May 4, 2014, 4:19 am
Last edit by: weezl
This thread is about prepaid debit cards from Staples. Please post questions on other topics in the appropriate threads elsewhere in this forum.
As of 5/12/2014, all known portals are dead.
*Note- max purchase at one time seems to be 9x $200 (stays under their $2000 limit)
Pluses to Online purchase:
1. Less time/effort/gasoline vs traveling to store to purchase
2. No mgr override or cashier call to Chase needed for large purchases
3. Can bulk activate by phone after receipt of VGCs
4. Email is a nice way to keep record of your purchases
5. Avoids stupid sticky gum (4x per card) that has to be peeled off of each VGC
6. Rare opportunity to liquidate rewards and/or rebate card (YMMV)
Pluses to in-store purchase:
1. No wait/immediate gratification- mail order can take weeks
2. No risk of someone getting to your mailbox to steal your VGCs before you get them out of there
3. Activated at time of purchase- no need to call in or wait for stupid letter containing one activation code/card that comes in the mail separately (the letter sometimes arrives AFTER the VGCs arrive; this can be mitigated, see Pluses to Online #3, above)
As of 5/12/2014, all known portals are dead.
- Get Chase Ink and BB/Serve
1% discount: Sign up Ink (must be Visa) at https://www.visasavingsedge.com/ to get 1% cash back at StaplesEnded 12/31/14- 5x points: Buy Visa gift cards at Staples or the website. $200 ones charge a hefty $6.95 activation fee (with 1% back it was effectively $4.88).
- Liquidate gift cards like any other
*Note- max purchase at one time seems to be 9x $200 (stays under their $2000 limit)
Pluses to Online purchase:
1. Less time/effort/gasoline vs traveling to store to purchase
2. No mgr override or cashier call to Chase needed for large purchases
3. Can bulk activate by phone after receipt of VGCs
4. Email is a nice way to keep record of your purchases
5. Avoids stupid sticky gum (4x per card) that has to be peeled off of each VGC
6. Rare opportunity to liquidate rewards and/or rebate card (YMMV)
Pluses to in-store purchase:
1. No wait/immediate gratification- mail order can take weeks
2. No risk of someone getting to your mailbox to steal your VGCs before you get them out of there
3. Activated at time of purchase- no need to call in or wait for stupid letter containing one activation code/card that comes in the mail separately (the letter sometimes arrives AFTER the VGCs arrive; this can be mitigated, see Pluses to Online #3, above)
Visa Gift cards at Staples(2014-2015)
Aug 18, 2014, 10:41 pm
#1592
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,560
Looks like I've got 2 that are late now. My usual pattern is:
Purchase Posting Date = Purchase Transaction Date + (2 to 3 days)
VSE Transaction Date = Purchase Posting Date
VSE Posting Date = VSE Transaction Date + (2 to 3 days)
I've got one purchase with a posting date of 8/11 and another with 8/12. Both should have posted VSE by today.
The last I had post was for a transaction that posted on 8/7 (VSE posted on 8/10)
Purchase Posting Date = Purchase Transaction Date + (2 to 3 days)
VSE Transaction Date = Purchase Posting Date
VSE Posting Date = VSE Transaction Date + (2 to 3 days)
I've got one purchase with a posting date of 8/11 and another with 8/12. Both should have posted VSE by today.
The last I had post was for a transaction that posted on 8/7 (VSE posted on 8/10)
Aug 18, 2014, 10:45 pm
#1593
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ATL
Programs: AA, AGR, DL, MR, WoH, UA
Posts: 951
Looks like I've got 2 that are late now. My usual pattern is:
Purchase Posting Date = Purchase Transaction Date + (2 to 3 days)
VSE Transaction Date = Purchase Posting Date
VSE Posting Date = VSE Transaction Date + (2 to 3 days)
I've got one purchase with a posting date of 8/11 and another with 8/12. Both should have posted VSE by today.
The last I had post was for a transaction that posted on 8/7 (VSE posted on 8/10)
Purchase Posting Date = Purchase Transaction Date + (2 to 3 days)
VSE Transaction Date = Purchase Posting Date
VSE Posting Date = VSE Transaction Date + (2 to 3 days)
I've got one purchase with a posting date of 8/11 and another with 8/12. Both should have posted VSE by today.
The last I had post was for a transaction that posted on 8/7 (VSE posted on 8/10)
Plenty of time to wait before you break out the Tums.
Aug 19, 2014, 1:05 pm
#1594
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Alaska, Shell VC, Wyndham VC, Starwood, RCI, II--I bought it on eBay!
Posts: 159
.... it, I just go to 24 hour WMs and liquidate at 2-3 AM on Kates. Minimal traffic, nobody really to question you ... lets be honest the people working there at 2-3am couldn't give two ......
