporate takes the side of store managers who have this experience so complainants can't do anything about it except to go to other branches. Too bad, so sad for those with just one DS in their town.

In that case, you need to involve the District Manager. If they won't fix it, then involve the Regional Manager.

A front line customer service representative who doesn't know better may take the side of an arguing Store Manager, but know the Store Manager is in the wrong, not authorized to make up their own policies, and has to follow the policies that CVS Corporate has set forth.

Good info, I have no idea why an individual store manager even cares to cook up their own policy. As long as they follow corporate rules not like they're personally responsible for anything that happens.

Because they can do it, just like Miamibear stated, this issue has been around for years, when VR was around, I had one store Manager accuse me of money Laundering and refused to sell me VR with a CC. After speaking to the District manager they told me that Store Managers are allowed to set certain store policy to protect the interest of their store.

One Vanilla Activation Fee Increase
 

Activation fee has increased to $5.95 on new stock of OneVanilla Prepaid VISA Cards.

That's been discussed for like the last 10 pages :D I still see old stock in my neck of the woods so hopefully that sticks around. The herd of MSers has been thinned considerably since WM stopped taking vanillas and Bluebird died, so we have no lack of inventory.

I've been to such DS that said cash only and just left quitely. I'd probably put up same policy as SM of a store hit with stolen CCs followed by a lot of chargebacks. Or in your case, if they suspect ML or other illegal activities, they're free to use their discretion and want cash only for such merchandise. It'll be useless and time consuming to contact corporate knowing they have valid reasons to side with the SM. I would understand why others would fight for it if they have only one DS to buy their GCs.

^

Actually it is not useless to contact corporate. The gift card program has to be administered in accordance with their policies because they have signed an agreement with the gift card provider and their gift card provider is aware of their policies and has agreed to those. The gift card provider has not agreed to stores that have cash only policies, refuse to sell in certain dollar amounts, etc. The gift card provider has agreed to the system flagging and denying certain transactions. The gift card provider has agreed to the ID logging for all gift card sales above $300.

If the District Manager backs up the Store Manager who is making up their own rules, then you have to go over that person's head too. Then check back in a year or two and see if that DM is still there.

So what you are saying is, CVS signed an agreement to sell GC a certain way (cash and CC) and have to follow those rules, even if CVS is losing MILLIONS on fraud? If I was CVS, I would tell GC company to shove it and we cancel the contract.

However, I don't think GC company wants to lose CVS's business and is allowing CVS to protect themselves with these polices, so until you can prove other wise, I doubt I believe what you posted.

How is CVS losing money from fraud? They swipe ID and use PIN transactions. Any fraud would not be their responsibility and would be written off by the CC.

It's the people who pay with cash ,or stolen debit card who would in fact be more of a liability. Debit cards give almost zero protection to the owner, and who the heck carries around $2k in cash for GC purchases?

End result is CVS stores with such policy have shelves brimming with cards and almost zero sales. I confirmed as much by talking to cashiers. Since the GC merchant pays to rent rack space, I'm not sure they'd love this arrangement.