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Valero Gift Cards?

July 05, 2020 08:57PM
I did a search for this before posting, and I can't find any suggestions. Not mentioning the MSC, so I'm naming the station - does anyone have any suggestions for where to find Valero gift cards? I've got 19 Valeros lined up for the next two days, and I *need* to find a gift card. The station where I normally get them is out...and I've literally called more than 20 stations in the area...nothing? (Making me wish they were like Shells...and required to have them!)
I've never seen a Valero card in a store...any other ideas?
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July 05, 2020 09:12PM
Buy a pre-paid Visa card and pay the $4.95 activation fee?
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July 05, 2020 09:19PM
The Visa gift cards have the same issues that I'd have using my Paypal and credit cards, after 3 uses in a row, they shut off...I am dreading having to shuffle Paypal, debit and credit cards through 19 shops
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July 05, 2020 10:30PM
Although won't help for this time you can buy online at Valero. Also their gift cards are reloadable. Perhaps you could call your bank and let them know so they don't shut your credit or debit card off. I would suggest checking each of the 19 stations as you go and buy a gift card as soon as you find a station that has one.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
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July 06, 2020 01:36AM
BuffaloNY101, I suggested alerting one's bank/credit card company about high usage at Shell stations. Another shopper let me know that it was not the bank placing the restriction but Shell.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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July 06, 2020 03:23AM
@HonnyBrown wrote:

BuffaloNY101, I suggested alerting one's bank/credit card company about high usage at Shell stations. Another shopper let me know that it was not the bank placing the restriction but Shell.
Same. It's been this way for years.
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July 06, 2020 04:31PM
Have you used a gift card before when doing these shops? If you still have the card it could possibly be reloaded, either online or at your first stop. Also, if the gas does NOT have to be paid at the pump (I'm not familiar with this brand shop), a credit/debit card is usually not automatically cut off after three inside purchases.
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July 07, 2020 04:28PM
Call youf credit card and let them know that you mystery shop and you are going to be doing alot of gas shop (Valero). Tell them about how much you will be charging They will make a note of this. When I used to do alot of gas stations I called the credit card company. Never had any problem then.
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July 14, 2020 10:53AM
This is probably too late for this round but you can get an Amex Serve Card at Staples or an Office Depot if I remember right it is one of the no fees to reload or buy.
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July 20, 2020 07:42PM
I have gotten a few of the prepaid debit cards recently. I got a Chime, Green Dot and AM EX Bluebird. The Chime wants to put a $75 hold on any gas purchase so it is out, the Green Dot and Bluebird both work well. I only put $20 at a time on them and just do a $1 or so at the pump. Most of the prepaid debit cards charge you a monthly fee and I want to avoid that.
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July 21, 2020 07:29PM
@Mousegal wrote:

I did a search for this before posting, and I can't find any suggestions. Not mentioning the MSC, so I'm naming the station - does anyone have any suggestions for where to find Valero gift cards? I've got 19 Valeros lined up for the next two days, and I *need* to find a gift card. The station where I normally get them is out...and I've literally called more than 20 stations in the area...nothing? (Making me wish they were like Shells...and required to have them!)
I've never seen a Valero card in a store...any other ideas?

Try here for them [www.valero.com]

Here in NM an CO I have not seen them either. I just got thru doing 5 shops in NM and they do have that two shop limit on the card. My suggestion would get Visa gift cards at you local Walmart in small increments. If you have a three week lead time for Shell try getting them on line for I always have trouble when I get the at the station for not everyone knows how to active and sell them.
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July 22, 2020 03:14PM
@SoCalMama wrote:

Buy a pre-paid Visa card and pay the $4.95 activation fee?

Every month, Staples has an offer that waives that fee for a $200 Visa (sometimes MasterCard) gift card.

This is a decent way to churn out 5% 'savings' across all your card purchases (via Chase Ink, AMEX SimplyBusiness, etc. for 5% back on all office supply stores) in place of non-5% credit card promotions..

Very infrequently shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado these days.
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