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Buying Money Orders at Walmart (2019 - 2022)

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Old Jan 2, 2019, 9:51 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: danpeake
As of Nov 11, 2020, Meta gebits are getting declined when used for MO/BP purchases at MC/SD. New limit appears to be $99 per swipe with some metas at some stores. READ the posts below and add a data point with details. USB and GD gift cards do not seem to be affected.

This is the thread for 2019. The previous discussion can be found here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manu...rt-2018-a.html

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.

Note: The policy for allowing gift cards as payment for money orders can be more restrictive with certain stores or certain clerks. Just because an employee says there's a new restrictive policy "for all Walmarts" means nothing. There are plenty of cases where the employee is incorrect and the new policy is only regional or store specific.

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Tested Gebit (gift debit) cards:
1. DO NOT WORK - Any Vanilla product affiliated with InComm or ITC Financial Services will not work for swipes over $49.99.
2. See above on Visas issued by MetaBank. New limit appears to be $99 per swipe with some metas at some stores. Follow the posts below for the latest information.
3. MC issued by US bank OR Metabank MC (Giftcards.com) can work, but you need to change payment type to debit before they enter the amount in the register. See below for details.
4. Gdot/sun work but take about an hour to activate.(VGC issued by Sunrise also limited to $99/swipe, same as Metabank issued cards, and Sunrise was available immediately).
5. USB work
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________
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 $1 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 $1 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 transactions: 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. Kates are a distant and pleasant memory now.

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.

7. SSN/ID entry - Any MO purchases in one transaction at or over $3K requires you to input your SSN. Any MO at or over $1K requires ID input (and ID requirement can also be forced by cashier at any amount).



Debit codes PDF
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/attac...0&d=1461170080

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Buying Money Orders at Walmart (2019 - 2022)

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Old May 15, 2019, 12:06 pm
  #601  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,295
Originally Posted by atc1
Did the cashier screw something up when she advised me the software would not allow a 4th swipe?
Yes
danpeake is offline  
Old May 15, 2019, 8:08 pm
  #602  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Originally Posted by atc1
My 1st time experience...was a little different than in the Wiki.

Tried to swipe 4 times with one transaction. The cashier said the software will not allow a 4th swipe. Had to cancel and start all over.
Told cashier the amount of MO and wanted to pay with three (3) cards at $xxx each. She said go ahead with 1st swipe. Did not have the option to select "debit". Entered my PIN. The software asked if I wanted cash bacK? I selected "no". All three swipes went OK and I paid the $0.88 for the MO in cash.

Did the cashier screw something up when she advised me the software would not allow a 4th swipe?
no. The cashier made up her own rules or the store has its own rules. Some only allow one swipe.
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Old May 16, 2019, 8:14 am
  #603  
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
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Posts: 21
Originally Posted by kaiotes
Last I checked bay area wmt are dead for MS
thats sad
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Old May 16, 2019, 9:22 pm
  #604  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Originally Posted by helpboo
thats sad
for walmart as they lose a lot of customers standing in line
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Old May 16, 2019, 9:50 pm
  #605  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 662
Originally Posted by coolguy100
for walmart as they lose a lot of customers standing in line
doubtful
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Old May 17, 2019, 7:54 am
  #606  
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
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Posts: 21
Originally Posted by coolguy100
for walmart as they lose a lot of customers standing in line
there is still a long ... long everytime igo
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Old May 17, 2019, 9:37 am
  #607  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 42
Originally Posted by baseballfan88
I was at a Ralphs grocery store (Kroger) today and saw they sell Visa by US Bank gift cards. Do these work the same at WM for MO as the MCGC by US Bank? Anyone have any experience?
Originally Posted by teejaykoko


Those are all I use. I buy $500s from Kroger then take them to WM to make money orders. I just jot the pin on the back of the card on the signature strip.
Does Kroger have a limit on how many $500.00 US Bank cards you can buy at one time. Does a manager have to get involved?

Thanks.
atc1 is offline  
Old May 17, 2019, 10:45 am
  #608  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 429
Originally Posted by Dcflyer8


I just got the "banned" message for the first time today. I've been doing $2k/day pretty much every day, sometimes $4k if they let me, so between $50k-$75k/month, for years at the same walmart.

Hopefully it is just a temporary ban, and I'll be let back in if I wait a while like waygora. Slightly worse because they've started asking for ID no matter what the amount at this walmart so I can't wipe out the $200s while I wait.
I am back to being banned three weeks later. The weird thing is, it's the same cashier as when I was banned last time. I haven't had her since that other time... I have a feeling she may just be doing something wrong. Going to go back later today after she shift is over.
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Old May 17, 2019, 10:50 am
  #609  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Delta DM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,495
Originally Posted by waygora
I am back to being banned three weeks later. The weird thing is, it's the same cashier as when I was banned last time. I haven't had her since that other time... I have a feeling she may just be doing something wrong. Going to go back later today after she shift is over.
Go back to the same cashier, but bring her some cookies you baked.
Billy Mumphrey is offline  
Old May 18, 2019, 6:03 am
  #610  
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Join Date: Apr 2014
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Originally Posted by Billy Mumphrey
Go back to the same cashier, but bring her some cookies you baked.
absolutely do not do this. Do not bring gifts.
Carl Christensen is offline  
Old May 18, 2019, 10:24 am
  #611  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
Originally Posted by Carl Christensen

absolutely do not do this. Do not bring gifts.
why not? esp. the cashier(s) is friendly & helpful
danhouston is offline  
Old May 18, 2019, 12:53 pm
  #612  
 
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 25
Did any one try to buy MO from Walmart with credit card directly? Will they just decline it, or code it something like cash advance?
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Old May 18, 2019, 4:48 pm
  #613  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,946
Originally Posted by greatpaul
Did any one try to buy MO from Walmart with credit card directly? Will they just decline it, or code it something like cash advance?
The software is hardcoded not to permit credit purchases.
TTT103 is online now  
Old May 18, 2019, 4:59 pm
  #614  
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Join Date: Apr 2014
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Posts: 901
Originally Posted by danhouston
why not? esp. the cashier(s) is friendly & helpful
on the WM suspicious activity report there is a line to check if the customer “brings gifts or bribes” to the money center csr
Carl Christensen is offline  
Old May 18, 2019, 8:33 pm
  #615  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 889
Originally Posted by greatpaul
Did any one try to buy MO from Walmart with credit card directly? Will they just decline it, or code it something like cash advance?
Yeah if that worked life would be pretty great ..
wyogold is offline  


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