New Target POS Makes REDbird Loads More Difficult

Numerous Flyertalk reports indicate that Target is in the process of updating their registers (POS) and that this has been impacting the process of loading the Amex Prepaid REDcard, a.k.a. REDbird.

The most conclusive data we have so far is that under the new POS at some point in the load process the cashier needs to enter the ‘K8’ key in order to process the load. (This is reminiscent of the Walmart cashier loads which require the cashier to enter: 70 action code.) If the cashier doesn’t hit the K8 key then the transaction will get cancelled after you swipe the debit-gift card.

A few notes about this new change:

• It’s unclear for now whether the K8 key needs to be pressed before swiping the REDbird card at all or if it needs to be pressed after the initial REDbird swipe but before entering the load amount. [UPDATE: FrequentMiler indicates that the K8 is pressed before anything starts at all.]
• The difference between the old Target POS and the new one is described as follows: “Old version has the red spot logo and screen (something like that, I never paid CLOSE attention). New version has a house on the bottom right of the screen with a dominant white background.”
• Under the new POS, reports indicate that the REDbird card needs to be swiped on the PIN-pad, i.e. by the customer, not on the cashier’s side.
• There is a report which indicates that ‘real’ debit cards (i.e. Suntrust or any standard bank) can work on the new POS without the need for the K8 input.
• The new POS apparently processes commands much slower than the old one.
• Some mention that there may be a need to press K8 twice in order to get it to process.
• Some mention a workaround of loading REDbird at the Starbucks register inside the Target store since those registers aren’t being updated yet. (Obviously, this idea won’t usually work since the Starbucks cashier won’t be willing to do it in most cases.) As an aside, you’ll apparently get 5% off using REDcard for ordinary purchases made at Starbucks inside Target stores.

Many of us already maxed out the REDbird toward the beginning of the month and thus the info on all of this is still a bit sketchy. We expect to hear much more about this when the limits reset in July.

A polite way of telling the Target cashier to press K8 would be: “Last time I was loading and we had the same problem. A manager came over and told us that we have to press the K8 key in order for it to work. A new update.”

Here are the links for two helpfulFlyertalk posts: 1, 2.

Developing…

Two humorous Flyertalk notes on this developing situation:

• “It’s as if all Target employees went to WalMart BlueBird policing training then returned to Target to practice their new customer service skills.” (link)
• All of our manufactured spend problems now revolve around ‘Kate’ and ‘K8’. (link)