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)
May 12, 2014, 1:12 pm
#616
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
May 12, 2014, 1:27 pm
#617
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 527
So, I noticed that at checkout, it is at least initially indicating that you can pay for the VGCs with Staples Gift Cards. Does anyone know if this actually works or will it punk out and disallow it before the completion of the order ?
May 12, 2014, 1:32 pm
#618
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 274
Look, it's the same debate that happens in every thread. Should we share or not? I have no doubt that the added attention sped up the demise of this deal. But on the other hand, the AmEx GC deal with Barclay Boost is another insane deal that's been hyped by the blogs all over the place, and it hasn't died yet. The mint deal was going on seemingly forever before it died, and that wasn't just hyped in the blogs, it was in mainstream news outlets.
I think I am in the majority here, where often rely on FT to find new methods of MS that I wouldn't otherwise know about. I don't scour the portal deals every day, so I appreciate the people who do. And bottom line, every deal will die eventually, and a new one will grow to take its place.
May 12, 2014, 1:36 pm
#619
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere above the Mason-Dixon
Programs: DL Ham Samich
Posts: 1,659
Although it's buried a few pages back, although the technical ability exists, Staples frequently cancels those orders. You may get away with it a few times, but getting the replacement card after cancellation takes 2-3 weeks IME. Also, they may ban you from future purchases, but I was only given a warning
May 12, 2014, 1:38 pm
#620
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere above the Mason-Dixon
Programs: DL Ham Samich
Posts: 1,659
Did you create a FT account just to complain about a deal dying?
Look, it's the same debate that happens in every thread. Should we share or not? I have no doubt that the added attention sped up the demise of this deal. But on the other hand, the AmEx GC deal with Barclay Boost is another insane deal that's been hyped by the blogs all over the place, and it hasn't died yet. The mint deal was going on seemingly forever before it died, and that wasn't just hyped in the blogs, it was in mainstream news outlets.
I think I am in the majority here, where often rely on FT to find new methods of MS that I wouldn't otherwise know about. I don't scour the portal deals every day, so I appreciate the people who do. And bottom line, every deal will die eventually, and a new one will grow to take its place.
Look, it's the same debate that happens in every thread. Should we share or not? I have no doubt that the added attention sped up the demise of this deal. But on the other hand, the AmEx GC deal with Barclay Boost is another insane deal that's been hyped by the blogs all over the place, and it hasn't died yet. The mint deal was going on seemingly forever before it died, and that wasn't just hyped in the blogs, it was in mainstream news outlets.
I think I am in the majority here, where often rely on FT to find new methods of MS that I wouldn't otherwise know about. I don't scour the portal deals every day, so I appreciate the people who do. And bottom line, every deal will die eventually, and a new one will grow to take its place.
May 12, 2014, 1:38 pm
#621
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
I think I am in the majority here, where often rely on FT to find new methods of MS that I wouldn't otherwise know about. I don't scour the portal deals every day, so I appreciate the people who do. And bottom line, every deal will die eventually, and a new one will grow to take its place.
May 12, 2014, 2:19 pm
#624
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
So has it been confirmed for EVERY portal that this is shutdown? I mean I see clearly in TopCashback that "gift cards will not earn cashback." but have all T&C been updated to say this? Or rather is it that Staples has put it's foot down so regardless they are not paying?
May 12, 2014, 2:28 pm
#625
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
So has it been confirmed for EVERY portal that this is shutdown? I mean I see clearly in TopCashback that "gift cards will not earn cashback." but have all T&C been updated to say this? Or rather is it that Staples has put it's foot down so regardless they are not paying?
May 12, 2014, 2:31 pm
#626
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 186
So has it been confirmed for EVERY portal that this is shutdown? I mean I see clearly in TopCashback that "gift cards will not earn cashback." but have all T&C been updated to say this? Or rather is it that Staples has put it's foot down so regardless they are not paying?
