Jul 10, 2013, 3:44 pm
Last edit by: aeneas3
Wiki to track data points for Variable load GC at various locations:
raghu455: Variable loads not ringing up at register on 7/9 at 3 south bay area locations.
topenga47: Sarasota FL OD is cash only at register on 7/10
townhurst: OD at Firestone in Norwalk, CA cash only and CC denied at register
fangtl: Register showing cash only message prompt at Sterling, VA OD.
Emma dog: atlanta OD (Cheshire bridge&piedmont) has a register lockout forcing cash only.
Mooper: Cash only @ OD in MT for variable, but $100/$200 Visa GCs ok w/ CC through Aug. UPDATE: Died in early Sept... cash only for all now.
aeneas3: cash only @OD in Buffalo, NY - popup at the register - 9/20
raghu455: Variable loads not ringing up at register on 7/9 at 3 south bay area locations.
topenga47: Sarasota FL OD is cash only at register on 7/10
townhurst: OD at Firestone in Norwalk, CA cash only and CC denied at register
fangtl: Register showing cash only message prompt at Sterling, VA OD.
Emma dog: atlanta OD (Cheshire bridge&piedmont) has a register lockout forcing cash only.
Mooper: Cash only @ OD in MT for variable, but $100/$200 Visa GCs ok w/ CC through Aug. UPDATE: Died in early Sept... cash only for all now.
aeneas3: cash only @OD in Buffalo, NY - popup at the register - 9/20
Office Depot accepting cash only for variable load gift cards
Jul 4, 2013, 6:50 am
#61
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 293
Found some in TX. Manager rang me up. I commented that I hadn't seen these in od in a while. His reply: "yeah, chase made us pull all of them before because of people abusing 5x points. We worked it out so these cards no longer get points, so I don't think many people will be buying them." I played dumb, but he had that "I know why you're buying these and you're going to be disappointed" vibe going. Wouldn't surprise me; as chase can site the t&c about cash equivalents.
Jul 4, 2013, 7:00 am
#62
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 298
I wonder if they changed a bar code or something so that it rings up differently and shows up as a variable card on the Chase side. That said, I think it's stupid that a credit card company can influence a retailer like that, if he's telling the truth. I'm not sure what leverage Chase could use.
Jul 4, 2013, 8:03 am
#63
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA MPE, BA Blue, AA, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Silver, HHonors Silver, National Exec, Avis First
Posts: 553
I wonder if they changed a bar code or something so that it rings up differently and shows up as a variable card on the Chase side. That said, I think it's stupid that a credit card company can influence a retailer like that, if he's telling the truth. I'm not sure what leverage Chase could use.
Jul 4, 2013, 8:51 am
#64
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 54
Found some in TX. Manager rang me up. I commented that I hadn't seen these in od in a while. His reply: "yeah, chase made us pull all of them before because of people abusing 5x points. We worked it out so these cards no longer get points, so I don't think many people will be buying them." I played dumb, but he had that "I know why you're buying these and you're going to be disappointed" vibe going. Wouldn't surprise me; as chase can site the t&c about cash equivalents.
He was pretty well informed about manu spend. I told him I didn't know what he meant, as I use them to pay my taxes because they're debit.
My billing cycle just ended 2 days ago. So anyone who bought these with an upcoming cycle end, please post what points you got, if any...
He was pretty well informed about manu spend. I told him I didn't know what he meant, as I use them to pay my taxes because they're debit.
My billing cycle just ended 2 days ago. So anyone who bought these with an upcoming cycle end, please post what points you got, if any...
It sounds like that the manager have his Ink card and wants to have them all.
I've never seen a cashier or manager know that much about 5x Chase Points.
If Chase asked OD to code those gift cards as cash advances, why would OD start cash only on next Monday?
Jul 4, 2013, 9:16 am
#65
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO, SIN, PVG
Programs: UA, AA, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 303
I wonder if they changed a bar code or something so that it rings up differently and shows up as a variable card on the Chase side. That said, I think it's stupid that a credit card company can influence a retailer like that, if he's telling the truth. I'm not sure what leverage Chase could use.
Chase can easily say:" Office depot spending do not count as 5x." As the national biggest credit car issuer, Chase has huge influence on these store.
Jul 4, 2013, 11:38 am
#66
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SDF
Programs: UA, HH
Posts: 692
It would be so much easier for them to work with OD on coding and make sure Chase knows what's bought, so this is much more real, IMO.
