Jan 6, 2016, 5:28 pm
Last edit by: ChrisFlyer66
This is a new thread for 2016. The previous megathread on this topic is here.
The 2017 thread is here.
This thread is about prepaid debit cards from Staples. Please post questions on other topics in the appropriate threads elsewhere in this forum.
To activate cards over the phone (without activation codes), call (877) 426-2551 to talk to a rep. Post #132.
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)
* FASTEST WAY to liquidate $20 Staples Rebate Visa GCs*
Use for purchase at Costco. The POS at Costco will auto-drain the Staples Visa GC, once you press the green button when the PIN is requested.
Then, swipe the next Staples VGC, press green and repeat! The POS is so fast, you can keep feeding 4 - 5 total $20 cards and the cashier will not even care!
The 2017 thread is here.
This thread is about prepaid debit cards from Staples. Please post questions on other topics in the appropriate threads elsewhere in this forum.
To activate cards over the phone (without activation codes), call (877) 426-2551 to talk to a rep. Post #132.
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)
* FASTEST WAY to liquidate $20 Staples Rebate Visa GCs*
Use for purchase at Costco. The POS at Costco will auto-drain the Staples Visa GC, once you press the green button when the PIN is requested.
Then, swipe the next Staples VGC, press green and repeat! The POS is so fast, you can keep feeding 4 - 5 total $20 cards and the cashier will not even care!
Visa Gift cards at Staples (2016)
Oct 23, 2016, 12:52 pm
#601
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: EWN/OAJ/RDU/ILM (Formerly BTV)
Programs: HH D i a m o n d !!!
Posts: 356
It appears the register allows any payments. But I know (at least in my neighborhood) most stores hate the idea of paying for VGC/MGC with store GCs, and some cashiers got scolded by their bosses for allowing that.
I was thinking maybe they treat the fees differently and can separate it easily from the total amount. But it does not seem to be the case. I am just not to try it at all to avoid any backlashes.
I was thinking maybe they treat the fees differently and can separate it easily from the total amount. But it does not seem to be the case. I am just not to try it at all to avoid any backlashes.
But yeah, long term I don't think it would be prudent to pay with GC for a VGC even if it somehow worked. GC for the VGC *fee* should be fine though
Oct 23, 2016, 1:26 pm
#602
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 740
Wife and I successfully raided our local Staples 
Oct 23, 2016, 2:04 pm
#603
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
It appears the register allows any payments. But I know (at least in my neighborhood) most stores hate the idea of paying for VGC/MGC with store GCs, and some cashiers got scolded by their bosses for allowing that.
I was thinking maybe they treat the fees differently and can separate it easily from the total amount. But it does not seem to be the case. I am just not to try it at all to avoid any backlashes.
I was thinking maybe they treat the fees differently and can separate it easily from the total amount. But it does not seem to be the case. I am just not to try it at all to avoid any backlashes.
btw, I also received via email a $5 off coupon to use in store or online x10/31 so I got two 400ct table napkins and paid $3.xx after he scanned the coupon barcode. Great deal!
Oct 23, 2016, 9:45 pm
#604
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
My Staples was out of $200s at 4pm today. Not sure if had already been raided, or just not re-stocked yet. I'll be back in that part of town mid week so will stop back by. It annoys me that there are so few Staples in the Houston metro area, and only 1 that is not in the suburbs.
Oct 24, 2016, 9:25 am
#605
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,066
It was the manager who checked me out today and we both looked at the ad to confirm the rebate offer. I told him I'd pay the fees with my StapGC and he said okay. It took the full $25 and I paid the balance with INK+. Since it's the manager who's allowing this, I don't worry of any backlash since he can say NO and I'd pay all of it with CC. again, YMMV.
btw, I also received via email a $5 off coupon to use in store or online x10/31 so I got two 400ct table napkins and paid $3.xx after he scanned the coupon barcode. Great deal!
btw, I also received via email a $5 off coupon to use in store or online x10/31 so I got two 400ct table napkins and paid $3.xx after he scanned the coupon barcode. Great deal!
Oct 24, 2016, 12:24 pm
#606
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: DC
Posts: 360
My staples didn't have any $200 visible, but they had a basket full of random GCs next to the rack, and in the middle of that confusion there was a full pack of $200s still wrapped. Took one for my myself and put the rest in the rack.
Oct 24, 2016, 12:26 pm
#607
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: EWN/OAJ/RDU/ILM (Formerly BTV)
Programs: HH D i a m o n d !!!
Posts: 356
Lucky you. I've asked multiple stores if I can pay the fees with my staples gift cards. They always tell me no. So, then I usually buy the penny paper knowing that I'm probably going to have to throw it away in the garbage if my kid's school doesn't want it. It would be so much easier on them (and lest wasteful) if they would accept the GCs for the fees
Also - is the penny paper the same sort of rebate where you pay full upfront price then get a GC or VGC rebate like a month later?
Edit: I think I see that it is $7.99 - $5.00 "easy rebate" (vgc) - $2.98 instant rebate w coupon?
Last edited by perkunas; Oct 24, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Oct 24, 2016, 10:05 pm
#608
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,833
I spent Sunday and Monday driving from San Jose, CA, to WA state, primarily along I-5. $200 VGC's are in plentiful supply in every Staples I visited. Happy hunting!
Oct 25, 2016, 1:57 am
#610
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
My Staples has countless $200 VGC, but I only have 3 addresses I can use. I've read that minor changes to addresses don't work (ie, St vs Street, Apt 3 vs #3, etc). Any tricks anybody wants to share?
Oct 25, 2016, 9:40 am
#613
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 70
in store limits?
is there any limit to the amount of VGC you can buy in person at Staples? TIA
Oct 25, 2016, 1:19 pm
#615
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,833
But it did help to break up the 800-mile drive.
I was particularly pleased when I would find a shopping center that was close to a freeway exit and included a Staples store, a Walmart, and a branch of my bank. Talk about one-stop shopping!
Throw in an In-n-Out Burger, and I was in heaven.