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)
#301
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,837
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.
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.
I'm not familiar with credit card fraud... who pays... but doesn't the store pay it and that's why some are NOT allowing CCs?
#302
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: All of them
Posts: 1,663
Sorry I meant CHIP transactions....not pin. And no, if the store follows CC protocol and uses CHIP cards and checks ID, they're not responsible, that was the whole point of switching to chip cards and why stores that were late to that game temporarily stopped selling gift cards
#303
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
I spoke to one manager (not CVS) when they put up signs that ALL GCs were cash only to ask what made him come up with such policy and he said they were hit with a lot of chargebacks from stolen CCs. This was the time CHIP cards were just getting sent out. Whether it's true or not, IDK; after several months when they upgraded their registers for CHIP, the signs were removed.
DSs in my area accept CCs for GCs although I buy my GCs there only for the 5% RD and if they remove/replace all the variables with 4.95 fees and sell only those with 5.95 fees, I may just buy there for MSR purposes. Just in time when rats caused havoc, a fragile sock drawered CC came to the rescue and more than made up for the blue(s).
ETA: in relation to safety of CHIP cards, our Freedom cards have been sock drawered for a while until this Q4 offer. I completed the $1.5K spend on Sunday and now that I remember, signature screen didn't come up unlike using Disc and Citi for similar high amounts. Therefore, if these cards are stolen, thieves can go on a shopping spree with ease, they don't have to sign for top dollar transactions UNLESS the owner finds out and reports immediately to CC. Will test other chipped Freedom if it's the same thing.
DSs in my area accept CCs for GCs although I buy my GCs there only for the 5% RD and if they remove/replace all the variables with 4.95 fees and sell only those with 5.95 fees, I may just buy there for MSR purposes. Just in time when rats caused havoc, a fragile sock drawered CC came to the rescue and more than made up for the blue(s).
ETA: in relation to safety of CHIP cards, our Freedom cards have been sock drawered for a while until this Q4 offer. I completed the $1.5K spend on Sunday and now that I remember, signature screen didn't come up unlike using Disc and Citi for similar high amounts. Therefore, if these cards are stolen, thieves can go on a shopping spree with ease, they don't have to sign for top dollar transactions UNLESS the owner finds out and reports immediately to CC. Will test other chipped Freedom if it's the same thing.
Last edited by Mamibear; Oct 3, 2017 at 12:24 pm Reason: added vital info
#304
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,408
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.
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.
Sorry I meant CHIP transactions....not pin. And no, if the store follows CC protocol and uses CHIP cards and checks ID, they're not responsible, that was the whole point of switching to chip cards and why stores that were late to that game temporarily stopped selling gift cards
#305
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 11
Data point: I just came into my shift at CVS as RPh and saw 2 ladies coming to take away all of the OneVanilla cards with the $4.95. I asked them why they were doing so and they said these were the old ones and the $5.95 were replacing them. Looks like some stores are either taking all of the 4.95 fee cards off the rack or slowly phasing them out.
#306
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,419
Data point: I just came into my shift at CVS as RPh and saw 2 ladies coming to take away all of the OneVanilla cards with the $4.95. I asked them why they were doing so and they said these were the old ones and the $5.95 were replacing them. Looks like some stores are either taking all of the 4.95 fee cards off the rack or slowly phasing them out.
#308
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: RDU
Programs: AA PLT, Club Carlson GLD, IHG Spire, Lifemiles GLD, Hilton Gold
Posts: 338
Citi card not working at CVS
Citi card not working at CVS
My local CVS has plenty of the OV VGCs for $4.95, but for some reason Citi doesn't want to let large transactions go through at CVS. I got a transaction denied and had to call to lift the block and Citi said GCs aren't allowable purchases. Anyone else having this issue? This was the first purchase on a new citi card.
My local CVS has plenty of the OV VGCs for $4.95, but for some reason Citi doesn't want to let large transactions go through at CVS. I got a transaction denied and had to call to lift the block and Citi said GCs aren't allowable purchases. Anyone else having this issue? This was the first purchase on a new citi card.
#309
Suspended
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,998
Citi card not working at CVS
My local CVS has plenty of the OV VGCs for $4.95, but for some reason Citi doesn't want to let large transactions go through at CVS. I got a transaction denied and had to call to lift the block and Citi said GCs aren't allowable purchases. Anyone else having this issue? This was the first purchase on a new citi card.
My local CVS has plenty of the OV VGCs for $4.95, but for some reason Citi doesn't want to let large transactions go through at CVS. I got a transaction denied and had to call to lift the block and Citi said GCs aren't allowable purchases. Anyone else having this issue? This was the first purchase on a new citi card.
1. How much were you trying to buy?
2. How do they know you were buying GC's?
#310
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,242
Citi card not working at CVS
My local CVS has plenty of the OV VGCs for $4.95, but for some reason Citi doesn't want to let large transactions go through at CVS. I got a transaction denied and had to call to lift the block and Citi said GCs aren't allowable purchases. Anyone else having this issue? This was the first purchase on a new citi card.
My local CVS has plenty of the OV VGCs for $4.95, but for some reason Citi doesn't want to let large transactions go through at CVS. I got a transaction denied and had to call to lift the block and Citi said GCs aren't allowable purchases. Anyone else having this issue? This was the first purchase on a new citi card.
And once that happened, it's a tough ride in the immediate weeks cos your card is made even more susceptible to any "high" transactions - including charges over $100 or $200
Just take it slow and lay low for a while is what I would suggest.
#311
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: RDU
Programs: AA PLT, Club Carlson GLD, IHG Spire, Lifemiles GLD, Hilton Gold
Posts: 338
#312
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: All of them
Posts: 1,663
I had something similar happen on a new AA card in August. Refused to accept the transaction after 30min and repeated calling fraud department. Finally gave up and paid my income taxes to meet minimum spend. I can tell you that my Doublecash has no problems at the Simon Mall, so maybe it's selective blocking.
#313
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 86
Non CVS DP :/
#314
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 11
Citi card not working at CVS
My local CVS has plenty of the OV VGCs for $4.95, but for some reason Citi doesn't want to let large transactions go through at CVS. I got a transaction denied and had to call to lift the block and Citi said GCs aren't allowable purchases. Anyone else having this issue? This was the first purchase on a new citi card.
My local CVS has plenty of the OV VGCs for $4.95, but for some reason Citi doesn't want to let large transactions go through at CVS. I got a transaction denied and had to call to lift the block and Citi said GCs aren't allowable purchases. Anyone else having this issue? This was the first purchase on a new citi card.
#315
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1
Anyone know what's going on?