Jan 3, 2019, 1:46 pm
Last edit by: randomperson24
NEW TO MS? It's suggested that new arrivals should do some serious reading for a month of all the posts and wiki to get an understanding of MS before asking common questions.
Note: the 2017 - 2018 version of this thread is here, 2016 version of this thread is here, the 2015 version of the thread is here
Welcome to Manufactured Spending. Marathon Man did not write this message, but he has edited it and anyone can. If you are new here, please spend some time reading before posting. Most likely your questions have already been answered multiple times. Consider deals that you share. These threads are searchable by Google. A volatile deal may be worth holding close to the vest.
Hints
1) On FT, topics are heavily consolidated. Sometimes the title of the thread and first few posts may not properly reflect the broad range of discussion inside the thread. Be sure to visit any thread relating to the product or service you want to learn more about because you might be surprised by how in depth the discussion really is. High "View Count" and "Replies" are good indicators of active "master threads" on a specific topic.
2) Use Google to search FT. It works a lot better than the built-in search.
3) A glossary wiki for MS located in the thread Glossary, Manufactured Spending Forum
Important Rules
1) MSing is very YMMV. It varies by store, manager, and right down to the cashier working at the moment. Some might argue that MS is like card counting in a casino. It is not illegal but casinos don’t like it. Orhers have said it’s like having a fake ID in college to use just to get into bars where all the fun is. Just because it worked here yesterday doesn’t mean it will get you in today. MS is like being a wood worker constantly using a table saw. Always watch what you are doing—always! Or you will lose something. That being said, always be nice and courteous in the face of rejection. The biggest secret for success is to lay low so you can try again.
2) DO NOT spend more than you can afford. START WITH SMALL AMOUNTS TO TEST THE WATER! As an example.. don't start with a $5000 purchase of VGCs if you can't afford to float that much! Instead, buy one and try it, and scale up once you are comfortable with a new method. It's easy to lose track, or get robbed, when you are handling so much money. Getting a refund is NOT always possible.
3) DO NOT ask employees, cashiers, customer service representatives, etc... about how to MS, or about things you read on this forum. The information you read here are very specific, unknown, legal uses of products or services. Most employees, cashiers, and even managers do not know about them. At best you'll get bad information. At worst you'll create a lot of unnecessary misunderstanding.
4) It bears repeating that there are no guarantees. you could easily buy $10,000 in gift cards or some other instrument, only to discover that your method for liquidating them vanishes the very next day. MS is not "normal" financial activity ("normal" being defined by the banks), and thus is often perceived as "suspicious" even if it is legal.
5) never underestimate the risk of criminal activity. gift cards can easily be stolen, loaded onto a compromised account, loaded in a debit card skimmer, or even fraudulent (e.g., an already used card put back on the rack).
6) MSing can be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from smallish amounts to meet minimum spend requirements to get a credit card signup bonus, to accumulating huge numbers of points for travel/cashback/etc. Remember too that you will often have expenses such as purchase fees, liquidation fees, and gas.
If you have a question that does not seem to fit anywhere, or you have not found an appropriate place for it, post it here.
- A helpful note from seat17D about some of the inherent risks of MS
New MSers can also read all these threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...-spending-719/
Note: the 2017 - 2018 version of this thread is here, 2016 version of this thread is here, the 2015 version of the thread is here
Welcome to Manufactured Spending. Marathon Man did not write this message, but he has edited it and anyone can. If you are new here, please spend some time reading before posting. Most likely your questions have already been answered multiple times. Consider deals that you share. These threads are searchable by Google. A volatile deal may be worth holding close to the vest.
Hints
1) On FT, topics are heavily consolidated. Sometimes the title of the thread and first few posts may not properly reflect the broad range of discussion inside the thread. Be sure to visit any thread relating to the product or service you want to learn more about because you might be surprised by how in depth the discussion really is. High "View Count" and "Replies" are good indicators of active "master threads" on a specific topic.
2) Use Google to search FT. It works a lot better than the built-in search.
