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)
#1503
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 193
Anyone ever successfully use one of these at Aldi? Thought I read some anecdotes of success, but I was just met with failure.
#1504
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ATL
Programs: AA, AGR, DL, MR, WoH, UA
Posts: 951
#1505
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 193
#1507
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 41
Used GC Plastic - Recycle?
For those folks still doing the $200 GC to BB thing... what do you all do with the cards once they are used up? Just chuck them in the bin on the way out of Wally World? (Depending on the store, I would love to see the face of the person assigned to empty out those garbage bins and see a ton of these cards inside )
I am amassing quite a collection. Wondering if there is a way to recycle these things, even just to be environmentally friendly...
I am amassing quite a collection. Wondering if there is a way to recycle these things, even just to be environmentally friendly...
#1508
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
For those folks still doing the $200 GC to BB thing... what do you all do with the cards once they are used up? Just chuck them in the bin on the way out of Wally World? (Depending on the store, I would love to see the face of the person assigned to empty out those garbage bins and see a ton of these cards inside )
I am amassing quite a collection. Wondering if there is a way to recycle these things, even just to be environmentally friendly...
I am amassing quite a collection. Wondering if there is a way to recycle these things, even just to be environmentally friendly...
#1509
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA, UA, US
Posts: 525
Goes in the first trash can I see between kate and car
#1511
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
#1513
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 193
Thanks. Also read a couple different places that the last 4 of the card work as pin out of the box. My problem was I thought I was setting pin at the register..lol..so many different products with so many intricacies.
#1514
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA, UA, US
Posts: 525
Well, the way it works for me is, as soon as i am done at kate, while the last reciept is printing, i bp th cc, start walking towards car, get confirmation of bp, trash the gc, drive home! Hope you know money cant move back 2 steps in current banking scenarios.😨