Feb 3, 2017, 9:45 am
Last edit by: RedSun
This is the thread for 2017 onward. The previous discussion can be found here.
UPDATED Oct-2018: A lot of CVS store take CCs for GC purchases. Some stores check CCs and scan driver's license (with hand scanner). The best GCs are OVVGC and VVGC. The only differences are card designs. The current fee is $5.95 for $25 - $500 variable loading. If prompted for PIN, enter the last 4 digits.
Look for mobile shipping portal with CVS bonus. Certain CCs have category bonus.
CVS is cash only for all Incomm-related reloads and reloadable cards, including Vanilla Reloads and Serve swipe reloads. See memo to stores for complete list. Other cards at CVS can still be bought using credit, but YMMV depending on location, Manager, etc.
Transaction limits since October 20, 2014:
Transactions with $300 or more of card face value require ID.
Limit $ 2000 of card face value per 24 hour rolling period. (Some are reporting limit of $1000 per 24 hrs as of 2/2018)?
Limit of 10 cards per 24 hours.
Cash Register Freezing
Multiple reports that the CVS cash register will freeze and lock after scanning the ID when purchasing multiple prepaid cards. Then the register's computer needs to be restarted. Some report that "swiping" the ID instead of "scanning" will avoid the issue.
Limit of 7 tenders (swipes) per transaction. This is most commonly run into when using low-value AGCs. After seven, the transaction must be complete, no cash (or any other payment method) will be accepted to pay the balance.
System error after giving them license If you keep getting this error, there could be a problem with the magnetic strip on your license. Have them use the wand to scan it instead.
UPDATED Oct-2018: A lot of CVS store take CCs for GC purchases. Some stores check CCs and scan driver's license (with hand scanner). The best GCs are OVVGC and VVGC. The only differences are card designs. The current fee is $5.95 for $25 - $500 variable loading. If prompted for PIN, enter the last 4 digits.
Look for mobile shipping portal with CVS bonus. Certain CCs have category bonus.
CVS is cash only for all Incomm-related reloads and reloadable cards, including Vanilla Reloads and Serve swipe reloads. See memo to stores for complete list. Other cards at CVS can still be bought using credit, but YMMV depending on location, Manager, etc.
Transaction limits since October 20, 2014:
Transactions with $300 or more of card face value require ID.
Limit $ 2000 of card face value per 24 hour rolling period. (Some are reporting limit of $1000 per 24 hrs as of 2/2018)?
Limit of 10 cards per 24 hours.
Cash Register Freezing
Multiple reports that the CVS cash register will freeze and lock after scanning the ID when purchasing multiple prepaid cards. Then the register's computer needs to be restarted. Some report that "swiping" the ID instead of "scanning" will avoid the issue.
Limit of 7 tenders (swipes) per transaction. This is most commonly run into when using low-value AGCs. After seven, the transaction must be complete, no cash (or any other payment method) will be accepted to pay the balance.
System error after giving them license If you keep getting this error, there could be a problem with the magnetic strip on your license. Have them use the wand to scan it instead.
CVS Master Thread(2017 onwards)
Jan 17, 2022, 8:58 am
#632
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 17
Drop shutdown due to CVS transactions
anyone else experience a Drop app shutdown due to CVS transactions? last Oct/Nov, my regular GC CVS transactions showed up as pending in Drop. I presumed that they'd be disqualified due to Drop terms, but some got through, and I suddenly had 800k in Drop pts. I redeemed as much as possible, but there's a redemption cap of 250k pts/month. I had another 1.3mm pts pending, but made the mistake of asking when they might post. That started to get eyes on my account & last week they "flagged" my account. I tried to appeal, noting that I wasn't the one that awarded the points, but it's been radio silent from Drop. anyone else have experience with this? I actually liked Drop, for their innovative crypto options, the games, & ease of use. Not the end of the world if I don't get reinstated, will continue with Ibotta, Dosh, but sort of a bummer that I couldn't keep Drop going.
Jan 17, 2022, 12:16 pm
#633
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,442
anyone else experience a Drop app shutdown due to CVS transactions? last Oct/Nov, my regular GC CVS transactions showed up as pending in Drop. I presumed that they'd be disqualified due to Drop terms, but some got through, and I suddenly had 800k in Drop pts. I redeemed as much as possible, but there's a redemption cap of 250k pts/month. I had another 1.3mm pts pending, but made the mistake of asking when they might post. That started to get eyes on my account & last week they "flagged" my account. I tried to appeal, noting that I wasn't the one that awarded the points, but it's been radio silent from Drop. anyone else have experience with this? I actually liked Drop, for their innovative crypto options, the games, & ease of use. Not the end of the world if I don't get reinstated, will continue with Ibotta, Dosh, but sort of a bummer that I couldn't keep Drop going.
You stated that you knew your GC purchases at CVS did not qualify for Drop points yet you received 800K points presumably for just those purchases.
You tried to redeem your points and wanted more than the allowed 250K/month.
Doing some quick math, if you received just 2 months worth or redemption (500K points) and added that to your 800K points incorrectly gained from the CVS GC transaction, you actually received exactly what you legitimately earned from the program (1.3MM points).
I know nothing about Drop, but I think that you might have a case for reinstatement since they clawed back the incorrectly applied point earnings. You can claim you had no idea that GCs were not part of the program and since they didn't lose anything, everything is tidy.
