The Offer
Direct Link (Example zip code to see the offer: 19702)
- For a limited time, AAA members can purchase Visa gift cards of up to $500 each with no purchase fee at any AAA location in the Mid-Atlantic (Locator)
This offer appears on the Mid-Atlantic AAA web page, and it may be valid in other areas as well, although I haven’t yet found it advertised for other areas. Check the website for your area to see if they are offering this deal. Call your local AAA office to verify if they carry Visa gift cards and if they are running this promotion – not all locations carry Visa gift cards at all.
The Visa gift cards are issued by MetaBank and you call in to set the PIN.
In the past, there have been other promotions in some locations, such as fee-free Amex gift cards.
The Fine Print
- Valid from May 1, 2016 until June 30, 2016
- Must be AAA member to purchase
- Monthly inactivity fee of $2.95 with 12 consecutive months of inactivity
Our Verdict
This could be a nice way to help meet a spend requirement. The deal usually comes up in May-June and in Nov-Dec.
Be aware that AAA gift card purchases are tracked to your name and MetaBank studiously blocks ‘abusers’ from continuing to purchase. See more about this from FreequentFlyer here and here. If you go for this deal, try keeping your volume low so as not to be shut down.
National AAA website links to:
http://ww1.aaa.com/scripts/WebObjects.dll/AAAOnline.woa/6012?association=AAA&club=069&page=VTMInfo&sessionRedirect=1465602278535
When the original MBNA had the AAA Visa, we used to use it to manufacture spend / cashflow the AAA Visa card purchasing AAA no fee travelers checks IN AAA OFFICES ONLY. When timed correctly, we got almost 60 days free interest / washed and recycled. The traveler checks were treated by the AAA CC as a purchase,,, not cash advance.
IF you are getting a new AAA CC, you might investigate doing this instead of debit cards.
Bear in mind management of the AAA club credit cards has changed servicers.
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This only worked with the AAA CC.
Traveler Checks purchased with any other CC were charged the traveler check fees, but still this may be an alternative for manufacture spending. YMMV regarding manufacture spend verses being categorized as cash advance.
Works in Montana. I asked, How many can I buy? They said, How many do you want? I said, Hmmmm. Can I get four? So I did, no repercussions so far. They also told me that they have this sale twice a year — once in May for graduation, Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, weddings, etc. and once in November, for holiday giving. Will be back.
Can you give me an example of what you consider keeping the value low? $500 at a time? $2000 a week?
Thanks
I really don’t know. The higher the volume, the greater the risk.