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)
Dec 20, 2018, 7:08 am
#2146
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
At my usual WMNM today, I ended up with the grumpy CSR. I was doing an $800 money order (4 x $200). The CSR said, "I have to see your debit card." I handed her one of my four Grocery Everywhere cards, which she inspected closely.
Then she handed it back to me and said, "OK."
Go figure.
Then she handed it back to me and said, "OK."
Go figure.
I've experienced this one time and didn't switch cards as others do and just handed the GE cards I have. I was prepared to be rejected when she flipped the card back n forth and gave back the cards and said swipe now. I'd rather be rejected than caught switching cards and banned by the store for suspicious activity and it paid off.
Dec 20, 2018, 8:12 am
#2147
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,322
A smart woman in her golden years, likely under-employed as a Walmart CSR. Hope she's not doing it to support some deadbeat kid, she should be the one enjoying free travel, etc.
Dec 20, 2018, 8:13 am
#2148
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,423
Nice : )
I've experienced this one time and didn't switch cards as others do and just handed the GE cards I have. I was prepared to be rejected when she flipped the card back n forth and gave back the cards and said swipe now. I'd rather be rejected than caught switching cards and banned by the store for suspicious activity and it paid off.
I've experienced this one time and didn't switch cards as others do and just handed the GE cards I have. I was prepared to be rejected when she flipped the card back n forth and gave back the cards and said swipe now. I'd rather be rejected than caught switching cards and banned by the store for suspicious activity and it paid off.
"We don't allow gift cards!"
Dec 20, 2018, 8:27 am
#2149
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, HH DIA, Hertz PC, GE + Pre✓, Amazon Super Special Prime
Posts: 1,008
I had a "wow" moment at one of my local WMs today...a new, unfamiliar to me, older cashier lady asked (after I requested a MO for $799.12 with 4 x OD/OM cards) in a very stern voice: "are you doing it for frequent flyer miles?"...in my neck of the woods I had never been asked this question before (the cashiers are pretty indifferent, and it being Midwest - there are not too many MSers here), so I was taken by surprise: "uhmm..."...for which she said "there is no need to be so evasive! it's perfectly legal, but the rules are - 4 cards at a time max, fees either in cash or from the card, and if you don't want your information in our system, you have to stay under $1000"...I could only reply "thank you, ma'am"...I wonder if she reads FT or something - she summarized everything so perfectly...
They never said this hobby would be easy!
Dec 20, 2018, 12:50 pm
#2150
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
Can I bring her a box of chocolates for Christmas? I would kill for someone with that attitude at my usual fishing holes. Instead, I get grumps who despite my continued plan of "kill them with kindness", have yet to warm up to me - this after 2 years of patronizing the same stores.
Dec 21, 2018, 10:14 am
#2152
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Midwest
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 67
I had a "wow" moment at one of my local WMs today...a new, unfamiliar to me, older cashier lady asked (after I requested a MO for $799.12 with 4 x OD/OM cards) in a very stern voice: "are you doing it for frequent flyer miles?"...in my neck of the woods I had never been asked this question before (the cashiers are pretty indifferent, and it being Midwest - there are not too many MSers here), so I was taken by surprise: "uhmm..."...for which she said "there is no need to be so evasive! it's perfectly legal, but the rules are - 4 cards at a time max, fees either in cash or from the card, and if you don't want your information in our system, you have to stay under $1000"...I could only reply "thank you, ma'am"...I wonder if she reads FT or something - she summarized everything so perfectly...
Dec 21, 2018, 8:29 pm
#2153
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,828
Windstorms here in the Pacific Northwest have caused numerous power outages over the last few days, but that has not deterred my daily rounds to take advantage of the current OM/OD VGC sale. At my local WMNM today, the store's lights flickered just as the CSR hit the "print" button for my $800 money order. The system crashed. The poor CSR spent 15 minutes on her knees, trying to coax the machine back into print mode. Finally, with profuse apologies, she stood up and handed me $800.88 in cold, hard cash.
I wished her a very merry Christmas.
[redacted]
I wished her a very merry Christmas.
[redacted]
Last edited by cbn42; Dec 21, 2018 at 11:23 pm Reason: moved as requested
Dec 22, 2018, 9:49 pm
#2154
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 45
Windstorms here in the Pacific Northwest have caused numerous power outages over the last few days, but that has not deterred my daily rounds to take advantage of the current OM/OD VGC sale. At my local WMNM today, the store's lights flickered just as the CSR hit the "print" button for my $800 money order. The system crashed. The poor CSR spent 15 minutes on her knees, trying to coax the machine back into print mode. Finally, with profuse apologies, she stood up and handed me $800.88 in cold, hard cash.
