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 21, 2014, 12:37 pm
#1456
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
How does the code envelope arrive?
I recently took advantage of the AMEX Sync offer of $15 statement credit for $100 spent at Staples.com to order a $100 VGC on Jul 16th. I have 5 cards got this offer but I only use one just to see how the process would be.
Got shipment notification on Jul 18th when the pending turned into posted charge.
Today Jul 21st got a big envelope from GiftcardMall with the $100 VGC in it, but there is no other mailing from either Staple or GiftcardMall that contains the activation code.
So what are your experiences on how does the code envelope(s) arrive? In plain envelope or in Staple envelope? Coming from GiftcardMall or from Staple?
TIA.
Got shipment notification on Jul 18th when the pending turned into posted charge.
Today Jul 21st got a big envelope from GiftcardMall with the $100 VGC in it, but there is no other mailing from either Staple or GiftcardMall that contains the activation code.
So what are your experiences on how does the code envelope(s) arrive? In plain envelope or in Staple envelope? Coming from GiftcardMall or from Staple?
TIA.
Jul 21, 2014, 1:55 pm
#1457
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CA
Posts: 188
I recently took advantage of the AMEX Sync offer of $15 statement credit for $100 spent at Staples.com to order a $100 VGC on Jul 16th. I have 5 cards got this offer but I only use one just to see how the process would be.
Got shipment notification on Jul 18th when the pending turned into posted charge.
Today Jul 21st got a big envelope from GiftcardMall with the $100 VGC in it, but there is no other mailing from either Staple or GiftcardMall that contains the activation code.
So what are your experiences on how does the code envelope(s) arrive? In plain envelope or in Staple envelope? Coming from GiftcardMall or from Staple?
TIA.
Got shipment notification on Jul 18th when the pending turned into posted charge.
Today Jul 21st got a big envelope from GiftcardMall with the $100 VGC in it, but there is no other mailing from either Staple or GiftcardMall that contains the activation code.
So what are your experiences on how does the code envelope(s) arrive? In plain envelope or in Staple envelope? Coming from GiftcardMall or from Staple?
TIA.
Jul 21, 2014, 3:24 pm
#1458
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Columbus OH
Posts: 23
I recently took advantage of the AMEX Sync offer of $15 statement credit for $100 spent at Staples.com to order a $100 VGC on Jul 16th. I have 5 cards got this offer but I only use one just to see how the process would be.
Got shipment notification on Jul 18th when the pending turned into posted charge.
Today Jul 21st got a big envelope from GiftcardMall with the $100 VGC in it, but there is no other mailing from either Staple or GiftcardMall that contains the activation code.
So what are your experiences on how does the code envelope(s) arrive? In plain envelope or in Staple envelope? Coming from GiftcardMall or from Staple?
TIA.
Got shipment notification on Jul 18th when the pending turned into posted charge.
Today Jul 21st got a big envelope from GiftcardMall with the $100 VGC in it, but there is no other mailing from either Staple or GiftcardMall that contains the activation code.
So what are your experiences on how does the code envelope(s) arrive? In plain envelope or in Staple envelope? Coming from GiftcardMall or from Staple?
TIA.
Jul 21, 2014, 3:39 pm
#1460
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
I checked my email and the spam folder. There is none in the inbox. I cleaned out the SPAM folder over the weekend without looking. So no idea if it could be there or not.
Will give it a day or 2. Else I found a blog said one could call the CS at giftcaradmall and they would activate it for you once they got the order number.
Jul 21, 2014, 4:00 pm
#1461
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere above the Mason-Dixon
Programs: DL Ham Samich
Posts: 1,661
Thanks for the info.
I checked my email and the spam folder. There is none in the inbox. I cleaned out the SPAM folder over the weekend without looking. So no idea if it could be there or not.
Will give it a day or 2. Else I found a blog said one could call the CS at giftcaradmall and they would activate it for you once they got the order number.
