Because....math.

The $300s from Staples cost $8.95
The $500s from gas station cost $4.95

308.95 X 5 = 1544.75. You earn 1544.75 UR points for $8.95 in cost. Total cost per point is $.0058
504.95 X 2 = 1009.90. You earn 1009.90 UR points for $4.95 in cost. Total cost per point is $.0049

yeah but math is hard

So you used two different numbers...you said both "4.95" and "5.95" in your math. 1009.9 points for 5.95 is actually .0059 per point ...not .0049. The only way you could do a 4.95 is if you bought vanillas.

So that would largely depend on what type of cards you are getting...if you get a vanilla you may be able to find that 4.95 price point you are talking about but they can't be loaded to BB. If you wanted to keep the comparison equal (as in if your gas station card was easily loadable like a staples 300 is) and get any other than vanilla then you are going to be paying 5.95...which is .0059 and a worse value.

So the choices are .0058/.0059 and load able anywhere....or .0049 and much harder to liquidate.

The main takeaway from this though is the importance that they are very similar. Why is this important you ask? Because last time I checked (and I could be wrong) but the 50k limit was available for each category. So you can max out 50k at office supply and do another 50k at gas stations with not much cost difference.

Typo...fixed it for you. Fat fingers be damned, the math is still correct.

OVs can be loaded to BB, just at 49.99 increments. More importantly, they can be loaded to Serve very easily at RA and FD.

True, but aren't Sunnies and Holiday GD from WM $4.94 or so? Those are loadable anywhere as well if Im not mistaken.l

One of the primary tenets of MS is that everything is local.

You prefer $300s being loaded to BB at Walmart. That is certainly a very viable course of action, and as long as it fits within your MS goals and is workable within your local area then have at it.

You asked how the GS $500s were better and I pointed out that they offer a lower cost per UR point. If you don't have a Serve or RAs or FDs in your area then this may not be a viable option for you. If you don't have grocery stores that accept OVs for very low cost MOs, then this may not be a viable option for you. It is best to pursue whatever works for you in your area and according to your goals.

Personally, I vary my acquisition and liquidation channels to meet my specific goals. I use a mix of all three (BB, Serve and MOs) because I have the ability to do so and choose to do so at the lowest possible cost (acquisition and liquidation) while maximizing the number of points and miles. Entirely up to your individual goals.

Assuming you can find a gas station to sell you Vanillas for 504.95 on credit card, not only are they more difficult to unload (on average, but yes, it's YMMV), the effort involved (time wise) has to be take into account. I would think the majority can't unload 3K worth of Vanillas into Money Orders in one sitting (for one thing, it's two different businesses you must go into per run..... the gas station, and then your MO place). And anyone trying to unload a Vanilla at Kate must not own a watch or have a job.

I can go into Walmart with two pocket full of Staples VGC's and my two BB's and walk around from cashier to cashier, department to department getting them to unload 2 (or 3/4 if I get a good vibe from them) at a time.

During off peak times, I can get in and out generating 18.5K UR (at a .0058 clip) in under 20 minutes, and definitely under 30 mins. And if you want to be picky, it takes me less than 60 seconds to order from staples in the comfort of my home. With the Vanillas, you don't pay as much per UR, but the time and effort has to be taken into account for the spread between .0049 and .0058. I use the gas station Vanillas very rarely as more of a top off if I ever get low on UR. And I suppose I need to be more vigilant in looking for them but I don't enjoy entering an actual gas station usually.

DeaconY,
When you load serve via RA and FD using OV, is it still $49.99 each load, or you can load $500 at a time?

oozze

You can load the full $500 vanillas to Serve at RA.

How scalable is Chase Ink 5x? Anyone here do about 5k staples gift cards monthly to reach the 50k annual limit? And actually get the 250k UR without Chase noticing?

I did about 45k in 1 year, mostly following deals for cash back and staples GCs and paying for fees for about 30% of my UR MS.

I am still able to get other points/miles for free plus additional monthly CB of about $5-600.

There could be times which demand quite an effort but still better than watching tv.

I'm pretty sure there are a few folks here who have multiple inks and max them out ($50K Staples VGC into 250K UR per Ink) on a yearly basis. They probably have been with chase for years with several banking accounts and have regular spend on them as well.... Would I rush out to get approved for my first chase product with the Ink (assuming you get approved which isn't likely) and put 52K on it in year one with 50K of it being Staples VGC, no. It is tempting to apply for my second ink and get the 60K sign up bonus though, staples aside. Don't want to draw more attention as the benefits of one ink are certainly nice.

Nobody considered the annual fee of 95$ from chase .. How you guys waiving that off ?

You're going to spend the fees on $200 and $300 cards and complain about $95?

If you are... it's more often than not waived after HUCA.

Given that the Ink frequently offers 60K UR sign up with AF waived year one, the AF is a piece of cake in the grand scheme of things with the office supply store IF you live near a friendly Wally, although they are less friendly around the holidays it seems like. Most people get the AF waived in year 2 anyhow with a 90 second call. But given I can generate 250K UR at .0058 currently with one or two visits to Wally a month it's worth $95 per year easily. Staples also does in store rebates every quarter with $20 Visa's on $300 worth of VGC purchases. The Ink is one of my only cards that offers good MS opportunities throughout the year(s) in addition to MS to get initial sign up bonus.

Not all annual fees are created equally and it depends on how much utility you're getting out of the card. But I've yet to read anyone say the Ink annual fee isn't worth it if you have a Wally near by.