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)
Jul 29, 2014, 12:44 am
#1516
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
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...
Jul 30, 2014, 11:38 am
#1517
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 355
Finally awarded almost 50k in SB points from 8k in VGC purchases at Staples.com from late April. 3 months is better than nothing!
Jul 30, 2014, 11:55 am
#1518
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,498
I placed two orders for VGCs on 7/21 (my usual order) and 7/22 (with Visa checkout coupon). They both went through and I got shipped confirmations on both, but I received one order last Friday and still haven't received the other one. I got the authorization codes for both so I know the order went through. Now I'm worried that the cards from the second order got lost in the mail. Has anyone had any experience dealing with lost cards or should I just wait it out a few more days?
Jul 30, 2014, 3:41 pm
#1519
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 359
I placed two orders for VGCs on 7/21 (my usual order) and 7/22 (with Visa checkout coupon). They both went through and I got shipped confirmations on both, but I received one order last Friday and still haven't received the other one. I got the authorization codes for both so I know the order went through. Now I'm worried that the cards from the second order got lost in the mail. Has anyone had any experience dealing with lost cards or should I just wait it out a few more days?
Jul 30, 2014, 4:02 pm
#1520
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
If activation codes don't come within a day I just call and get them activated over the phone by giving them the GC number. They'll get them all activated within an hour or two.
Jul 31, 2014, 12:52 pm
#1521
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 407
Is this something new?
I'm trying for exactly 2000 though. I've succesfully placed many orders of 10 x 200 previously, and my last successful one was just two weeks ago as well.
We are unable to complete your order for the following reason:
In order to comply with Federal anti-money laundering regulations, Staples does not sell more than $2,000 of gift cards in any order. Please adjust your order and continue to Secure Checkout.
In order to comply with Federal anti-money laundering regulations, Staples does not sell more than $2,000 of gift cards in any order. Please adjust your order and continue to Secure Checkout.
Jul 31, 2014, 2:07 pm
#1522
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 54
my order that i placed on 7/20 disappeared. tried again today and got the 2k limit message
Jul 31, 2014, 2:47 pm
#1524
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA, BA, CX, DL, EK, F9, GA, HA, IB, JL, KE, LH, MH, NH, OS, PG, QR, RJ, SA, TG, UA, VN, WN, ZH
Posts: 927
I tried ordering 8x200 + 3x100 + 1x25 cards and got the message even though the gift card value is only $1925. But it's $2006.40 when including the fees. My guess is the IT guy did some sloppy update and doesn't exclude the fee in the total amount.
Jul 31, 2014, 2:48 pm
#1525
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 407
Any reason you do 3x 100 and 1x25? Or was that just to test this?
Jul 31, 2014, 8:47 pm
#1526
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: US Chairman, Marriott Platinum, PCR Platinum, and SPG Gold
Posts: 1,244
Thanks.
Aug 1, 2014, 6:56 am
#1527
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 467
If I may ask how do you liquidate? Kate can be a pain with those things and evolve is much more limited in quantity now...
Aug 1, 2014, 9:33 am
#1529
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
Aug 1, 2014, 9:44 am
#1530
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 407
.... 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