Takes me a very long time to liquidate though.....usually run the gamut of my BB limits
Takes me a very long time to liquidate though.....usually run the gamut of my BB limits
Aug 20, 2014, 8:20 am
#1595
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: DTW, but drive to/from YYZ/ORD
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards 2MM, Diner Club points
Posts: 31,895
Anyone still successfully buying these? I Think a recent order got lost in the mail. Just wanted to make sure staples didn't crack down or anything.
Aug 20, 2014, 8:58 am
#1596
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DCA
Posts: 4
Looks like I've got 2 that are late now. My usual pattern is:
Purchase Posting Date = Purchase Transaction Date + (2 to 3 days)
VSE Transaction Date = Purchase Posting Date
VSE Posting Date = VSE Transaction Date + (2 to 3 days)
I've got one purchase with a posting date of 8/11 and another with 8/12. Both should have posted VSE by today.
The last I had post was for a transaction that posted on 8/7 (VSE posted on 8/10)
Purchase Posting Date = Purchase Transaction Date + (2 to 3 days)
VSE Transaction Date = Purchase Posting Date
VSE Posting Date = VSE Transaction Date + (2 to 3 days)
I've got one purchase with a posting date of 8/11 and another with 8/12. Both should have posted VSE by today.
The last I had post was for a transaction that posted on 8/7 (VSE posted on 8/10)
Aug 21, 2014, 8:23 am
#1598
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 349
Ordered some recently too and rec'd. Also VSE posted quickly.
Aug 21, 2014, 6:21 pm
#1600
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 73
So I just completed my first MS today at Family Dollar by loading a $200 GC to my Serve. I was doing some calculations and wanted to see if I was determining the point price correct. I purchased a $200 GC from Staples using my Ink, of course this was before signing up at VisaEdge. My total price was $206.95 in which I earned 1035 points. I believe my price per point is $.0067. Now that I get an additional 1% back from VisaEdge it should drop to $.0048 per point ($4.88/1024).
It seems if I can find any 950$ GC with 3.95 fee it would be better earning 1x points instead of 5x points with my Ink as the price per point would be $.0041. Although it would take me 4x as long to earn the same amount of points.
Am I thinking and calculating correctly. Just want to verify before buying a whole lot of $200 GC
Thanks for any insight
It seems if I can find any 950$ GC with 3.95 fee it would be better earning 1x points instead of 5x points with my Ink as the price per point would be $.0041. Although it would take me 4x as long to earn the same amount of points.
Am I thinking and calculating correctly. Just want to verify before buying a whole lot of $200 GC
Thanks for any insight
Aug 21, 2014, 6:28 pm
#1601
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: DL PLT, AS 75k, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 391
There's really no additional insight. It basically is just that - the speed at which you can earn UR points is off the charts with the 5x spending at office supply stores. The trade off is the initial cash outlay. There are many other methods even more profitable than $4 for a $950 GC. For example, liquidating Amex gift cards generally gives you a profit plus points. But you'll definitely need to spend and liquidate a higher amount. Granted, doing $200 swipes to load up Serve/Bluebird is not much fun either....I would much rather do the $500 swipes.
Aug 21, 2014, 9:59 pm
#1602
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,560
So I just completed my first MS today at Family Dollar by loading a $200 GC to my Serve. I was doing some calculations and wanted to see if I was determining the point price correct. I purchased a $200 GC from Staples using my Ink, of course this was before signing up at VisaEdge. My total price was $206.95 in which I earned 1035 points. I believe my price per point is $.0067. Now that I get an additional 1% back from VisaEdge it should drop to $.0048 per point ($4.88/1024).
It seems if I can find any 950$ GC with 3.95 fee it would be better earning 1x points instead of 5x points with my Ink as the price per point would be $.0041. Although it would take me 4x as long to earn the same amount of points.
Am I thinking and calculating correctly. Just want to verify before buying a whole lot of $200 GC
Thanks for any insight
It seems if I can find any 950$ GC with 3.95 fee it would be better earning 1x points instead of 5x points with my Ink as the price per point would be $.0041. Although it would take me 4x as long to earn the same amount of points.
Am I thinking and calculating correctly. Just want to verify before buying a whole lot of $200 GC
Thanks for any insight
Aug 22, 2014, 10:07 am
#1603
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 9
Is this still working? ->> Go to Walmart and load BB at kiosk
Aug 22, 2014, 10:25 am
#1604
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 369
950$ GC with 3.95 fee
I hope to find these one day. I here about them but havent come accross it yet.
Aug 22, 2014, 11:27 am
#1605
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 73
Thanks for the info. I'll have to learn about the AMEX method. Baby steps I guess...Going to pick up 1k of 200$ GC today. Should net me over 5000 points