I would write and ask for reinstatement.
Jan 18, 2022, 3:05 pm
#634
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
I think that that old saw "Pigs get fat but hogs get slaughtered" may apply here.
You stated that you knew your GC purchases at CVS did not qualify for Drop points yet you received 800K points presumably for just those purchases.
You tried to redeem your points and wanted more than the allowed 250K/month.
Doing some quick math, if you received just 2 months worth or redemption (500K points) and added that to your 800K points incorrectly gained from the CVS GC transaction, you actually received exactly what you legitimately earned from the program (1.3MM points).
I know nothing about Drop, but I think that you might have a case for reinstatement since they clawed back the incorrectly applied point earnings. You can claim you had no idea that GCs were not part of the program and since they didn't lose anything, everything is tidy.
I would write and ask for reinstatement.
You stated that you knew your GC purchases at CVS did not qualify for Drop points yet you received 800K points presumably for just those purchases.
You tried to redeem your points and wanted more than the allowed 250K/month.
Doing some quick math, if you received just 2 months worth or redemption (500K points) and added that to your 800K points incorrectly gained from the CVS GC transaction, you actually received exactly what you legitimately earned from the program (1.3MM points).
I know nothing about Drop, but I think that you might have a case for reinstatement since they clawed back the incorrectly applied point earnings. You can claim you had no idea that GCs were not part of the program and since they didn't lose anything, everything is tidy.
I would write and ask for reinstatement.
Jan 18, 2022, 6:35 pm
#635
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,442
Jan 19, 2022, 10:56 am
#636
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 17
I've asked Drop nicely to reinstate a few times, with no success.
me: So that it? It's over? No other options? Delete the app?
Olive at Drop support: Hi Jason, Unfortunately that is it, we cannot unflag your account. Thank you for your understanding.
Feels so final. I feel sad.
Olive at Drop support: Hi Jason, Unfortunately that is it, we cannot unflag your account. Thank you for your understanding.
Jan 19, 2022, 11:44 am
#637
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
I've asked Drop nicely to reinstate a few times, with no success.
me: So that it? It's over? No other options? Delete the app?
Olive at Drop support: Hi Jason, Unfortunately that is it, we cannot unflag your account. Thank you for your understanding.
Feels so final. I feel sad.Olive at Drop support: Hi Jason, Unfortunately that is it, we cannot unflag your account. Thank you for your understanding.
Last edited by danhouston; Jan 19, 2022 at 11:59 am
May 19, 2022, 4:38 pm
#639
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,949
After millions of dollars in gift card purchases over the years, I finally became the victim of fraud.
I purchased some Vanilla's at CVS and when I opened them, noticed that one had a slip of paper over the activation barcode that contained the exact same numbers of the barcode beneath it, but the actual bars were aligned differently. Sure enough, the card had no value. I went back into the store and was told they could do nothing. I called Vanilla customer service and opened a case. I had to email them copies of everything.
It will be interesting to see how this is handled.
I purchased some Vanilla's at CVS and when I opened them, noticed that one had a slip of paper over the activation barcode that contained the exact same numbers of the barcode beneath it, but the actual bars were aligned differently. Sure enough, the card had no value. I went back into the store and was told they could do nothing. I called Vanilla customer service and opened a case. I had to email them copies of everything.
It will be interesting to see how this is handled.
May 19, 2022, 4:58 pm
#640
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 261
After millions of dollars in gift card purchases over the years, I finally became the victim of fraud.
I purchased some Vanilla's at CVS and when I opened them, noticed that one had a slip of paper over the activation barcode that contained the exact same numbers of the barcode beneath it, but the actual bars were aligned differently. Sure enough, the card had no value. I went back into the store and was told they could do nothing. I called Vanilla customer service and opened a case. I had to email them copies of everything.
It will be interesting to see how this is handled.
I purchased some Vanilla's at CVS and when I opened them, noticed that one had a slip of paper over the activation barcode that contained the exact same numbers of the barcode beneath it, but the actual bars were aligned differently. Sure enough, the card had no value. I went back into the store and was told they could do nothing. I called Vanilla customer service and opened a case. I had to email them copies of everything.
It will be interesting to see how this is handled.
May 19, 2022, 5:36 pm
#641
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,949
My guess is that the barcode on the slip of paper is aligned to a stolen card that the scammers have.
May 19, 2022, 8:36 pm
#642
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,061
There's also this thread. In my case it was a card swap inside the packaging. Vanilla was able to load the balance on the physical card I had, which I drained promptly. You should be made whole with this one, and you are correct to be working with the card issuer, not with CVS or your credit card issuer.
May 20, 2022, 2:29 pm
#643
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,949
There's also this thread. In my case it was a card swap inside the packaging. Vanilla was able to load the balance on the physical card I had, which I drained promptly. You should be made whole with this one, and you are correct to be working with the card issuer, not with CVS or your credit card issuer.
I did drain all of the other cards last evening.
Jun 2, 2022, 8:24 am
#644
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 54
Thank you for that information. I emailed all of the documentation yesterday and was told to give them about three business days until I hear back. I'll give them a call Tuesday morning just to follow-up if I don't hear from them on Monday.
I did drain all of the other cards last evening.
I did drain all of the other cards last evening.