Total Value of Inking at Staples?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 165
Total Value of Inking at Staples?
I was wondering if someone can check my numbers on the total annual value of inking at Staples.
Does this seem accurate?
If so, I can see the value if meeting minimum spends. But it seems to be an awful lot of work (and risk for Chase shutdown) to do sustainably.
- Each $200 GC carries a $7 fee, = -$35 fees per $1K in cards
- Potential for 1% cashback using Visa Savings Edge program = +$10 per $1K in cards
- 5% UR points from Chase for office store = +$50 per $1K in rewards
- The net gain is +$25 per $1K spent.
- Max allowable rewards = $50K spend per year.
- Max gain = $50*$25 = $1250 annually
- Assuming $2K per trip, that is one trip every two weeks, and a liquidation of 250 gift cards, annually.
Does this seem accurate?
If so, I can see the value if meeting minimum spends. But it seems to be an awful lot of work (and risk for Chase shutdown) to do sustainably.
#2
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 511
You left off the cost of liquidiating GCs (money orders, etc.).
However, I don't think very many doing this are taking straight cash back from the 5%. Common transfers are going to be to United or Hyatt where people routinely get 1.8-3c per point in value.
For me, I look at going the Ink route as allowing me to get in Cat 6/7 Hyatt properties for $160-200 a night in cost rather than paying $400-1,000 a night.
Example: If you Inked the full 50k (which I wouldn't personally do), 250k UR points = 250k Hyatt points. That is eight nights @ PH in Paris which goes for $1,000 a night routinely. An extreme example, but it gives you an idea. 250k United miles is pretty much two round trips business class Americas - Japan (Saver award) (which I imagine runs at least $2.5k a seat RT most times).
However, I don't think very many doing this are taking straight cash back from the 5%. Common transfers are going to be to United or Hyatt where people routinely get 1.8-3c per point in value.
For me, I look at going the Ink route as allowing me to get in Cat 6/7 Hyatt properties for $160-200 a night in cost rather than paying $400-1,000 a night.
Example: If you Inked the full 50k (which I wouldn't personally do), 250k UR points = 250k Hyatt points. That is eight nights @ PH in Paris which goes for $1,000 a night routinely. An extreme example, but it gives you an idea. 250k United miles is pretty much two round trips business class Americas - Japan (Saver award) (which I imagine runs at least $2.5k a seat RT most times).
Last edited by hamhead; Apr 14, 2014 at 6:44 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA, BA, CX, DL, EK, F9, GA, HA, IB, JL, KE, LH, MH, NH, OS, PG, QR, RJ, SA, TG, UA, VN, WN, ZH
Posts: 927
Well, the value of 5x UR points (max 250K) could varies depending on how/which program you redeem it in. On UA MP that could be 2x saver biz class from NA to Europe that could be valued at a few Ks for example.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: DTW, but drive to/from YYZ/ORD
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards 2MM, Diner Club points
Posts: 31,894
"But it seems to be an awful lot of work (and risk for Chase shutdown) " I've done this very consistently and never heard a peep from chase.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 647
I was wondering if someone can check my numbers on the total annual value of inking at Staples.
Does this seem accurate?
If so, I can see the value if meeting minimum spends. But it seems to be an awful lot of work (and risk for Chase shutdown) to do sustainably.
- Each $200 GC carries a $7 fee, = -$35 fees per $1K in cards
- Potential for 1% cashback using Visa Savings Edge program = +$10 per $1K in cards
- 5% UR points from Chase for office store = +$50 per $1K in rewards
- The net gain is +$25 per $1K spent.
- Max allowable rewards = $50K spend per year.
- Max gain = $50*$25 = $1250 annually
- Assuming $2K per trip, that is one trip every two weeks, and a liquidation of 250 gift cards, annually.
Does this seem accurate?
If so, I can see the value if meeting minimum spends. But it seems to be an awful lot of work (and risk for Chase shutdown) to do sustainably.
I am trying to do this for each card that I have - how much for both sides versus cost benefit.
Lately all I have been doing is meeting minimum spend but now I am at the point where I need to make a plan going forward
#7
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 511
After each statement close I update a progress report for my cards on how my spending is going towards those totals I set.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: California
Posts: 1,123
However, I don't think very many doing this are taking straight cash back from the 5%. Common transfers are going to be to United or Hyatt where people routinely get 1.8-3c per point in value.