I wished her a very merry Christmas.
[redacted]
I wished her a very merry Christmas.
[redacted]
Dec 26, 2018, 12:51 am
#2155
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,890
Sorry, but this is a long thread. I'm trying to learn as fast as I can so please bear with me. Is it easy to buy a money order worth at least $1000 with AMEX in any Walmart in Massachusetts or Washington State? My plan is to then deposit it into my bank account. Maybe I can do $500 each and deposit each money order into different bank accounts. Any potential issues here?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Dec 26, 2018, 1:18 am
#2156
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,472
I suggest that you sit back and start reading long threads, starting with this one: New to Manufactured Spending? Start here(2017-2018)
Doing this now will save you much aggravation and damage later.
Dec 26, 2018, 6:16 am
#2157
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 43
Sorry, but this is a long thread. I'm trying to learn as fast as I can so please bear with me. Is it easy to buy a money order worth at least $1000 with AMEX in any Walmart in Massachusetts or Washington State? My plan is to then deposit it into my bank account. Maybe I can do $500 each and deposit each money order into different bank accounts. Any potential issues here?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Best bet is to spend a few weeks really understanding the ins and outs of MS. Doing what your suggesting, you will get burned/burn locations for others.
Invest the time in learning and it will pay dividends in a few short weeks.
Dec 26, 2018, 11:48 am
#2158
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: Hilton - Diamond, IHG - Spire Amb
Posts: 901
Sorry, but this is a long thread. I'm trying to learn as fast as I can so please bear with me. Is it easy to buy a money order worth at least $1000 with AMEX in any Walmart in Massachusetts or Washington State? My plan is to then deposit it into my bank account. Maybe I can do $500 each and deposit each money order into different bank accounts. Any potential issues here?
Thanks!
Thanks!
- Sorry, but this is a long thread. - didn't read thread or wiki
- I'm trying to learn as fast as I can so please bear with me. - didn't read thread or wiki
- Is it easy to buy a money order worth at least $1000 - didn't read thread or wiki
- with AMEX - *SIGH* didn't read thread or wiki
- in any Walmart in Massachusetts or Washington State? - don't expect people to share details of their local honey holes
- My plan is to then deposit it into my bank account. - ok, as many do this
- Maybe I can do $500 each and deposit each money order into different bank accounts. - why?
- Any potential issues here? - didn't ready thread or wiki
Dec 26, 2018, 12:28 pm
#2159
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
@lsquare, it's no longer easy at WM when it comes to buying MO and/or doing billpays. You've started at a time when new policies have been enforced at WM that has made it challenging, if not outright difficult, to buy MOs there.
FYI, you cannot buy MOs with ANY CCs (not just AXP, Visa, MC, Disc), at least not at WM anywhere in the USA. There may be some grocery stores that will accept CC for MO but that is a certified unicorn and if you find one, just keep it to yourself. I suggest you read all pages of New to MS threads for 2017 and 2018 to get a gist of what you're getting into. Just keep in mind that many strategies mentioned may no longer be working anymore.
To summarize, there is NO shortcut to learning how to MS; it is constantly evolving so that even those who know the basics have to keep on reading for new updates to avoid the pitfalls. Be prepared to do lots of legwork to find out what works for you. Good luck!
FYI, you cannot buy MOs with ANY CCs (not just AXP, Visa, MC, Disc), at least not at WM anywhere in the USA. There may be some grocery stores that will accept CC for MO but that is a certified unicorn and if you find one, just keep it to yourself. I suggest you read all pages of New to MS threads for 2017 and 2018 to get a gist of what you're getting into. Just keep in mind that many strategies mentioned may no longer be working anymore.
To summarize, there is NO shortcut to learning how to MS; it is constantly evolving so that even those who know the basics have to keep on reading for new updates to avoid the pitfalls. Be prepared to do lots of legwork to find out what works for you. Good luck!
Dec 26, 2018, 12:35 pm
#2160
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: UA 1K; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Diamond; CCarlson Elite
Posts: 641
So iSquare. You're very upfront about how you didn't read the thread or wiki. That's nice: it takes all the guilt away from the rest of us.
A question here or there is OK, but no one here is likely to spoon feed you. Put in the work and get your own answers.
A question here or there is OK, but no one here is likely to spoon feed you. Put in the work and get your own answers.