3) A glossary wiki for MS located in the thread Glossary, Manufactured Spending Forum
Important Rules
1) MSing is very YMMV. It varies by store, manager, and right down to the cashier working at the moment. Some might argue that MS is like card counting in a casino. It is not illegal but casinos don’t like it. Orhers have said it’s like having a fake ID in college to use just to get into bars where all the fun is. Just because it worked here yesterday doesn’t mean it will get you in today. MS is like being a wood worker constantly using a table saw. Always watch what you are doing—always! Or you will lose something. That being said, always be nice and courteous in the face of rejection. The biggest secret for success is to lay low so you can try again.
2) DO NOT spend more than you can afford. START WITH SMALL AMOUNTS TO TEST THE WATER! As an example.. don't start with a $5000 purchase of VGCs if you can't afford to float that much! Instead, buy one and try it, and scale up once you are comfortable with a new method. It's easy to lose track, or get robbed, when you are handling so much money. Getting a refund is NOT always possible.
3) DO NOT ask employees, cashiers, customer service representatives, etc... about how to MS, or about things you read on this forum. The information you read here are very specific, unknown, legal uses of products or services. Most employees, cashiers, and even managers do not know about them. At best you'll get bad information. At worst you'll create a lot of unnecessary misunderstanding.
4) It bears repeating that there are no guarantees. you could easily buy $10,000 in gift cards or some other instrument, only to discover that your method for liquidating them vanishes the very next day. MS is not "normal" financial activity ("normal" being defined by the banks), and thus is often perceived as "suspicious" even if it is legal.
5) never underestimate the risk of criminal activity. gift cards can easily be stolen, loaded onto a compromised account, loaded in a debit card skimmer, or even fraudulent (e.g., an already used card put back on the rack).
6) MSing can be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from smallish amounts to meet minimum spend requirements to get a credit card signup bonus, to accumulating huge numbers of points for travel/cashback/etc. Remember too that you will often have expenses such as purchase fees, liquidation fees, and gas.
If you have a question that does not seem to fit anywhere, or you have not found an appropriate place for it, post it here.
- A helpful note from seat17D about some of the inherent risks of MS
New MSers can also read all these threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...-spending-719/
New to Manufactured Spending? Start here (2019-2024)
May 24, 2023, 6:57 am
#706
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 826
Go read posts 2908-2930 on the Simon gift card thread. I think it’s around page 194. I stumbled on that and took screenshots for reference. I used my first OD vgc to buy some vanilla GCs today, and it worked like a charm using their info. Basically, use partial payment, hit cancel instead of putting in the code, and it will treat your payment like credit instead of debit.
May 24, 2023, 6:50 pm
#707
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 826
you get a new card and it goes in fraud alert, sometimes the card doesnt get activated until you call the fruad department. What do you tell them if they see you have been buying 500 dollars gift cards? if they dont know you bought gift cards then you can make anything up, but sometimes they know what you bought because the store informas them.
May 27, 2023, 8:55 pm
#709
Join Date: May 2023
Posts: 40
I tried buying $500 Vanilla VGC at WM at regular checkout twice, but each time the cashier told me I had to go to MC. I was able to buy at MC. Can I buy $500 VGC at self checkout machine without any employee?
I tried loading at regular checkout once, but the cashier was totally confused and told me I had to go to MC. I was able to load at MC. Can I load at self checkout machine without any employee?
I tried loading at regular checkout once, but the cashier was totally confused and told me I had to go to MC. I was able to load at MC. Can I load at self checkout machine without any employee?
May 27, 2023, 9:01 pm
#710
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: LAX, SNA
Programs: B6 M4, AA Plat Pro, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 1,473
I tried buying $500 Vanilla VGC at WM at regular checkout twice, but each time the cashier told me I had to go to MC. I was able to buy at MC. Can I buy $500 VGC at self checkout machine without any employee?
I tried loading at regular checkout once, but the cashier was totally confused and told me I had to go to MC. I was able to load at MC. Can I load at self checkout machine without any employee?
I tried loading at regular checkout once, but the cashier was totally confused and told me I had to go to MC. I was able to load at MC. Can I load at self checkout machine without any employee?
May 28, 2023, 12:08 am
#711
Join Date: May 2023
Posts: 40
I tried buying $500 Vanilla VGC at WM at regular checkout twice, but each time the cashier told me I had to go to MC. I was able to buy at MC. Can I buy $500 VGC at self checkout machine without any employee?
