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)
#2283
Used to be exsynner
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 49
#2285
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 64
I am confused by your question. You get the 5x category bonus from your CC on VGCs regardless if you use the portals or not since they come from the CC. The portals were just icing on the cake with additional cash back on top of the 5x category spending.
Just FYI, you can still order non-VGCs (Target, Home Depot, etc) via portals for Staples.com and get the additional cash back/points on them from the portals.
Just FYI, you can still order non-VGCs (Target, Home Depot, etc) via portals for Staples.com and get the additional cash back/points on them from the portals.
Last edited by Larry Ordway; Feb 12, 2015 at 8:18 pm Reason: change wording
#2287
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 27
How long does it take to see your bonus 3% when using your Ink card through the UR portal. When using my CSP, I usually see a notification within a week or so.
#2288
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,832
Has anyone received their $20 Visa rebate card(s) from the $300 VGC promotion that ran during the week of January 4?
The Staples status tracker says my rebates have been mailed, but nothing has shown up yet.
Thanks....
The Staples status tracker says my rebates have been mailed, but nothing has shown up yet.
Thanks....
#2290
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 103
Gift cards will no longer earn you bonus points through portals. This was closed quite awhile ago unfortunately. Don't expect anything to show up.
#2292
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 329
How do you guys come across the information that staples are having these GC rebate offers?