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)
Oct 21, 2014, 7:22 am
#1817
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,417
Well i guest we should add Staples to the list with Target, Home Depot, etc
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/compa...wQ?ocid=LENDHP
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/compa...wQ?ocid=LENDHP
At least with Staples, I'd be looking at a credit card problem not a debit card one (easier to deal with), and I know which card I used.
Oct 21, 2014, 11:37 am
#1818
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: PHL ILG
Posts: 87
Bought some GCs today and the manager literally said, "jez what is it with these cards? Everyone keeps buying them!!" I said, "idk, I use them as employee incentives."
Oct 21, 2014, 1:11 pm
#1819
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,273
Oct 22, 2014, 2:51 am
#1821
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 782
Did you use your AFT cards for anything else besides loads at the register and ATM withdraws? Any purchases?
Oct 22, 2014, 2:40 pm
#1823
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 9
So for the TOS change on 10/25 we'll be seeing:
- No more cash back / direct deposit into account
But we will still see
- Statement credits to the card that we've spent on
One of the posters kindly informed me that there was a change in TOS that changed how points could be redeemed, but I was never able to find my copy of my TOS changes so I couldn't validate on my own.
Does anyone have a link to the the specific TOS changes that are taking place on 10/25? If I end up getting like 4k of VGC, then I'd like to reimbuse the crazy fees
Though, I don't know that it will matter, I'm going to order them anyway to meet spend on my new ink bold
- No more cash back / direct deposit into account
But we will still see
- Statement credits to the card that we've spent on
One of the posters kindly informed me that there was a change in TOS that changed how points could be redeemed, but I was never able to find my copy of my TOS changes so I couldn't validate on my own.
Does anyone have a link to the the specific TOS changes that are taking place on 10/25? If I end up getting like 4k of VGC, then I'd like to reimbuse the crazy fees
Though, I don't know that it will matter, I'm going to order them anyway to meet spend on my new ink bold
Oct 22, 2014, 3:36 pm
#1824
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,293
So for the TOS change on 10/25 we'll be seeing:
- No more cash back / direct deposit into account
But we will still see
- Statement credits to the card that we've spent on
One of the posters kindly informed me that there was a change in TOS that changed how points could be redeemed, but I was never able to find my copy of my TOS changes so I couldn't validate on my own.
Does anyone have a link to the the specific TOS changes that are taking place on 10/25? If I end up getting like 4k of VGC, then I'd like to reimbuse the crazy fees
Though, I don't know that it will matter, I'm going to order them anyway to meet spend on my new ink bold
- No more cash back / direct deposit into account
But we will still see
- Statement credits to the card that we've spent on
One of the posters kindly informed me that there was a change in TOS that changed how points could be redeemed, but I was never able to find my copy of my TOS changes so I couldn't validate on my own.
Does anyone have a link to the the specific TOS changes that are taking place on 10/25? If I end up getting like 4k of VGC, then I'd like to reimbuse the crazy fees
Though, I don't know that it will matter, I'm going to order them anyway to meet spend on my new ink bold
Here's a link which can provide you more information: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chase...hanges-88.html
Oct 23, 2014, 10:51 am
#1825
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
So can you still get at least 7 points for Visa gift cards ordered through the UR Mall link to staples.com using the Ink Plus?
Looks like the fees are 5.95 or 6.95 for larger denominations. But maybe shipping really blows out the cost per points?
Or is it not a good idea since Staples got breached?
Looks like the fees are 5.95 or 6.95 for larger denominations. But maybe shipping really blows out the cost per points?
Or is it not a good idea since Staples got breached?
Oct 23, 2014, 11:19 am
#1826
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: DL PLT, AS 75k, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 391
So can you still get at least 7 points for Visa gift cards ordered through the UR Mall link to staples.com using the Ink Plus?
Looks like the fees are 5.95 or 6.95 for larger denominations. But maybe shipping really blows out the cost per points?
Or is it not a good idea since Staples got breached?
Looks like the fees are 5.95 or 6.95 for larger denominations. But maybe shipping really blows out the cost per points?
Or is it not a good idea since Staples got breached?
Oct 23, 2014, 11:43 am
#1827
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,417
Nope. Those are the only times I used the card. On fatwallet, folks were reporting the exact same -- with their AFT cards being drained in the same Tampa neighborhood at the same stores with the same techniques! It was such a good lead that I actually called the Tampa Police to see if they wanted to catch the fraudsters (I mean, what could be better publicity for a police dep't than tracking down the Target fraudsters?). But the police weren't interested.
Oct 23, 2014, 2:06 pm
#1828
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA ExP || SPG Plt || Honors Diamond || UA Silver
Posts: 171
Have anyone encountered problems like GC not properly activated before? I bought 2*$200 GC at staples (in-store) last Sunday. Receipt mentioned "card will be activated within 24hrs". So far it is still not activated... Called the number on the back of the cards, was told to contact store, ask them to re-activate. Store told me the cards are non-refundable. So far still no solution yet...
Oct 23, 2014, 3:08 pm
#1829
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,293
Have anyone encountered problems like GC not properly activated before? I bought 2*$200 GC at staples (in-store) last Sunday. Receipt mentioned "card will be activated within 24hrs". So far it is still not activated... Called the number on the back of the cards, was told to contact store, ask them to re-activate. Store told me the cards are non-refundable. So far still no solution yet...
I returned to the store and they did seem to know what to do (a manager did have to get involved and it took a while). Basically they returned it via some special code and resold a different gift card.
Now, I always check to make sure the serial number is printed on the receipt before I leave the store. Good luck!
Oct 23, 2014, 3:45 pm
#1830
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 2
I'm curious, are you guys sure that this rebate works with online purchases? A manager at one store said in-store only (we were looking at a digitized version of the terms and conditions on his monitor and it specifically banned online, but I'm not sure if it was the current deal). My rebate receipt says "at Staples stores ONLY" (emphasis theirs). The rebate receipt also mentions "at Staples stores" but never Staples.com.
Caveat emptor.
Caveat emptor.