I tried loading at regular checkout once, but the cashier was totally confused and told me I had to go to MC. I was able to load at MC. Can I load at self checkout machine without any employee?
I tried loading at regular checkout once, but the cashier was totally confused and told me I had to go to MC. I was able to load at MC. Can I load at self checkout machine without any employee?
Last edited by churns; May 28, 2023 at 12:44 am
Jun 3, 2023, 12:36 pm
#712
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 826
In the front it says VISA debit, no chipped. How do I make this card work to buy Vanilla in Walmart, MO and or load it to discover? The denominations are 250 and 100. I believe I tried using it at SCO for partial payment and it was declined. It is issued by Pathward so it should work not sure if there is a limit such as 99.
Also, I believe Walgreen doesnt allow partial payhment when buying gift card? otherwise I could try it there? Need to be able to buy 500VGC to keep the fees down.
Jun 7, 2023, 9:53 am
#713
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Posts: 522
I haven't MS'd since the USPS MO and Simon Mall gift card days so I'm totally out of the loop. Is AMEX still strict about gift cards for meeting the initial spend? I'm wanting to apply for the Platinum business card but meeting that initial spend will be a challenge for me. Any recommendations for AMEX MS?
Jun 7, 2023, 10:34 am
#714
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,642
I have always avoided MS, as it seemed like risk/effort vs reward was not great. However, I was considering purchasing gift cards at Office supply store and pay estimated taxes with them to get 5x points vs 2x. But, looks like I can only pay 6 payments each quarter across the 3 companies that process the payments. It also appears as if there is a $500 max per card, so this limits the tax payment to ~3k per quarter.
Is there any $1000 card VI/MC card option at any office supply store?
Is there any $1000 card VI/MC card option at any office supply store?
Jun 7, 2023, 12:29 pm
#715
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 375
I have always avoided MS, as it seemed like risk/effort vs reward was not great. However, I was considering purchasing gift cards at Office supply store and pay estimated taxes with them to get 5x points vs 2x. But, looks like I can only pay 6 payments each quarter across the 3 companies that process the payments. It also appears as if there is a $500 max per card, so this limits the tax payment to ~3k per quarter.
Is there any $1000 card VI/MC card option at any office supply store?
Is there any $1000 card VI/MC card option at any office supply store?
Jun 7, 2023, 4:06 pm
#716
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 185
Jun 7, 2023, 4:19 pm
#718
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 185
Go read posts 2908-2930 on the Simon gift card thread. I think it’s around page 194. I stumbled on that and took screenshots for reference. I used my first OD vgc to buy some vanilla GCs today, and it worked like a charm using their info. Basically, use partial payment, hit cancel instead of putting in the code, and it will treat your payment like credit instead of debit.
The $500 VGCs still have the $4.94 activation fees.
Jun 11, 2023, 3:43 pm
#719
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 826
Fantastic time to be in the MS business except the local walmart would cooperate. 2 Walmarts, 10 miles away no issues. A WM 3 mile away throwing fits here and there, and it is because of 1 WM MC employee and she is telling all the other ones about the WM policy and making this stick out. This employee is not going away any time soon. General consensus here is to lay low for couple of months in the hopes that high turnover would bring new MC service rep.
You may wonder why not use other 2 walmarts and I use them but cant frequent as much as much as when local walmart had no issues. The problem is new cards, go into fruad alert when buying large amounts and you have to teach them, even after soaked in i try to avoid 1K giftcard buy in one transaction at SCO as if things dont go well, it will draw unnecessary attention in the store where it has been working.
You may wonder why not use other 2 walmarts and I use them but cant frequent as much as much as when local walmart had no issues. The problem is new cards, go into fruad alert when buying large amounts and you have to teach them, even after soaked in i try to avoid 1K giftcard buy in one transaction at SCO as if things dont go well, it will draw unnecessary attention in the store where it has been working.
Jun 11, 2023, 8:56 pm
#720
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: LAX, SNA
Programs: B6 M4, AA Plat Pro, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 1,473
Wallys in my area are getting increasingly sensitive when swiping GCs. My main liquidation method is Discover load. When I tell the cashier I want to load $xxx amount and they see me pull out a GC, they cancel the transaction right away. Any tips on how to get around this?