In my last thread about the increase in the need for a chip&pin card in France, I stated that we'd been told pre-paid chip&pin cards could be bought at the post office and the tabac (tobacco shops). Not. The post office no longer sells its card, Moneo, and we haven't found one at a tobacco shop yet. We did buy groceries today with our mag card at LeClerc but couldn't use their automatic gas station.
The pre-paid cards are sold at most all currency exchange desks; like travelex. You can find their exact locations throughout France here: http://www.cashpassport.com/1/en/FR/Buying-Your-Card/
Thanks Michael. I wanted to avoid the TravelEx but it looks like we'll have to get one for a temporary fix. Going up to Paris next week, that is if we can use cash at the local ticket kiosk.