Jan 1, 2018, 10:53 am
Last edit by: wyogold
This is the thread for 2018. The previous discussion can be found here.
The 2019 thread can be found here
New to MO: Read this entire Wiki (Click to open) and all posts for some tips before asking common questions. It is best to know what you are doing before you try.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tested Gebit cards:
1. DO NOT WORK - Any Vanilla product affiliated with InComm or ITC Financial Services will not work for swipes over $49.99.
2. Visas issued by MetaBank work great.
3. MC issued by US bank work good, but you need to change payment type to debit before they enter the amount in the register. See below for details.
5. Gdot/sun work but take about an hour to activate.
NEW Limits as of 11/18 - 8K with ID every 24 hours. ID required for MO over 1K.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________
Some tips for starting out:
All WM registers allow 4 debit swipes per transaction, but YMMV per store and cashier. Refer to cards as Debit cards.
Start slow and buy one MO with one Gebit to see how it works. Refer to cards as Debit, only this community calls them Gebits. Your store or cashier may have rules that other stores do not have, only allowing one swipe per trans or up to 4 swipes per trans. Read all the tips below and all the posts below before trying more advanced transactions. NO variety or design of VISA or MC Gebit's will ever auto-drain at Walmart so always tell them the amount you want to pay per card. Fee: 1K MO or less is usually 88 cents each, but ask or check the wall. Subtract the fee from the total or pay in cash. If a store says "no", thank them and try again another day with a different clerk.
Helpful details and tips for advanced transactions:
1. Cost: 1K MO fee is usually 88 cents each(Some states limit MO total to 750 or 950 and may have a different fee). Subtract fee from your total or pay in cash. Can buy two 1K MO in one transaction with 4 swipes for 88 cents x 2 in most states. NO variety or design of VISA or MC Gebit's will ever auto-drain at Walmart so always tell them the amount you want to pay per card.
2. Split payment transcations: You cannot successfully swipe more than 4 cards in a single transaction. If the cashier screws up and enters $50.00 instead of $500.00 (thus making it impossible for 4 swipes to complete the transaction), the transaction will need to be canceled. The funds should return to your cards right away but may take 24 hours, so note the time and person helping you. When a transaction is canceled during the trans, the money returns to the cards. If canceled after, the cash reg drawer opens and they pay you back in cash.
3. Split payment: The amount of each swipe needs to be entered by the cashier. Ask to "split the payment by $$$". The Gebit must have current balance of that amount or more otherwise slip with Error 51 will print out. Warning: (YMMV) It appears (my experience on 3 occasions during prepaid card load and buying MO in 2 different WMs) that after the debit card was charged no cash could be credited back to the card. Cashier should issue cash back. Keep the slip and contact manager if in doubt. Remember date, time and register if no slip.
4. Bad Printer: IF, by chance, you've swiped your GCs successfully, a receipt prints but the MO doesn't, make sure to ask to see the receipt and check near the bottom IF it says CHANGE/REFUND with a negative sign before the amount of GCs you swiped, that means the cashier must give you cash refund. Cashier may have to call for the cash dept manager to verify the refund. Some stores may outright give your cash refund immediately while there are others that will ask you to come back. Think twice before you buy MOs while on vacation or when you're in unknown to you territories for issues like this.
5. Kiosk: Very few Kate's can sell money orders anymore.>>>>Sometime 2016, a lot of WM supercenters have done away with Kate (kiosks that allows loading of prepaids/sell $500 MOs). As of today, MOST, if not ALL WMs, have replaced this with the regular slim ATM to check balance/withdraw money.
6. MCGC liquidation- The cashier should not enter the amount first. Technically they just can't hit enter after entering the amount. Let the CSR know you need to swipe first and switch the payment type to debit, then swipe and hit "Cancel" or "Change Payment" to select "Debit" on the screen, enter the pin and have them enter the amount.
Debit codes PDF
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/attac...0&d=1461170080
The 2019 thread can be found here
New to MO: Read this entire Wiki (Click to open) and all posts for some tips before asking common questions. It is best to know what you are doing before you try.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tested Gebit cards:
1. DO NOT WORK - Any Vanilla product affiliated with InComm or ITC Financial Services will not work for swipes over $49.99.
2. Visas issued by MetaBank work great.
3. MC issued by US bank work good, but you need to change payment type to debit before they enter the amount in the register. See below for details.
5. Gdot/sun work but take about an hour to activate.
NEW Limits as of 11/18 - 8K with ID every 24 hours. ID required for MO over 1K.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________
Some tips for starting out:
All WM registers allow 4 debit swipes per transaction, but YMMV per store and cashier. Refer to cards as Debit cards.