I checked my email and the spam folder. There is none in the inbox. I cleaned out the SPAM folder over the weekend without looking. So no idea if it could be there or not.
Will give it a day or 2. Else I found a blog said one could call the CS at giftcaradmall and they would activate it for you once they got the order number.
Patience young grasshopper
Jul 21, 2014, 10:45 pm
#1462
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 374
I recently took advantage of the AMEX Sync offer of $15 statement credit for $100 spent at Staples.com to order a $100 VGC on Jul 16th. I have 5 cards got this offer but I only use one just to see how the process would be.
Got shipment notification on Jul 18th when the pending turned into posted charge.
Today Jul 21st got a big envelope from GiftcardMall with the $100 VGC in it, but there is no other mailing from either Staple or GiftcardMall that contains the activation code.
So what are your experiences on how does the code envelope(s) arrive? In plain envelope or in Staple envelope? Coming from GiftcardMall or from Staple?
TIA.
Got shipment notification on Jul 18th when the pending turned into posted charge.
Today Jul 21st got a big envelope from GiftcardMall with the $100 VGC in it, but there is no other mailing from either Staple or GiftcardMall that contains the activation code.
So what are your experiences on how does the code envelope(s) arrive? In plain envelope or in Staple envelope? Coming from GiftcardMall or from Staple?
TIA.
Jul 21, 2014, 11:55 pm
#1463
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Up In The Cloud
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA S, AA G; AS G; DL | SPG P50, M G, CC G, IHG P, HLT S | Hertz PC, Avis F
Posts: 682
I recently took advantage of the AMEX Sync offer of $15 statement credit for $100 spent at Staples.com to order a $100 VGC on Jul 16th. I have 5 cards got this offer but I only use one just to see how the process would be.
Got shipment notification on Jul 18th when the pending turned into posted charge.
Today Jul 21st got a big envelope from GiftcardMall with the $100 VGC in it, but there is no other mailing from either Staple or GiftcardMall that contains the activation code.
So what are your experiences on how does the code envelope(s) arrive? In plain envelope or in Staple envelope? Coming from GiftcardMall or from Staple?
TIA.
Got shipment notification on Jul 18th when the pending turned into posted charge.
Today Jul 21st got a big envelope from GiftcardMall with the $100 VGC in it, but there is no other mailing from either Staple or GiftcardMall that contains the activation code.
So what are your experiences on how does the code envelope(s) arrive? In plain envelope or in Staple envelope? Coming from GiftcardMall or from Staple?
TIA.
Jul 22, 2014, 1:25 pm
#1464
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
I got 2x$200 visa today, like to load these on BB at WMT, still works right?
Jul 22, 2014, 2:17 pm
#1467
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,904
BB is probably not useless, because as you said no one else has complained. I think it's just my 2 WM so far but wanted to warn you to test it before ordering a lot more.
Jul 22, 2014, 3:12 pm
#1468
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
Do they not work when you swipe or are the employees telling you they don't work? The people in the MC at one of my WMs tells me they don't work anymore but I can go to any of the 28 checkout lanes and load BB/Serve no problem.
Jul 22, 2014, 3:26 pm
#1469
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,904
It's not the employees. They don't work when I swipe at the MC in 2 stores and 3 checkout lanes. I get an invalid PIN error on multiple cards even though the PIN is correct. I've also reset the PIN at home and tried the next day, and I successfully used the PIN outside of WM. So it's a WM problem. To be clear I forgot to say I tried this on Serve not BB, but that might not matter. I spent too much time on it, so I'm taking a break for now. (I'd like to try it with my favorite expert WM staff who might know what's going on, but I haven't seen her lately.)
Jul 22, 2014, 4:28 pm
#1470
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: Former UA 1K, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, IC AMB
Posts: 403
Current VISA Checkout promotion: 25 off 100 (http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/visa-checkout/) No promo code.
Applied automatically, and appeared to work on my 200 GC order. (Total: $181.95)
Applied automatically, and appeared to work on my 200 GC order. (Total: $181.95)