Navigating the world of gift cards can be rewarding, especially when maximizing credit card rewards. However, turning those Visa gift cards into usable funds can sometimes present unexpected hurdles, particularly at major retailers like Walmart. This weekend, I found myself on a mini-odyssey across several Walmart locations, all in pursuit of efficiently liquidating a substantial amount of Visa gift cards purchased online. What was intended to be a straightforward process turned into a multi-day learning experience, revealing key strategies for successfully using Visa gift cards at Walmart, and specifically for tasks like loading funds onto Bluebird cards or purchasing money orders.
My initial stop at Walmart seemed promising. At first glance, the Bluebird ATM kiosk appeared to be a convenient solution. The money order function worked without a hitch, suggesting a smooth transaction. However, attempting to load Visa gift cards onto my Bluebird card at the kiosk proved unsuccessful. Undeterred, I proceeded to the cash register, and to my relief, the transaction went through smoothly there. Given the numerous online reports of difficulties in using Visa gift cards at Walmart, I was initially apprehensive. This initial success was encouraging, but little did I know, the journey was just beginning.
The following day at a different, smaller Neighborhood Walmart, I encountered the frustrating “card type not accepted” message when attempting to load funds at the register. Interestingly, the cashier was indifferent and allowed me to swipe the card myself, avoiding any potential awkwardness. Despite this, the error message reappeared, causing a moment of panic. Faced with the prospect of being stuck with thousands of dollars in gift cards, I decided to persevere and try one more Walmart location.
My third Walmart visit brought me to a store known for having a functional Bluebird kiosk, although its reliability had been inconsistent in past experiences. This particular location was also where I had previously been blocked from purchasing money orders with a Visa gift card, raising concerns about a repeat issue if the kiosk failed. What followed was an extended period of trial and error, filled with minor setbacks and eventual breakthroughs. While the story has a positive resolution, the process underscored the complexities of liquidating large amounts of Visa gift cards in smaller denominations.
The crucial discovery during this process was the seemingly arbitrary limit that triggers the “card type not accepted” message. I found that loading $199.99 from a $200 Visa gift card consistently worked. To validate this, I first successfully loaded the full $500 from a Visa gift card purchased at a Safeway supermarket. However, when I tried to load a $200 card acquired from Staples.com, the error message reappeared – until I reduced the load amount to $199.99. This amount consistently processed without issue. As I approached the $1,000 limit on each of my three Bluebird cards, I transitioned to purchasing money orders.
The kiosk offered money orders up to $500, with a reasonable $0.55 fee per order at this specific Walmart. Factoring in this fee, I initially attempted to purchase a money order for $199.45. This attempt failed, again with the “card type not accepted” message. However, reducing the money order amount to $199 (plus the $0.55 fee) resulted in a successful transaction. This process left me with several Visa gift cards holding small remaining balances of $0.45 each. While not ideal, this was a far better outcome than being unable to liquidate the gift cards entirely.
After dedicating approximately 45 minutes at Walmart, a portion of which was spent legitimately waiting in line to purchase money orders using my Alaska Airlines debit card, I left feeling somewhat exhausted. For anyone engaging in similar strategies and encountering difficulties unloading $200 Visa gift cards at Walmart, here are some refined tips based on this experience:
- In-Store vs. Online Purchase: If your Visa gift card was purchased in a physical store, you may be able to load the full balance onto your Bluebird card without issues.
- Online Purchased Gift Cards: For Visa gift cards bought online, aim to load or spend $0.01 less than the card’s full balance to increase the likelihood of a successful transaction.
- Money Orders at Kiosk: When using Visa gift cards to purchase money orders at a Bluebird kiosk, keep the purchase amount just under $200 (e.g., $199) to minimize rejection.
While I didn’t extensively test alternative amounts for money orders, the $199 threshold seemed to be effective for both Bluebird loads and money order purchases with online-purchased Visa gift cards. With a large number of cards to process, efficiency was key, and further experimentation was not feasible at the time.
Have you encountered similar challenges or discovered other effective methods for using Visa gift cards at Walmart? Sharing your experiences can help others navigate this often complex process.
Alt text for the image: Bluebird ATM Kiosk at Walmart: A convenient option for financial transactions, but may present specific limitations when using Visa gift cards.
