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Best way to make a "cash only" purchase with a credit card?

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Autumnslight
Frequent Contributor

Best way to make a "cash only" purchase with a credit card?

I'm considering making a large purchase (about $1,000) from a local seller who only accepts cash, and I'm trying to figure out if there's a good way to do it with a credit card instead of actually using cash. I'm not interested in doing anything shady that violates card member agreements. But, I'd love to get the cash back/points rewards, and use a 0% APR for a couple of months.

 

I've come up with the following options:

 

1) Take a cash advance on one card (3% fee), then pay the cash advance fee and BT the $1,000 to another card (3% fee) at 0% APR. Total cost = $1,060. Rewards received = Zero. Net cost = $1,060. Not a great option.

 

2) See if the seller will accept a gift card for $1,000 to Target/Walmart/Grocery store instead of cash. Buy gift card with credit card. Total Cost = $1,000. Rewards received = At least 1% or $10, possibly more, depending on the card. Net cost = $990 or less.

 

3) See if the seller will accept a prepaid Amex/Visa/Mastercard. Buy prepaid card with credit card (approximately $3.95 fee). Total Cost = $1,003.95. Rewards received = At least 1% or $10, possibly more, depending on the card. Net cost = $993.95 or less.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on my options? Also, does anyone know if there are particular cards that would consider the purchase of a gift card or prepaid card as a cash advance, and charge me fees and interest? Thanks!

Scores:
07/29/12: EX FICO (Amex) 684 | EQ MyFICO 631 | TU Walmart 695
Current: EX FICO (MyFICO) 733 | EQ (MyFICO) 683 | TU (Walmart) 745

First Goal: 700+ across the board - Got it on EX & TU!!!
Message 1 of 14
13 REPLIES 13
Juan123
Established Contributor

Re: Best way to make a "cash only" purchase with a credit card?

If he'd accept a check you can give him a check from your credit card (if they offer that option)

 

See if he'd accept $1000 trade (something he wants that you can buy with your credit card)

Also don't forget, you can buy an amazon gift card online and that would probably be more useful to him since amazon has everything.


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Message 2 of 14
somnipotent
Frequent Contributor

Re: Best way to make a "cash only" purchase with a credit card?

As someone who generally goes the cash only route myself, the Amazon credit works best unless of course he is intending to use that to pay off something.  AMEX travelers checks perhaps?  At least that has some backing to it whereas I don't trust personal checks unless they're from good friends/family.

 

Honestly nowadays I use a SQUARE so I can accept payment from pretty much anyone.  Works great with my iPhone.  Owe me money?  Swipe here.


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--
Homeowner since 05/29/13
Message 3 of 14
trumpet-205
Valued Contributor

Re: Best way to make a "cash only" purchase with a credit card?

Forget about cash advances, as you will be charged for interest on day 1 (which means you pay more than 3%).

 

Best way to do this is buy high value giftcards and liqudate them. Go to Cardpool/Plastic Jungle and buy $1,000 worth of Target/Walmart giftcard and resell it back for cash. You loss will be around 2% to 3%.

Message 4 of 14
TheConductor
Established Contributor

Re: Best way to make a "cash only" purchase with a credit card?

You could also get a Bluebird card, load it with Vanilla Reload cards ($3.95 x 2 for two $500 cards), and then withdraw the actual cash at an ATM.

 

This would skirt you around the issue of whether the seller would take a prepaid or gift card as payment, and earn you a massive net reward of $2.10.  Smiley Happy

 

Personally. on a $1000 purchase I wouldn't consider it worth the hassle.  99% of my spending is earning me rewards, so I don't mind letting a little go here and there when I have to pay cash.  I can't pay my rent by credit card, but that is the only recurring cash-only expense I have. I'm OK with that.

 

Maybe if I had the Chase Ink Bold business card and was earning 5 points on purchases at office stores, I'd be a little more eager to do the legwork necessary to use a gift or prepaid card as payment. But for baseline 1% rewards....not really worth my time.

