Jan 1, 2018, 11:00 am
Last edit by: Klemhuzzah
This is the thread for 2018. The previous discussion can be found here.
Giftcards.com (and giftcardmall) now limit Visa loads to $250. No more $500 cards, Change happened sometime in 2020.
Check cash back portals to help cover the fees. Around the holidays there is usually free shipping. http://www.cashbackmonitor.com/cashback-store/giftcards.com/
Limit 5k/ every 48 hours (2 orders under 2.5k including the fees). However, system will reportedly "error out" if more than two orders are attempted within two days.
Cards must be activated before use. Orders usually arrive in 5-7 days.
Select the free letter on the left instead of paying for a card on the right of the screen to save money.
Warning: Orders can be lost or stolen. Call to have them reissued.
Giftcards.com (and giftcardmall) now limit Visa loads to $250. No more $500 cards, Change happened sometime in 2020.
Check cash back portals to help cover the fees. Around the holidays there is usually free shipping. http://www.cashbackmonitor.com/cashback-store/giftcards.com/
Limit 5k/ every 48 hours (2 orders under 2.5k including the fees). However, system will reportedly "error out" if more than two orders are attempted within two days.
Cards must be activated before use. Orders usually arrive in 5-7 days.
Select the free letter on the left instead of paying for a card on the right of the screen to save money.
Warning: Orders can be lost or stolen. Call to have them reissued.
giftcards.com master thread (2018 onwards)
Mar 14, 2018, 5:11 pm
#46
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,066
I had difficulty this morning..activated cards via the app. The default pin did not work and I could not set the pin online, via app or via phone after activating.
I re-activated the cards just now and then was able to set the pin..default pin may be ok, but didn't test it. So the initial activation did not take. I don't know if was the app or something with their system on the activation.
Friday I will attempt to liquidate again.
I re-activated the cards just now and then was able to set the pin..default pin may be ok, but didn't test it. So the initial activation did not take. I don't know if was the app or something with their system on the activation.
Friday I will attempt to liquidate again.
By the way, I just checked mine and I was able to change the PIN on all 30 without re-activating. So, its very odd indeed.
Last edited by cdog999; Mar 14, 2018 at 6:26 pm
Mar 14, 2018, 9:22 pm
#47
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 12
I’ve been liquidating at Fred Meyer for a few months. About a week ago, the first MCGC went through with the default pin but the second gave the “card not authorized” error. I made sure all the cards were activated and tried again (but with two different cards) and got the same result. Gonna try to make sure all pins are set and try again but I'm not optimistic.
Last edited by combatwombat; Mar 15, 2018 at 9:36 am
Mar 15, 2018, 11:25 am
#52
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,066
Calling them is like talking to a wall. No I do not want you to process a replacement card lol.
Last edited by cdog999; Mar 15, 2018 at 11:46 am
Mar 15, 2018, 1:04 pm
#54
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA Plat, HH Diamond, SPG Gold, National EE
Posts: 38
Yep. It is not card specific, and it is also not PIN set vs default specific. I just tried the same card/PIN combo repeatedly until it worked. This is NOT a good time to try new locations BTW. Until this clears I would suggest staying in your normal hunting grounds with patient CSRs.
Mar 15, 2018, 2:07 pm
#55
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 42
Totally agree, this issue is so random. The only way is to retry. I tried to set activate it again and set pin again. But same "Not Authorized" prompt comes up. Hopefully They can fix the issue soon. On the other note the max you can place is now back to less than $2500.
Mar 16, 2018, 7:28 am
#56
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,066
Mar 17, 2018, 8:08 am
#57
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: Marriott Platinum Premier, UA 1K
Posts: 375
If you set the pin and get an error or denied message, you have a problem with the card and I'd try reactivating it. My failed activations were with the Android App...not sure if it was related to the app or not.
Mar 17, 2018, 1:08 pm
#58
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,066
Mine worked. I had reactivated them using the online portal and then set the pin.
If you set the pin and get an error or denied message, you have a problem with the card and I'd try reactivating it. My failed activations were with the Android App...not sure if it was related to the app or not.
If you set the pin and get an error or denied message, you have a problem with the card and I'd try reactivating it. My failed activations were with the Android App...not sure if it was related to the app or not.
Just got a 'you are 49xx.xx over the daily limit' error message. Switched to a different account/cc and was able to get it to go through. So annoying since I haven't used that card today.
EDIT: My cards were MGCs as well.
Last edited by cdog999; Mar 17, 2018 at 8:56 pm
Mar 17, 2018, 8:25 pm
#59
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 15
Glad to know I am not the only one having this issue. It's been going on all week and I've been sitting on the sidelines so I don't cause an issue. I did do some testing today. All my cards were GC.com MCGCs.
Went to a few grocery stores that I knew took debit card and tried to buy some money orders. Started swiping cards. None of the stores were a smooth operation. After telling my cashier I needed to swipe for $500 and seeing them do their setup, I would swipe and often find myself stare at "processing" for about 10 seconds before it would come back declined.
Now the odd part, at one store, I would swipe the card I wanted to use, 1st swipe it would always decline. 2nd swipe on every card? Approved without any issue.
Yet at another store that was part of this grocery chain? Total disaster. Got 1 swipe approved after 3 attempts and walked out as the line got busy.
And at another store, one of the customer service managers saw 2 cards got approved while 2 others did not. He stepped up and asked to see my card and saw that it was a gift card. Surprisingly he just went ahead and plugged in the card into the system manually and sure enough it went into approved despite swiping just moments earlier would come back declined multiple times.
Not sure if this DP helps.... or if it gives anyone clues as to what is going on.
Went to a few grocery stores that I knew took debit card and tried to buy some money orders. Started swiping cards. None of the stores were a smooth operation. After telling my cashier I needed to swipe for $500 and seeing them do their setup, I would swipe and often find myself stare at "processing" for about 10 seconds before it would come back declined.
Now the odd part, at one store, I would swipe the card I wanted to use, 1st swipe it would always decline. 2nd swipe on every card? Approved without any issue.
Yet at another store that was part of this grocery chain? Total disaster. Got 1 swipe approved after 3 attempts and walked out as the line got busy.
And at another store, one of the customer service managers saw 2 cards got approved while 2 others did not. He stepped up and asked to see my card and saw that it was a gift card. Surprisingly he just went ahead and plugged in the card into the system manually and sure enough it went into approved despite swiping just moments earlier would come back declined multiple times.
Not sure if this DP helps.... or if it gives anyone clues as to what is going on.
Last edited by dkavaichan; Mar 17, 2018 at 8:37 pm
Mar 18, 2018, 2:03 am
#60
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 23
Thanks for the DPs. I’m gonna try mine today where I activated using desktop but haven’t reset the PIN.
Off topic questions. What’s the benefit of getting MCGC over Visa? I guess if you’re going somewhere other than WM that it’s equivalent...??
Off topic questions. What’s the benefit of getting MCGC over Visa? I guess if you’re going somewhere other than WM that it’s equivalent...??