Amazon Giftcard avoid being flagged by Chase?
Aug 15, 2014, 3:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
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Amazon Giftcard avoid being flagged by Chase?
I'm currently looking into a DSLR camera system. Amazon seems to have it on the site and I can take advantage of the Prime service that I have. With a quick thought, I have the INK card but need to start getting giftcards in order to maximize the 5:1 ratio on earnings. Since the camera is going to cost me around $2k and the lens will be another $1k, this means I need a lot of Amazon Giftcards.
Whats the maximum giftcard value I can get at a office supply store?
Should I avoid Amazon gc and get Visa Cards instead?
How should I avoid being flagged by Chase? I dont' want to loose my credit cards because I'm trying to extend on the earnings.
Whats the maximum giftcard value I can get at a office supply store?
Should I avoid Amazon gc and get Visa Cards instead?
How should I avoid being flagged by Chase? I dont' want to loose my credit cards because I'm trying to extend on the earnings.
Aug 15, 2014, 3:50 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 142
I'm currently looking into a DSLR camera system. Amazon seems to have it on the site and I can take advantage of the Prime service that I have. With a quick thought, I have the INK card but need to start getting giftcards in order to maximize the 5:1 ratio on earnings. Since the camera is going to cost me around $2k and the lens will be another $1k, this means I need a lot of Amazon Giftcards.
Whats the maximum giftcard value I can get at a office supply store?
Should I avoid Amazon gc and get Visa Cards instead?
How should I avoid being flagged by Chase? I dont' want to loose my credit cards because I'm trying to extend on the earnings.
Whats the maximum giftcard value I can get at a office supply store?
Should I avoid Amazon gc and get Visa Cards instead?
How should I avoid being flagged by Chase? I dont' want to loose my credit cards because I'm trying to extend on the earnings.
Aug 15, 2014, 3:51 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 135
People buy $50k/year of Visa gift cards at staples. You won't get flagged in such a way that it does squat to your account long term. If you haven't ever made large purchases you may get a fraud alert, but that *doesn't* mean you have a problem with chase. Just call and clear it up and you will be fine, $3k won't even show up on their radar.
My staples has $100 amazon I think as the max, so prepare to get scratching
Don't buy Visa gift cards to do anything but liquidate directly, or you are just wasting the fee money.
Edit to add, if amazon and staples have tax, yes have them pricematch, because you will also get staples rewards. If amazon is no tax, buy the gift cards..
My staples has $100 amazon I think as the max, so prepare to get scratching
Don't buy Visa gift cards to do anything but liquidate directly, or you are just wasting the fee money. Edit to add, if amazon and staples have tax, yes have them pricematch, because you will also get staples rewards. If amazon is no tax, buy the gift cards..
Aug 15, 2014, 3:53 pm
#4
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Join Date: Aug 2012
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People buy $50k/year of Visa gift cards at staples. You won't get flagged in such a way that it does squat to your account long term. If you haven't ever made large purchases you may get a fraud alert, but that *doesn't* mean you have a problem with chase. Just call and clear it up and you will be fine, $3k won't even show up on their radar.
My staples has $100 amazon I think as the max, so prepare to get scratching Don't buy Visa gift cards to do anything but liquidate directly, or you are just wasting the fee money.
Edit to add, if amazon and staples have tax, yes have them pricematch, because you will also get staples rewards. If amazon is no tax, buy the gift cards..
My staples has $100 amazon I think as the max, so prepare to get scratching
Don't buy Visa gift cards to do anything but liquidate directly, or you are just wasting the fee money. Edit to add, if amazon and staples have tax, yes have them pricematch, because you will also get staples rewards. If amazon is no tax, buy the gift cards..
also, I can use Amazon giftcard to renew my prime right?
Aug 15, 2014, 6:45 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 135
Surprisingly, no, you can't - it skips over your gift card balance and pulls from your credit card. I think Kindle Unlimited subscription might be the same way. Actually buying kindle books looks like it will charge your credit card but actually pulls from your gift card balance instead like it is supposed to.
Staples rewards are only 5% once you pass a $$ threshold now, so I don't know if the first $XX are actually at 5% anymore, they might only be 2% and 3%.
Staples rewards are only 5% once you pass a $$ threshold now, so I don't know if the first $XX are actually at 5% anymore, they might only be 2% and 3%.