For me, I look at going the Ink route as allowing me to get in Cat 6/7 Hyatt properties for $160-200 a night in cost rather than paying $400-1,000 a night.
Example: If you Inked the full 50k (which I wouldn't personally do), 250k UR points = 250k Hyatt points. That is eight nights @ PH in Paris which goes for $1,000 a night routinely. An extreme example, but it gives you an idea. 250k United miles is pretty much two round trips business class Americas - Japan (Saver award) (which I imagine runs at least $2.5k a seat RT most times).
For me, I look at going the Ink route as allowing me to get in Cat 6/7 Hyatt properties for $160-200 a night in cost rather than paying $400-1,000 a night.
Example: If you Inked the full 50k (which I wouldn't personally do), 250k UR points = 250k Hyatt points. That is eight nights @ PH in Paris which goes for $1,000 a night routinely. An extreme example, but it gives you an idea. 250k United miles is pretty much two round trips business class Americas - Japan (Saver award) (which I imagine runs at least $2.5k a seat RT most times).
1.2 cents for US/AA miles during the US share promo was worth it to avoid the MS hassles. But I'd pass if it was offered at 1.5 cents. Especially since US-North Asia in business was silently increased to 110k last week. UR is not convertible to US/AA miles, but they're similar. I'm just giving you an idea of why I value miles so low.
Finally, it's important to get out of the thinking that the vacation is free. It's not. Far from it. Aside from expenses in buying GC and liquidating, you also have to deduct the use of a 2% cashback card plus fees/taxes for booking flights plus miles you would have earned to find out if it is really worth it
#9
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 647
Yep yep, I've done this now that I've got a stack of cards I intend to keep long term. It helps me set a total per card for MS and I focus on cards I get the most benefit from. Include annual fees, any spending threshholds (30k for PRG, etc.), etc. For non-MS spending, I just put it on the card that gets the category bonus.
After each statement close I update a progress report for my cards on how my spending is going towards those totals I set.
After each statement close I update a progress report for my cards on how my spending is going towards those totals I set.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 25
As another data point, I transferred UR points to United yesterday to purchase an Economy ticket for ICT>NRT. I spent 52,500 points on a ticket that I could have booked for $1,680. That's a value of just a hair over 3 cents per point. Now, I got all of these points for cheaper-than-free with the OfficeMax promo a few months ago, but if I had inked all these at Staples, the fees would have cost roughly $265 after VSE savings - 16% of the cost of the fare.
The only time I have used UR points directly instead of transferring was when I needed a ticket from SFO>LAX. With the 20% discount, cheap hoppers like that cost fewer UR than a MileagePlus redemption. Unless you never travel, using UR for straight cash back is wasteful.
The only time I have used UR points directly instead of transferring was when I needed a ticket from SFO>LAX. With the 20% discount, cheap hoppers like that cost fewer UR than a MileagePlus redemption. Unless you never travel, using UR for straight cash back is wasteful.
#12
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: SFO/ORD
Posts: 212
I was wondering if someone can check my numbers on the total annual value of inking at Staples.
Does this seem accurate?
If so, I can see the value if meeting minimum spends. But it seems to be an awful lot of work (and risk for Chase shutdown) to do sustainably.
- Each $200 GC carries a $7 fee, = -$35 fees per $1K in cards
- Potential for 1% cashback using Visa Savings Edge program = +$10 per $1K in cards
- 5% UR points from Chase for office store = +$50 per $1K in rewards
- The net gain is +$25 per $1K spent.
- Max allowable rewards = $50K spend per year.
- Max gain = $50*$25 = $1250 annually
- Assuming $2K per trip, that is one trip every two weeks, and a liquidation of 250 gift cards, annually.
Does this seem accurate?
If so, I can see the value if meeting minimum spends. But it seems to be an awful lot of work (and risk for Chase shutdown) to do sustainably.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 139
FAR is great if you have use for the crap, but the biggest problem is that FAR actually costs you sales taxes which pretty much takes away you margins. If you use 5%CB from being a staples reward member plus the 5% from CC minus the 6-9% sales taxes depending on the state still only gives an average margin.
I prefer using a portal to do my Staples inkings.
I prefer using a portal to do my Staples inkings.