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 15, 2014, 2:54 pm
#1441
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 do appreciate the cautious, my friends, but is there a thread talking about bans and folks that have gotten in trouble? If you don't want to answer, please PM me.
This cloak and dager stuff does get a little crazy on this board. We never learn anything without experimentation, yet I don't want to be reckless if others have already crashed and burned. I've yet to be banned from anywhere (other than Netspend, but so did everyone!) as I never push to extremes.
This cloak and dager stuff does get a little crazy on this board. We never learn anything without experimentation, yet I don't want to be reckless if others have already crashed and burned. I've yet to be banned from anywhere (other than Netspend, but so did everyone!) as I never push to extremes.
Jul 15, 2014, 6:36 pm
#1442
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 510
Does any blogger here or anyone else have an affiliate link for Staples? If so, PM me as I have an offer for ya 
Jul 15, 2014, 7:09 pm
#1443
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
Jul 16, 2014, 9:01 am
#1444
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 766
thank you; I just want this crystal clear as I found absolutely nothing. I was VERY aware folks have been banned for other issues.
Jul 16, 2014, 9:32 am
#1445
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Hilton Diamond, CC, Hyatt & IHG
Posts: 121
I did google search and found ZIPPO. Thus, why I asked the question. So you are saying that folks have gotten banned for this very practice? Using Staples gift cards to buy Visa's?
thank you; I just want this crystal clear as I found absolutely nothing. I was VERY aware folks have been banned for other issues.
thank you; I just want this crystal clear as I found absolutely nothing. I was VERY aware folks have been banned for other issues.
Jul 16, 2014, 8:10 pm
#1446
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 322
I think it's time we just stop trying to talk him out of it and encourage him to go for it.
So-called fan, you are on to us. You have totally figured our plan out. Use a ton of Staples GC every time you order GCs. For as much as you can.
Also take some OV to WM while you're at it, and buy your VRs with CC at 7-11.
So-called fan, you are on to us. You have totally figured our plan out. Use a ton of Staples GC every time you order GCs. For as much as you can.
Also take some OV to WM while you're at it, and buy your VRs with CC at 7-11.
Jul 16, 2014, 8:40 pm
#1447
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sweet Home Chicago
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 646
My uPromise account *finally* got funded for my $2k purchase back on 4/28.
Jul 17, 2014, 12:57 pm
#1449
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 62
Your first orders may go through, but you will eventually get blacklisted or banned. Not worth the risk - if you plan to continue to shop & buy other items from staples.com besides VGC's.
Jul 17, 2014, 4:05 pm
#1450
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: RZE, EWR
Programs: UA, IHG Platinum, BW Diamond, Carlson Gold, Accor Platinum,
Posts: 232
Has anyone received S&E credit from Swagbucks for purchasing VGC back in April,May 2014? I have a total of 13.314 SB pending since 4/30/14
Jul 17, 2014, 4:54 pm
#1451
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA,DL,SPG,Hyatt
Posts: 141
i have received the cards from a recent order for 5 days but not the activation codes. what can i do?
thanks
thanks
Jul 17, 2014, 7:56 pm
#1452
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BWI
Posts: 212
they rep will give you some mumbo-jumbo about escalating it to their second tier rep and they will 'open a ticket for you' with your order number, and after you have verified your billing address. they also give you a 'ticket number'.
so they are actually activating the cards for you, and within an hour or two you can call the number on the back of the card ... when you hear your card has a balance it's now active.
hope this all helps!
Jul 18, 2014, 6:03 am
#1453
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: DL-Plat, UA-Plat 2MM, AA-PlatPro, B6-Mosaic 3, AY-Plat, HY-Globalist, MR-LT Plat, HH-Gold
Posts: 1,235
How slow are online orders to home
I placed an order for 2 VGC's on 7/14, just got a shipping confirmation today (7/18) that says expected delivery is 7/29 (2 weeks after purchase??!!). When I check my order on staples.com status is "Processing Order". This is my first time ordering online, my usual staples store has been out of them for a while now. Is this typical?
Speaking of in-store purchasing, the store moved GC's to another area with a much smaller selection in general and at the moment ZERO non-retail GC's. Hoping this is temporary, as it seems the area was still being reworked, although the number of slots for GC's in general seemed a lot smaller than before.
Speaking of in-store purchasing, the store moved GC's to another area with a much smaller selection in general and at the moment ZERO non-retail GC's. Hoping this is temporary, as it seems the area was still being reworked, although the number of slots for GC's in general seemed a lot smaller than before.
Jul 18, 2014, 6:57 am
#1454
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 322
I placed an order for 2 VGC's on 7/14, just got a shipping confirmation today (7/18) that says expected delivery is 7/29 (2 weeks after purchase??!!). When I check my order on staples.com status is "Processing Order". This is my first time ordering online, my usual staples store has been out of them for a while now. Is this typical?
Speaking of in-store purchasing, the store moved GC's to another area with a much smaller selection in general and at the moment ZERO non-retail GC's. Hoping this is temporary, as it seems the area was still being reworked, although the number of slots for GC's in general seemed a lot smaller than before.
Speaking of in-store purchasing, the store moved GC's to another area with a much smaller selection in general and at the moment ZERO non-retail GC's. Hoping this is temporary, as it seems the area was still being reworked, although the number of slots for GC's in general seemed a lot smaller than before.
Jul 18, 2014, 10:34 am
#1455
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Hilton Diamond, CC, Hyatt & IHG
Posts: 121
Yeah, the expected time is two weeks; nonetheless, it shows up around a week later.