There’s a tendency in this hobby to proclaim everything “the death of” whatever isn’t going well at the moment. I remember back in 2011, I came across a FlyerTalk thread where a long-time gamer announced that he was quitting points and miles because the game was “dead”.
What followed were eight years of the most incredible earning opportunities: 100,000 point credit card sign-up bonuses, Vanilla Reloads, Bluebird, Redbird, 5x at office supply stores, the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
And yet every time some avenue of earning points is cut off, people are quick to declare the game“dead.”
Just because Moneygram is banning people from buying money orders, that doesn’t mean manufactured spending is dead. It just means we all have to get more creative, explore new avenues and be discerning about who we share fragile deals with. Rick recently covered how he’s handling the possibility of Amex no longer paying out points on Visa gift card purchases at grocery stores. It’s about adapting.
What to do if Walmart stops accepting gift cards
Five years ago I wrote a post called “What to do if Walmart stops accepting gift cards for money order purchases.” Yeah, even back then people were worried that Walmart would cut us off and we’d all be stuck with bags full of $500 Visa gift cards we couldn’t liquidate.
Some of the back-up methods I outlined in that post are no longer available (RIP Redbird, Amazon Payments and Evolve). However, there will be other methods of gift card liquidation. You just have to look harder for them.
You can still buy money orders at places like Kroeger’s, Circle K, Quick Stop/Kwik Stop gas stations, Kmart and other places. If none of these options are available, stop by your local no-name liquor stores and gas stations. They may sell money orders and if they accept debit cards, you can liquidate your Visa gift cards that way.
If the rumor that Walmart will start requiring ID’s for money order purchases over $100 is substantiated, then we’ll all need another source anyway. Especially if Moneygram continues banning gift card churners.
Always have a back-up liquidation source
My advice is what it’s always been: Liquidate your Visa gift cards ASAP. Don’t let them sit around and collect dust, because everything could fall apart fast. More importantly, have a back-up liquidation source lined up. Say you show up at the Walmart money center tomorrow and discover that you can’t even buy a $100 money order any more. What happens to your stash of $1,000 Visa gift cards?
Some options include spending down balances, selling gift cards to friends and family at a discount, or retail arbitrage (i.e. reselling). Start thinking about these options. Not just as a back-up method for liquidating Visa gift cards you currently have in your possession, but for ways to keep earning points and miles in the future.
Plan B
If all other avenues fail and liquidating Visa gift cards through money orders is no longer an option, that’s when you throw in the towel. Start exploring other options. You may land on a cash cow that is better than the Walmart money order route. You won’t know until you start exploring other avenues.
A shut-down might not be bad for us after all – it triggers creativity and innovation. I realize we’re not inventing the iPhone here, but you get my point: There are more manufactured spending opportunities out there to be discovered. Find them and earn what you can, responsibly, while it lasts.
What’s your Plan B in case Walmart shuts us all down tomorrow?
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