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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 9, 2014, 2:42 pm
  #1561  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 467
Originally Posted by picards007
I got "alternate tender required" yesterday loading bb and the change payment method did not work. Going to try again today without any split to see what's up.
What is the change payment method?
mastermind85 is offline  
Old Aug 9, 2014, 3:02 pm
  #1562  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: DC/NOVA
Programs: AA Gold, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 192
See the "PIN now available on gift cards thread" for details. Basically when you swipe, you push the change payment button to force the system to charge the card as debit. Required for certain VGCs and MCGCs
picards007 is offline  
Old Aug 9, 2014, 3:11 pm
  #1563  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 131
Originally Posted by picards007
I got "alternate tender required" yesterday loading bb and the change payment method did not work. Going to try again today without any split to see what's up.
Got something similar. I never split a card though
wonderboy is offline  
Old Aug 9, 2014, 3:36 pm
  #1564  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 467
Originally Posted by wonderboy
Got something similar. I never split a card though
Kate or register?
mastermind85 is offline  
Old Aug 9, 2014, 4:18 pm
  #1565  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
loaded 8 of these at register with no problem today
Pecan Pie is offline  
Old Aug 9, 2014, 4:25 pm
  #1566  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 467
Originally Posted by Pecan Pie
loaded 8 of these at register with no problem today
Don't you ever get questioned loading so many cards at the register?
mastermind85 is offline  
Old Aug 9, 2014, 4:27 pm
  #1567  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: DC/NOVA
Programs: AA Gold, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 192
used the same register as yesterday and was able to load one card to BB without issue. also purchased a MO with a OV using the work-around.
picards007 is offline  
Old Aug 9, 2014, 4:48 pm
  #1568  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: SPG, Hyatt Diamond Member, Club Calrson Silver, AA, Hilton Gold, BA
Posts: 476
Originally Posted by wonderboy
Anyone having trouble loading these $200 cards onto BB at WM recently?
You gotta be more specific if you want anyone to spoonfeed it to you. Kate or CSR?
livestrongforever is offline  
Old Aug 9, 2014, 4:53 pm
  #1569  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
Originally Posted by mastermind85
Don't you ever get questioned loading so many cards at the register?

my WM has more than one register, as I'm sure yours do, too. 2-3 loads/cashier is usually fine.
Pecan Pie is offline  
Old Aug 9, 2014, 5:00 pm
  #1570  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 131
Originally Posted by mastermind85
Kate or register?
Kate
wonderboy is offline  
Old Aug 11, 2014, 8:11 am
  #1571  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DCA
Posts: 4
Has anyone had issues with Visa Savings Edge rebates posting? I had Staples charges post on 7/9 for $3,100, but no corresponding $31 rebate.

Tried calling the fine folks over at Visa Savings Edge on Friday afternoon, but had nobody pick up. I'll be trying again this week.
NewCitizen is offline  
Old Aug 11, 2014, 10:35 am
  #1572  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: ORD
Programs: American Airlines EXP, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 408
Originally Posted by NewCitizen
Has anyone had issues with Visa Savings Edge rebates posting? I had Staples charges post on 7/9 for $3,100, but no corresponding $31 rebate.

Tried calling the fine folks over at Visa Savings Edge on Friday afternoon, but had nobody pick up. I'll be trying again this week.
My last Staples VGC purchase was on 8/4, VSE rebate posted 3 days later on 8/7.

Have you had previous rebates post successfully?
tomsam is offline  
Old Aug 11, 2014, 12:45 pm
  #1573  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 244
I just got my Ink card and thought I would start with $1K worth to get my feet wet. We were traveling this weekend and I went into an out of state staples to buy, the cashier had to call over the manager for approval, the manager came asked me for an ID and said he won't sell me GC's because my ID is from out of state and walked away - he has the right to refuse! I called him back asked him to explain why he is refusing (something related to fraud etc) - I had to tell him it is my card and I want to buy it he can call whoever he wants to get authorization if he didn't have the authority! Since I stood my ground, he finally gave in, apologized for being hasty and did the transaction.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Trying to buy in a state different than where you live a no-no? Didn't think it would be this much of a hassle to buy $1K worth - maybe I'll just order them online!
neony77 is offline  
Old Aug 11, 2014, 1:49 pm
  #1574  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: DFW
Posts: 246
Originally Posted by neony77
I just got my Ink card and thought I would start with $1K worth to get my feet wet. We were traveling this weekend and I went into an out of state staples to buy, the cashier had to call over the manager for approval, the manager came asked me for an ID and said he won't sell me GC's because my ID is from out of state and walked away - he has the right to refuse! I called him back asked him to explain why he is refusing (something related to fraud etc) - I had to tell him it is my card and I want to buy it he can call whoever he wants to get authorization if he didn't have the authority! Since I stood my ground, he finally gave in, apologized for being hasty and did the transaction.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Trying to buy in a state different than where you live a no-no? Didn't think it would be this much of a hassle to buy $1K worth - maybe I'll just order them online!
Please don't ever visit my state.
uneeq is offline  
Old Aug 11, 2014, 2:15 pm
  #1575  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 244
Originally Posted by uneeq
Please don't ever visit my state.
Extremely helpful! Thanks! ^
neony77 is offline  


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