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 $2000 limit)
Pluses to Online purchase:
1. Less time/effort/gasoline vs traveling to store to purchase
2. No mgr override or cashier call to Chase needed for large purchases
3. Can bulk activate by phone after receipt of VGCs
4. Email is a nice way to keep record of your purchases
5. Avoids stupid sticky gum (4x per card) that has to be peeled off of each VGC
6. Rare opportunity to liquidate rewards and/or rebate card (YMMV)
Pluses to in-store purchase:
1. No wait/immediate gratification- mail order can take weeks
2. No risk of someone getting to your mailbox to steal your VGCs before you get them out of there
3. Activated at time of purchase- no need to call in or wait for stupid letter containing one activation code/card that comes in the mail separately (the letter sometimes arrives AFTER the VGCs arrive; this can be mitigated, see Pluses to Online #3, above)
Visa Gift cards at Staples(2014-2015)
May 13, 2014, 10:02 pm
#678
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
Looks like they caught on.
Before I made an order too lol
10% off Associate Rewards savings, exclusions apply.
Savings not applied: unfortunately none of the items currently in your cart qualify for your exclusive Rewards discount.
Savings not applied: unfortunately none of the items currently in your cart qualify for your exclusive Rewards discount.
Before I made an order too lol
May 13, 2014, 10:48 pm
#679
Formerly known as FTRox87
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: TX
Programs: AA/US 1M, AS, BA, CX, EK, EY, JL, KE, LH, NH, OS, QF, QR, TG, UA/CO | *$G
Posts: 1,428
it takes a month for those miles to post. how many times have ppl gotta tell you this?
didnt you just make an order the other week where it worked? or did you not submit that order: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22818203-post363.html
didnt you just make an order the other week where it worked? or did you not submit that order: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22818203-post363.html
May 13, 2014, 11:03 pm
#681
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
it takes a month for those miles to post. how many times have ppl gotta tell you this?
didnt you just make an order the other week where it worked? or did you not submit that order: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22818203-post363.html
didnt you just make an order the other week where it worked? or did you not submit that order: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22818203-post363.html
Didn't know if I'd have enough time to liquidate.
May 13, 2014, 11:13 pm
#682
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,363
Couple of weird things happened to me:
1. As I was trying to activate my cards one of them on the activation website said "your card is not ready to be activated". Has any of you had this happen to them?
2. I received my 10 cards in one envelope but have yet to receive my activation codes.
Any of you have similar experiences?
1. As I was trying to activate my cards one of them on the activation website said "your card is not ready to be activated". Has any of you had this happen to them?
2. I received my 10 cards in one envelope but have yet to receive my activation codes.
Any of you have similar experiences?
May 13, 2014, 11:16 pm
#683
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
I had this happen on one of mine. Had to call in. They put in a ticket and said it would be activated 2 hours later (it was)
The awkward part was the guy checked the activation of all the other ones and said basically "good, I see all your other ones are activated, and have already been used..... "dramatic pause".......do you have a copy of the terms and conditions for these?" I thanked him for his time and hung up.
The awkward part was the guy checked the activation of all the other ones and said basically "good, I see all your other ones are activated, and have already been used..... "dramatic pause".......do you have a copy of the terms and conditions for these?" I thanked him for his time and hung up.
Couple of weird things happened to me:
1. As I was trying to activate my cards one of them on the activation website said "your card is not ready to be activated". Has any of you had this happen to them?
2. I received my 10 cards in one envelope but have yet to receive my activation codes.
Any of you have similar experiences?
1. As I was trying to activate my cards one of them on the activation website said "your card is not ready to be activated". Has any of you had this happen to them?
2. I received my 10 cards in one envelope but have yet to receive my activation codes.
Any of you have similar experiences?
This sub-forum is seriously going down hill.
May 14, 2014, 12:59 am
#685
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 465
Just had this happen to me... will call in the morning
May 14, 2014, 1:38 am
#686
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 367
p.s. Wiki suggests "pay bills from evolvemoney" but as far as I know you can't pay credit card bills w. evolve (like you can with BB and Serve).
May 14, 2014, 1:43 am
#687
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,501
That is correct. Evolve you can't buy CC bills. You can only legit bills like utilities, mortgage, student loan, car loan, etc.
May 14, 2014, 2:00 am
#688
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, AS, DL, BA, F9, IHG Plat, HH Gold, CC Gold, SPG Gold, MR Silver
Posts: 1,786
Have not seen one person post that they received points posting from a Cartera portal with that late of date....they are up to at least 4/24 and I am quite happy with that. If you do not like the wait then I would use a portal that pays out quicker than Cartera's do.
May 14, 2014, 2:04 am
#689
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
Personally I hope Evolve doesn't ever allow paying CC bills because it'll be over very quickly because of abuse.
May 14, 2014, 2:52 am
#690
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 367
From the Ultimate Rewards Mall site:
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.
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.