Start slow and buy one MO with one Gebit to see how it works. Refer to cards as Debit, only this community calls them Gebits. Your store or cashier may have rules that other stores do not have, only allowing one swipe per trans or up to 4 swipes per trans. Read all the tips below and all the posts below before trying more advanced transactions. NO variety or design of VISA or MC Gebit's will ever auto-drain at Walmart so always tell them the amount you want to pay per card. Fee: 1K MO or less is usually 88 cents each, but ask or check the wall. Subtract the fee from the total or pay in cash. If a store says "no", thank them and try again another day with a different clerk.
Helpful details and tips for advanced transactions:
1. Cost: 1K MO fee is usually 88 cents each(Some states limit MO total to 750 or 950 and may have a different fee). Subtract fee from your total or pay in cash. Can buy two 1K MO in one transaction with 4 swipes for 88 cents x 2 in most states. NO variety or design of VISA or MC Gebit's will ever auto-drain at Walmart so always tell them the amount you want to pay per card.
2. Split payment transcations: You cannot successfully swipe more than 4 cards in a single transaction. If the cashier screws up and enters $50.00 instead of $500.00 (thus making it impossible for 4 swipes to complete the transaction), the transaction will need to be canceled. The funds should return to your cards right away but may take 24 hours, so note the time and person helping you. When a transaction is canceled during the trans, the money returns to the cards. If canceled after, the cash reg drawer opens and they pay you back in cash.
3. Split payment: The amount of each swipe needs to be entered by the cashier. Ask to "split the payment by $$$". The Gebit must have current balance of that amount or more otherwise slip with Error 51 will print out. Warning: (YMMV) It appears (my experience on 3 occasions during prepaid card load and buying MO in 2 different WMs) that after the debit card was charged no cash could be credited back to the card. Cashier should issue cash back. Keep the slip and contact manager if in doubt. Remember date, time and register if no slip.
4. Bad Printer: IF, by chance, you've swiped your GCs successfully, a receipt prints but the MO doesn't, make sure to ask to see the receipt and check near the bottom IF it says CHANGE/REFUND with a negative sign before the amount of GCs you swiped, that means the cashier must give you cash refund. Cashier may have to call for the cash dept manager to verify the refund. Some stores may outright give your cash refund immediately while there are others that will ask you to come back. Think twice before you buy MOs while on vacation or when you're in unknown to you territories for issues like this.
5. Kiosk: Very few Kate's can sell money orders anymore.>>>>Sometime 2016, a lot of WM supercenters have done away with Kate (kiosks that allows loading of prepaids/sell $500 MOs). As of today, MOST, if not ALL WMs, have replaced this with the regular slim ATM to check balance/withdraw money.
6. MCGC liquidation- The cashier should not enter the amount first. Technically they just can't hit enter after entering the amount. Let the CSR know you need to swipe first and switch the payment type to debit, then swipe and hit "Cancel" or "Change Payment" to select "Debit" on the screen, enter the pin and have them enter the amount.
Debit codes PDF
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/attac...0&d=1461170080
Buying Money Orders at Walmart (2018)
Feb 27, 2018, 5:16 pm
#421
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: IND
Programs: DL, AA
Posts: 144
Thank you, Mamibear! Awesome explanation.
Feb 27, 2018, 8:02 pm
#422
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: MD
Programs: UA,AA,SPG
Posts: 61
Won't last for long. I see whales hitting these WMs hard. At my go to WM I see this guy who buys 25-30K in GCs at Money Center and then come back to bill pay using the same GCs. He often comes on weekends and holds up the line. Last Sunday a yellow vest politely asked him to leave as people were waiting for almost half an hour.
Feb 27, 2018, 8:06 pm
#423
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Lots
Posts: 320
Won't last for long. I see whales hitting these WMs hard. At my go to WM I see this guy who buys 25-30K in GCs at Money Center and then come back to bill pay using the same GCs. He often comes on weekends and holds up the line. Last Sunday a yellow vest politely asked him to leave as people were waiting for almost half an hour.
Feb 27, 2018, 9:37 pm
#425
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: USA
Posts: 78
Won't last for long. I see whales hitting these WMs hard. At my go to WM I see this guy who buys 25-30K in GCs at Money Center and then come back to bill pay using the same GCs. He often comes on weekends and holds up the line. Last Sunday a yellow vest politely asked him to leave as people were waiting for almost half an hour.
Feb 27, 2018, 9:56 pm
#426
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 506
Won't last for long. I see whales hitting these WMs hard. At my go to WM I see this guy who buys 25-30K in GCs at Money Center and then come back to bill pay using the same GCs. He often comes on weekends and holds up the line. Last Sunday a yellow vest politely asked him to leave as people were waiting for almost half an hour.
Feb 28, 2018, 8:27 am
#427
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 787
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,306
Simon gc still good to go at Wally?