No variable GCs for me at OD, but scored EyeFi card for $5
Jul 4, 2013, 12:09 pm
#67
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: MR,UR, UA, BA, AA, Hotels
Posts: 581
For those wo have already dived in - do you see any special notation on your account activity? Does it just look like a large OD purchase?
Jul 4, 2013, 12:52 pm
#69
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Western US
Programs: WN CP, WN A-List Preferred, AS MVPG 75k, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 554
And cards sold in Mexico aren't going to be required to have pins unless there is a Mexican law that requires it, that ruling earlier this year only applies to the U.S.
Jul 4, 2013, 1:42 pm
#70
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 33
I do not see any special notation on the GC I purchased. It looks the same as all the other OD purchases I have made previously. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the people on this forum want to plant doubt into the minds of others, so they can clean up the whole stash at their local OD before Monday.
I look at it this way:If you are purchasing a $1000 laptop computer along with a $500 gift card, what happens then? Is the purchase coded differently and you do not get all the points for the $1000 laptop? That wouldn't be fair. There are too many variables involved for Chase to ask OD to code a purchase including a GC differently. I say if you have any OD near you that is selling these variable load GCs, go for it... in moderation, of course!
Jul 4, 2013, 3:10 pm
#71
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
I do not see any special notation on the GC I purchased. It looks the same as all the other OD purchases I have made previously. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the people on this forum want to plant doubt into the minds of others, so they can clean up the whole stash at their local OD before Monday.
I look at it this way:If you are purchasing a $1000 laptop computer along with a $500 gift card, what happens then? Is the purchase coded differently and you do not get all the points for the $1000 laptop? That wouldn't be fair. There are too many variables involved for Chase to ask OD to code a purchase including a GC differently. I say if you have any OD near you that is selling these variable load GCs, go for it... in moderation, of course!
I look at it this way:If you are purchasing a $1000 laptop computer along with a $500 gift card, what happens then? Is the purchase coded differently and you do not get all the points for the $1000 laptop? That wouldn't be fair. There are too many variables involved for Chase to ask OD to code a purchase including a GC differently. I say if you have any OD near you that is selling these variable load GCs, go for it... in moderation, of course!
Pt is Im sure the system can be programed not to include any item as Pts earning if that store or company so chooses.
btw Hiltons computers do just that, any item you purchase at a Hampton mkt does not earn any pts even if you tell then to charge it to your room. You only earn HH pts for the room rate.If you used a Hilton CC then you will earn pts in accordance to the total charged to your CC. So its not hard at all to key in which charges earn pts and which dont
Jul 4, 2013, 4:06 pm
#72
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 33
How is it any different from any store that sells both items that are taxable and items which are not.
Pt is Im sure the system can be programed not to include any item as Pts earning if that store or company so chooses.
btw Hiltons computers do just that, any item you purchase at a Hampton mkt does not earn any pts even if you tell then to charge it to your room. You only earn HH pts for the room rate.If you used a Hilton CC then you will earn pts in accordance to the total charged to your CC. So its not hard at all to key in which charges earn pts and which dont
Pt is Im sure the system can be programed not to include any item as Pts earning if that store or company so chooses.
btw Hiltons computers do just that, any item you purchase at a Hampton mkt does not earn any pts even if you tell then to charge it to your room. You only earn HH pts for the room rate.If you used a Hilton CC then you will earn pts in accordance to the total charged to your CC. So its not hard at all to key in which charges earn pts and which dont
If OD would code a transaction involving the purchase of a GC differently from other transactions, this would imply that people buying additional non-GC items in that same transaction would miss out on the 5x on the non-GC items. And that wouldn't be fair.
Last edited by PdxDfwFlyer; Jul 4, 2013 at 4:11 pm
Jul 4, 2013, 4:26 pm
#73
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: MR,UR, UA, BA, AA, Hotels
Posts: 581
Visiting from the Bay Area - thx for leaving some. Found the Beaverton store out but the Turlane store had plenty. The manager was needed for an override but was pretty cool. Asked why everyone buying these were all using the same credit card. I said anyone with a business would be crazy to use any other cards at either OD OM or Staples as it was the best card out there for office supplies.
Jul 4, 2013, 4:31 pm
#74
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CVG
Programs: Hyatt Giraffe
Posts: 1,664
It may be interesting if something extra is being sent to ID cash equiv purchases. It may be the next step in the constantly changing game. There are reports on FW about how Amex is starting to code VR purchases differently (e.g. no 5 or 6X) at pharmacies. Wonder if Chase is about to do the same.