Aug 18, 2014, 1:02 pm
#9
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,755
Surprisingly, no, you can't - it skips over your gift card balance and pulls from your credit card. I think Kindle Unlimited subscription might be the same way. Actually buying kindle books looks like it will charge your credit card but actually pulls from your gift card balance instead like it is supposed to.
Staples rewards are only 5% once you pass a $$ threshold now, so I don't know if the first $XX are actually at 5% anymore, they might only be 2% and 3%.
Staples rewards are only 5% once you pass a $$ threshold now, so I don't know if the first $XX are actually at 5% anymore, they might only be 2% and 3%.
I thought OP meant using Ink card at Staples to buy AMZN GCs would get him 5% in bonus category spend.
Are you saying Ink card now does not give 5% at Staple spend until you pass a threshold? Or something totally different and not what the OP has in mind?
Aug 18, 2014, 1:03 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
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. Then it wanted a cost estimate for the repair, and when OP sent them the info from Geek Squad website quoted $130 for the repair, the underwriter wanted to know WHOM the poster had talked to Geek Squad.AMEX would just cut you a check for such a trivial amount... $99 for goodness sake...
Aug 18, 2014, 5:08 pm
#11
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And for that matter, it is far better to use an AMEX AMEX than Chase Visa Signature after reading complaint thread on how hard to get Chase' insurance underwriter to even honor a $99 purchase protection when the product failed within 2 months. The underwriter first asked why Best Buy would not offer free repair, . Then it wanted a cost estimate for the repair, and when OP sent them the info from Geek Squad website quoted $130 for the repair, the underwriter wanted to know WHOM the poster had talked to Geek Squad.
AMEX would just cut you a check for such a trivial amount... $99 for goodness sake...
. Then it wanted a cost estimate for the repair, and when OP sent them the info from Geek Squad website quoted $130 for the repair, the underwriter wanted to know WHOM the poster had talked to Geek Squad.AMEX would just cut you a check for such a trivial amount... $99 for goodness sake...
Aug 18, 2014, 5:09 pm
#12
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What exactly do you mean?
I thought OP meant using Ink card at Staples to buy AMZN GCs would get him 5% in bonus category spend.
Are you saying Ink card now does not give 5% at Staple spend until you pass a threshold? Or something totally different and not what the OP has in mind?
I thought OP meant using Ink card at Staples to buy AMZN GCs would get him 5% in bonus category spend.
Are you saying Ink card now does not give 5% at Staple spend until you pass a threshold? Or something totally different and not what the OP has in mind?
Aug 18, 2014, 8:33 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 142
Earn rewards
Base members earn 2% back in rewards, Plus members earn 3% back in rewards, and Premier members earn 5% back in rewards. Not valid on postage, gift/phone cards and savings passes.
There's no limit to the rewards you can earn.
I was thinking everyone got 5%, not anymore!
Aren't most people 5 percenters under the new rules anyway?
Base members earn 2% back in rewards, Plus members earn 3% back in rewards, and Premier members earn 5% back in rewards. Not valid on postage, gift/phone cards and savings passes.
There's no limit to the rewards you can earn.
I was thinking everyone got 5%, not anymore!
Aren't most people 5 percenters under the new rules anyway?
Aug 19, 2014, 10:29 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 135
Right, he & I were talking about the extra up to 5% from staples rewards itself, in addition to the Chase Ink 5UR, as a comparison between buying amazon gift cards at staples vs purchasing it at staples directly.
Since gift cards don't count, only people who spend for resale, etc, will be 5% under the new system. Just buying FAR paper isn't enough, for example.
Edit to add, and since I bought an Ipad to cross the barrier from 2->3% just the other day, I can say that purchases that cross the barrier only get the *lower* amount, for the whole total, so starting at 2% tier and buying a lot of stuff only gets you 2% until you get upgraded.
Since gift cards don't count, only people who spend for resale, etc, will be 5% under the new system. Just buying FAR paper isn't enough, for example.
Edit to add, and since I bought an Ipad to cross the barrier from 2->3% just the other day, I can say that purchases that cross the barrier only get the *lower* amount, for the whole total, so starting at 2% tier and buying a lot of stuff only gets you 2% until you get upgraded.