 

Starting: EQ 622 (myFICO 7/7/12), EX 696 (TU FAKO 8/14/12), TU 621 (CK TransRisk 7/24/12), Total CL $1k on 2 TLs
Current: EQ 709 (CCT 2/4/15), EX 704 (CCT 2/4/15) , TU 702 (CCT 2/4/15), Total CL $110.3k on 14 TLs Goal: 740+ x3
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Message 5 of 14
distantarray
Established Contributor

Re: Best way to make a "cash only" purchase with a credit card?

is 1 to 2% rewards REALLY worth all this trouble?

 

$10-20 in rewards, but if the person wants to accept cash it's going to be hard to barter, many people prefer cash because of the transaction fees, or makes it easier to hide taxes etc. depends what kinda business is you could do somethings, but if it was me I would never accept a gift card cause I would have to call in and make sure the amount is in the account, and it's possible even with a legit gift card that you can spend the amount before they get to. (forge a duplicate card)

 

if he's willing to open up an account like serve that would be better, but convincing people to open accounts just to accept money even if there's no fees when all his customers already accept cash is really a hassle no worth for customers to satisfy your $10-20 reward on a $1,000. Even with Serve there's a ATM fee after 1 transaction, and only being able to pull out about $500 a day you'll be asking him to wait another month just to pull his money out if he doesn't want to pay the $2 and wait til the next day etc.


total credit limits $108,400 Credit scores Ex 728 EQ 738 TU 758
Message 6 of 14
andre181
Established Contributor

Re: Best way to make a "cash only" purchase with a credit card?

If you have a Discover card and the seller is willing to accept paypal, you could use Discover Money Messenger. Its treated as a normal purchase and earns rewards like normal and has no fees for either you or the person you're sending money too.

 

Only thing is there is a $400/day and $1000/month cap, so you'd have to do it over 3 days, and if its over $1000 do some this month and some next month.

Discover IT $35K | FNBO Visa $30K | Cash+ Visa Sig $19.5K | Southwest Premier $16K | Priceline $15K | Citi Forward $14.3K | US Bank Plat $14K | Commerce Bank $13K | CSP $13K | CSR $10K | Sallie Mae World MC $10K | Lowe’s Consumer 10K | BoA Cash Rewards 1-2-3 Sig $7.5K | Fidelity Visa $7K | Citi Double Cash $6.5K | WF Cash Back Visa $5.4K | Capital One Cash Rewards $5K | AMEX BCE $3.9K | Freedom $2.5K | Younkers/Comenity $2.4K | Kohl’s 1.5K | Target $1.4K | EX FICO (from AMEX): 768, TU FICO (from Discover): 797, AAoA: 4.4 years
Message 7 of 14
distantarray
Established Contributor

Re: Best way to make a "cash only" purchase with a credit card?

only problem is paypal takes 3% through the transactions =\


total credit limits $108,400 Credit scores Ex 728 EQ 738 TU 758
Message 8 of 14
Autumnslight
Frequent Contributor

Re: Best way to make a "cash only" purchase with a credit card?

Honestly, it's more about being able to float the balance at 0% for a couple of months. The rewards are just a bonus.

Scores:
07/29/12: EX FICO (Amex) 684 | EQ MyFICO 631 | TU Walmart 695
Current: EX FICO (MyFICO) 733 | EQ (MyFICO) 683 | TU (Walmart) 745

First Goal: 700+ across the board - Got it on EX & TU!!!
Message 9 of 14
trumpet-205
Valued Contributor

Re: Best way to make a "cash only" purchase with a credit card?


@Autumnslight wrote:

Honestly, it's more about being able to float the balance at 0% for a couple of months. The rewards are just a bonus.


Ask for a balance transfer check and deposit the fund to your checking account. There is your cash.

Message 10 of 14
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