May 12, 2014, 2:48 pm
#627
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
May 12, 2014, 3:21 pm
#628
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Whittier
Posts: 23
This is from the Chase UR portal:
" Please note these terms & conditions:
Not eligible on purchases made with coupon or discount codes that are not found on this site. Shopping cart must be empty prior to accessing Staples through this site to be eligible. Not eligible on gift cards, gift certificates or any other similar cash equivalents including third party gift cards sold by Staples.com. Not eligible on Promotional Products. Discount reward certificates and Copy and Print shop orders are not eligible. Staples Business Advantage orders are not eligible. Contact with Staples for price matching, sales assistance, etc. will likely cancel eligibility. Any return, exchange or other adjustment made at a physical store location for an on-line purchase may result in your purchase being deemed ineligible. Phone orders are not eligible."
So it appears dead, YMMV though....
" Please note these terms & conditions:
Not eligible on purchases made with coupon or discount codes that are not found on this site. Shopping cart must be empty prior to accessing Staples through this site to be eligible. Not eligible on gift cards, gift certificates or any other similar cash equivalents including third party gift cards sold by Staples.com. Not eligible on Promotional Products. Discount reward certificates and Copy and Print shop orders are not eligible. Staples Business Advantage orders are not eligible. Contact with Staples for price matching, sales assistance, etc. will likely cancel eligibility. Any return, exchange or other adjustment made at a physical store location for an on-line purchase may result in your purchase being deemed ineligible. Phone orders are not eligible."
So it appears dead, YMMV though....
May 12, 2014, 3:41 pm
#629
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 274
This is from the Chase UR portal:
" Please note these terms & conditions:
Not eligible on purchases made with coupon or discount codes that are not found on this site. Shopping cart must be empty prior to accessing Staples through this site to be eligible. Not eligible on gift cards, gift certificates or any other similar cash equivalents including third party gift cards sold by Staples.com. Not eligible on Promotional Products. Discount reward certificates and Copy and Print shop orders are not eligible. Staples Business Advantage orders are not eligible. Contact with Staples for price matching, sales assistance, etc. will likely cancel eligibility. Any return, exchange or other adjustment made at a physical store location for an on-line purchase may result in your purchase being deemed ineligible. Phone orders are not eligible."
So it appears dead, YMMV though....
" Please note these terms & conditions:
Not eligible on purchases made with coupon or discount codes that are not found on this site. Shopping cart must be empty prior to accessing Staples through this site to be eligible. Not eligible on gift cards, gift certificates or any other similar cash equivalents including third party gift cards sold by Staples.com. Not eligible on Promotional Products. Discount reward certificates and Copy and Print shop orders are not eligible. Staples Business Advantage orders are not eligible. Contact with Staples for price matching, sales assistance, etc. will likely cancel eligibility. Any return, exchange or other adjustment made at a physical store location for an on-line purchase may result in your purchase being deemed ineligible. Phone orders are not eligible."
So it appears dead, YMMV though....
May 12, 2014, 4:13 pm
#630
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 29
Did you create a FT account just to complain about a deal dying?
Look, it's the same debate that happens in every thread. Should we share or not? I have no doubt that the added attention sped up the demise of this deal. But on the other hand, the AmEx GC deal with Barclay Boost is another insane deal that's been hyped by the blogs all over the place, and it hasn't died yet. The mint deal was going on seemingly forever before it died, and that wasn't just hyped in the blogs, it was in mainstream news outlets.
I think I am in the majority here, where often rely on FT to find new methods of MS that I wouldn't otherwise know about. I don't scour the portal deals every day, so I appreciate the people who do. And bottom line, every deal will die eventually, and a new one will grow to take its place.
Look, it's the same debate that happens in every thread. Should we share or not? I have no doubt that the added attention sped up the demise of this deal. But on the other hand, the AmEx GC deal with Barclay Boost is another insane deal that's been hyped by the blogs all over the place, and it hasn't died yet. The mint deal was going on seemingly forever before it died, and that wasn't just hyped in the blogs, it was in mainstream news outlets.
I think I am in the majority here, where often rely on FT to find new methods of MS that I wouldn't otherwise know about. I don't scour the portal deals every day, so I appreciate the people who do. And bottom line, every deal will die eventually, and a new one will grow to take its place.
No I didn't come on here just to complain. Im just the voice of a silent majority that are sick of contributors information being exploited by the for profit blogs. I can't imagine coming up with a great MSing plan and sharing it. Then watching it die in a week because some blogger wants to increase their affiliate link hits to chase. I think ultimately many who would have contributed to the game may not for fear of it coming to an early demise, but I hope I am wrong!