Multiple Flyertalk members report that Rite Aid is going cash-only on July 7 for all variable-load prepaid products. This will affect Visa/MC/Amex $20-$500 variable-load cards.
The info is based on an internal memo being circulated at Rite Aid stores, and has been confirmed by at least two people. Seems to be a corporate/national thing, not regional. Let us know in the comments if you’ve heard anything at your local stores.
Most likely variable-load merchant gift cards, like eBay and Amazon, will still be able to be purchased with a credit card. And fixed-value Visa/MC/Amex gift cards also won’t be affected, apparently. But the highest fixed-value card is just $100 from memory so it’s not hugely useful.
[A few months ago, Rite Aid went cash-only for loading prepaid cards, and stopped allowing debit loads. This is a separate move to stop allowing credit cards for variable-load prepaid purchases.]
Get in your last purchases before July 7 (if they still let). The game is getting harder….
Update: Reader Vic reports that in his area it’s already POS-enforced. Also, he reports that it affects Paypal MyCash cards.
Rite aid in Brooklyn would not let me buy an iTunes $25 card unless I paid cash.
The Rite Aid at 1679 Bedford Ave Brooklyn 11225 expressed all gift cards must be purchased with cash which is ludicrous. The merchant will lose a tremendous amount of money with this policy in place. The cards should be removed if only cash applies. Most people pay with cards for products not cash.
I just had them require me to pay cash for an Apple I Tunes gift card ($25.00) when I was paying with a debit card using a pin…. they can go and save their gift cards.. I will not shop there again.
And the real money launderers continue to be fine because they can take their cash to stores to buy cards. Meanwhile, those with cc which are traceable back to a person can’t buy cards for legit purposes. Stupid.
Was decloned today. It was hard coded on POS. I was in a rush, so I didn’t ask what the exact error was.
I hope CVS doesn’t follow.
My RA thought that matching the driver’s license with credit card was secure. CVS at least scans/swipes DL.
I was told cash only in a couple of stores in Manhattan last week.
One was a Walgreens, one a RiteAid. I thought it was a typical temporary policy change which would happen from time to time which I attributed to a response to fraud.
Dead in a California bay area store. There is a message on the screen says” credit is not a valid payment method, blah blah…..”.
They have turned off CC payment for Vanilla Visa Gift Cards in the Philly area already. I tried with ebay and that went through without any hiccups.
I guess continuing to take cash means they aren’t willing to give up the money-laundering market yet.
My thoughts exactly. Got to wonder what % of Blackhawks business for visa/mc has shifted to criminal intent with these dominoes continuing to fall.
confirmed, already effective in Baltimore today