Feb 28, 2018, 4:48 pm
#428
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Lots
Posts: 320
Saw the MO sign say 88 cents. YJ said price is going up tomorrow. Paid 70 cents today for an MO.
Feb 28, 2018, 9:45 pm
#430
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 740
My favorite WM implemented a limit of 3 swipes max and no VGCs after a recent audit. :'(
Mar 1, 2018, 8:16 am
#432
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Id rather it be $0.90 as its alot eaiser to deal with it when paying it in ca$h. But since most other places by me charge $1 for up to $500 its still a bargain and if that will let them stop busting our eggs a small amount to pay, but my gut says they will continue to bust our eggs.
I hope whats happening south of the MD line stays there, yesterday was a reg day with the only exception of 1 place machine being down
I hope whats happening south of the MD line stays there, yesterday was a reg day with the only exception of 1 place machine being down
Mar 1, 2018, 8:21 am
#433
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,322
Semi-interesting experience --
Went yesterday to purchase 2 X $999.30 MO's. Used 4X $500 GCs. Everything went through fine (PIN input and approval), but then register froze up & they couldn't get MOs or receipt to print, despite much effort. They ultimately gave me $2k in cash, but the person in charge wanted me to leave the 4 cards that I had swiped.* At the time, I thought that was reasonable, so I exchanged the 4 cards for the cash.
Thinking back, I realize that there were at least two control/risk points with what had happened:
1. If the cards were ultimately not charged, or the charges are reversed, then someone at WM has $2k of "live" cards.
2. A dishonest customer could have palmed the cards used, and substituted previously used/depleted cards, in hope of retaining potentially live cards. This could be detected, however, if WM personnel carefully reviewed the receipt, which shows last 4.
Anyway, I think I am whole, and WM should be too, if the cards were charged properly.
* Sorta funny that she knew exactly what I was doing (GCs, not bank DCs), despite not having seen the cards.
Went yesterday to purchase 2 X $999.30 MO's. Used 4X $500 GCs. Everything went through fine (PIN input and approval), but then register froze up & they couldn't get MOs or receipt to print, despite much effort. They ultimately gave me $2k in cash, but the person in charge wanted me to leave the 4 cards that I had swiped.* At the time, I thought that was reasonable, so I exchanged the 4 cards for the cash.
Thinking back, I realize that there were at least two control/risk points with what had happened:
1. If the cards were ultimately not charged, or the charges are reversed, then someone at WM has $2k of "live" cards.
2. A dishonest customer could have palmed the cards used, and substituted previously used/depleted cards, in hope of retaining potentially live cards. This could be detected, however, if WM personnel carefully reviewed the receipt, which shows last 4.
Anyway, I think I am whole, and WM should be too, if the cards were charged properly.
* Sorta funny that she knew exactly what I was doing (GCs, not bank DCs), despite not having seen the cards.
Mar 1, 2018, 8:51 am
#435
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinium
Posts: 1,334
Semi-interesting experience --
Went yesterday to purchase 2 X $999.30 MO's. Used 4X $500 GCs. Everything went through fine (PIN input and approval), but then register froze up & they couldn't get MOs or receipt to print, despite much effort. They ultimately gave me $2k in cash, but the person in charge wanted me to leave the 4 cards that I had swiped.* At the time, I thought that was reasonable, so I exchanged the 4 cards for the cash.
Thinking back, I realize that there were at least two control/risk points with what had happened:
1. If the cards were ultimately not charged, or the charges are reversed, then someone at WM has $2k of "live" cards.
2. A dishonest customer could have palmed the cards used, and substituted previously used/depleted cards, in hope of retaining potentially live cards. This could be detected, however, if WM personnel carefully reviewed the receipt, which shows last 4.
Anyway, I think I am whole, and WM should be too, if the cards were charged properly.
* Sorta funny that she knew exactly what I was doing (GCs, not bank DCs), despite not having seen the cards.
Went yesterday to purchase 2 X $999.30 MO's. Used 4X $500 GCs. Everything went through fine (PIN input and approval), but then register froze up & they couldn't get MOs or receipt to print, despite much effort. They ultimately gave me $2k in cash, but the person in charge wanted me to leave the 4 cards that I had swiped.* At the time, I thought that was reasonable, so I exchanged the 4 cards for the cash.
Thinking back, I realize that there were at least two control/risk points with what had happened:
1. If the cards were ultimately not charged, or the charges are reversed, then someone at WM has $2k of "live" cards.
2. A dishonest customer could have palmed the cards used, and substituted previously used/depleted cards, in hope of retaining potentially live cards. This could be detected, however, if WM personnel carefully reviewed the receipt, which shows last 4.
Anyway, I think I am whole, and WM should be too, if the cards were charged properly.
* Sorta funny that she knew exactly what I was doing (GCs, not bank DCs), despite not having seen the cards.