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Old May 4, 2014, 4:19 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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.
  1. Get Chase Ink and BB/Serve
  2. 1% discount: Sign up Ink (must be Visa) at https://www.visasavingsedge.com/ to get 1% cash back at Staples Ended 12/31/14
  3. 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).
  4. Liquidate gift cards like any other
Do not order to store, as they sometimes lose the envelopes. The cards come through the mail from GCM just as they would if sent directly to you.

*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)
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Visa Gift cards at Staples(2014-2015)

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Old Aug 1, 2014, 10:03 am
  #1531  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
Originally Posted by payeco
I use Evolve plus MO. I can get rid of 6 of these in an hour at grocery stores all within 15 minutes of my house.

I'm having a hard time spending more fees to liquidating these cards, hence still haven't tried MO... you guys all think paying $6 for 1k UR points is worth it?
Pecan Pie is offline  
Old Aug 1, 2014, 10:17 am
  #1532  
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Join Date: May 2014
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Originally Posted by Pecan Pie
I'm having a hard time spending more fees to liquidating these cards, hence still haven't tried MO... you guys all think paying $6 for 1k UR points is worth it?
My MO only cost $0.46. With VSE my out of pocket fees are $5.34. I make it up with CB plenty of other ways. And that's only if I haven't used rebate GCs to wipe out the fees in the first place. I've been getting 5x $20 rebates per month lately. That's enough to buy $3000 worth without paying any activation fee.

I highly value UR and I'm cash flow positive every month so I don't see a problem.
payeco is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2014, 6:59 am
  #1533  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: GSP
Posts: 129
http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/

good analysis of the return on these cards....
retired7328 is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2014, 7:51 am
  #1534  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
Originally Posted by payeco
My MO only cost $0.46. With VSE my out of pocket fees are $5.34. I make it up with CB plenty of other ways. And that's only if I haven't used rebate GCs to wipe out the fees in the first place. I've been getting 5x $20 rebates per month lately. That's enough to buy $3000 worth without paying any activation fee.

I highly value UR and I'm cash flow positive every month so I don't see a problem.
agreed and sounds like someone is using the food zoo
ma91pmh is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2014, 2:58 pm
  #1535  
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Originally Posted by ma91pmh
agreed and sounds like someone is using the food zoo
Love the kitty. Especially since mine allow Reloadit with CC.
payeco is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2014, 7:16 pm
  #1536  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
Originally Posted by payeco
Love the kitty. Especially since mine allow Reloadit with CC.
I also have a few kitties in my area. All 5miles away tho. So I only visit them on the weekends
Pecan Pie is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2014, 8:33 pm
  #1537  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: US Chairman, Marriott Platinum, PCR Platinum, and SPG Gold
Posts: 1,244
Originally Posted by mastermind85
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...
I use a Wally World near my house...never any issues...3 cards per trans
ejh25 is offline  
Old Aug 2, 2014, 10:23 pm
  #1538  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 407
Originally Posted by Pecan Pie
I also have a few kitties in my area. All 5miles away tho. So I only visit them on the weekends
5 miles is nothing...
VizeL is offline  
Old Aug 3, 2014, 8:52 am
  #1539  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
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Posts: 5,499
Originally Posted by payeco
Love the kitty. Especially since mine allow Reloadit with CC.
ooh that is sweet. been a long time since i bought a reloadit anywhere
ma91pmh is offline  
Old Aug 3, 2014, 7:49 pm
  #1540  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Central VA/LYH/ROA
Programs: BA, AA, SPG, HLTN, ETC
Posts: 365
Originally Posted by payeco
I've been getting 5x $20 rebates per month lately. That's enough to buy $3000 worth without paying any activation fee.
Where are you getting these at? Mail? Email?
air360 is offline  
Old Aug 3, 2014, 7:53 pm
  #1541  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
Originally Posted by VizeL
5 miles is nothing...
full time job and demanding baby... hard to get out of the house after work
Pecan Pie is offline  
Old Aug 3, 2014, 9:43 pm
  #1542  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 6
I just looked over the last few pages and couldn't find anything mentioned about this. UR portal has 4 extra points for shopping at staples with Ink, but it is mentioned that gift cards are excluded.

Is this a new offer that may possibly work, or did I miss something?
alex1089 is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2014, 2:47 am
  #1543  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 45
Originally Posted by payeco
Love the kitty. Especially since mine allow Reloadit with CC.
Kitty? Food zoo? Can anyone hint which chains are these? Pet stores? Supermarkets? Wally world?
sangkancilguru is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2014, 5:14 am
  #1544  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 407
Originally Posted by alex1089
I just looked over the last few pages and couldn't find anything mentioned about this. UR portal has 4 extra points for shopping at staples with Ink, but it is mentioned that gift cards are excluded.

Is this a new offer that may possibly work, or did I miss something?
Yes, you missed reading the wiki All portals are dead.
VizeL is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2014, 11:00 am
  #1545  
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
Originally Posted by air360
Where are you getting these at? Mail? Email?
I get them in the mail. Staples has been running $20 on $300 in store rebates every month for the last 4 or 5 months.
payeco is offline  


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