CVS Master Thread(2017 onwards)
 

I have some Five Back gift cards that I've been converting into OneVanillas (for the cash back obviously), but I've been going into the store and having them ring up 4 cards separately, because I've asked if they can split tender and they always say no. It's really a huge hassle to run 4 separate transactions every time though, and they always need to call for a backup cashier because it takes so long. My question is: will the Five Backs auto drain so I can run them in a single transaction?

you should really read the thread. I answered this multiple times in the thread. Yes you can do it four times in one transaction. first swipe is credit, the next swipe can be debit.

Interesting that the first swipe has to be credit. That could cause issues as they need to ask to see the card for that. Bummer. Thanks for responding, was daunting to go through 11k+ comments looking for a quick answer.

This is interesting, I've only tried debit as the 1st transaction twice and as the last. I just assumed it never worked if it wasnt the last swipe.

Are you sure you answered? You yourself asked the question twice.

On Dec 16:
On Nov. 17:

Yesterday, I ran 4 5B @ CVS for 4 VVGCs, all as debit, all autodrained for $500 each. Put the balance on Amex OBC.

I've never had any problems with splits at CVS, other than the overall limit of swipes, for Debit or Credit.

This shows up when there's no balance on the card.

not always true.

I did get this once and I had 5 other cards with me. I got it on my first swipe. I was able to usenit again after 4 other swipes.

You used 4 500 FBs and purchased 2 VVGCs?

Count yourself lucky for wherever location you are at.

Here the CVS POS is set such a way that it cannot do split payment with debit mode. Period. A cashier even turned the screen to show me, even after she tried to put in the amount. Let alone autodrain.
Many people in some parts of the nation also have the same issue using debit.

Credit mode seems no issue but then it brings up another issue that if your CVS insists the "credit card" must have your name on it that matches the driver license. That is exactly the case in 90% of the stores here.

Here there are stores allow multiple cards to purchase but only that they must be on single transaction with SINGLE payment card. So that immediately preclude the split payment mechanism. Then there are stores allow purchase of 2 cards in separate transactions, but some POS would flag a false daily limit if the same register is used to do b2b2b transactions even with different IDs, though it is not the case for some other POS, even just a few miles apart.

Bottom line - each person must learn the situation of his own location and adapt what works what not accordingly.

Hence, saying one has no issue on doing this or that, without a warning of "in my area", is quite misleading to those who are new or uninitiated in this game. Just a friendly reminder.

shadow520 must have made a typo somewhere - we all know that one cannot buy more than $1K a day at SAME store - so 4 5B for 2 VVGCs and each $500 autodrained from the 5B is impossible. Who knows exactly what shadow520 has done - 2 5B for 2 VVGC in same store makes sense. 4 5B for 4 VVGC in same store is impossible. 4 5B for 2 VVGC does not make any sense. :D

Nope. Typo. 4 VVCGs.

I think your area is same as mine. I just tried debit on 2nd swipe, it doesn't work, so I will continue with credit until it dies.

1k impossible? I've used 4 FBs with 500 and another FB with 25 to purchase 4 VVGC.

Well, yes, I did have a typo and fixed it, but I did buy 4 all in one transaction for a total of $2019.80, charged to 4 different 5B cards @ $500 each, run as debit plus the $19.80 on Amex OBC as credit. I've done 4 @ $500 VVGCs in one transaction from CVS many, many times without issue. So buying 4 at once is not impossible. At least certainly not in my area. YMMV.