[Update 12/1/18: @J_Turnbow reports that some stores have now restocked. Worth checking out your local store to see if they haven – there’s a 2x VGC deal ongoing through 12/6.]
Many Stop&Shop stores have pulled all Visa, Mastercard, and American Express gift cards from the shelves. Not sure if they pulled the fixed-value cards or only the variable load.
It’s obviously not a chain-wide thing – they are even offering double fuel points this week. But some stores/areas have pulled the cards. I’ve only heard of Stop&Shop stores with this issue, not Giant or Martin’s.
According to a report, it’s a temporary measure due to fraud concerns, with the plan being to get them back in stores sooner or later.
Hat tip to reader Justin
My local Va Shen. valley Martin’s was well stocked, and we had no trouble with purchasing two. (though curiously, one csr I’d worked with several times in recent months, seemed skittish…. checked with his manager to be sure they hadn’t changed back to debit cards only) All went well after short delay.
My local S&S pulled all V and MC GCs from rack. Were told by corporate to pull as found many had been tampered with. Said will be available for sale again once they sort out what if any of stock been tampered with. Then will sell at CD desk only to prevent access to them by the scammers.
biz as usual in CT/upstate NY.. Gas points applied at 3 diff S&S stores
There were variable gift cards (up to 500) available at my store in MA today.
Whitehall, PA (ghetto area) Giant had no 20 – 500 Visa on main rack, but some lingered in the check-out lanes.
Rural PA Giants still chock full o’ $500 VGCs!
The one near me had the fixed value VISA gift cards.
Didn’t really pay attention to see if they had the Mastercard and American Expess ones or the variable value ones or not.
Didn’t really care since I was interested in the $20 grocery for $100 gift card. LOL.
I’m in Long Island. I checked three nearby locations. All pulled. Oh well. They always looked at me funny when I bought them anyways. Guess I should have seen it coming. Especially last time when my damn sears card fraud alert stopped my purchase 😡
It is already tough to MS in NYC. Now, yet another hurdle
Stop&shops on northern Dutchess and Putnam co.NY also. But found 3 by the checkout ..500.00 variables and they worked at cs desk. So not hard coded and employees obviously dont know about it. Acme stores still have tons of them but some reps claim no cc.. And some are ok with it.
Yep. One the location I visit pulled all variable load GC. The fixed value card up to $100 were still available. This is In NYC
I’m pretty cool with manager and he told me it was due to the holidays and trying to cut down on fraud.
Hmmm. I’m also in NYC. I suspect the one nearest my house is affected as well. I hope that doesn’t mean some of the other convenient things about that store are endangered as well.
Which is silly, because they have the sales precisely due to holidays