Feb 9, 2017, 8:17 pm
Last edit by: lowkeyflyer
This is the master thread for all VGC and MCGC sold at Staples.
The previous discussion can be found here.
The VGCs sold at Staples are issued by Metabank and serviced by Blackhawk Network.
The activation code for online purchase comes with the card. Cards purchased at store are activated at check-out.
To activate cards over the phone (without activation codes), call (877) 426-2551 to talk to a rep.
To activate cards over the web, www.giftcardkey.com.
The default PIN number is the last four digits of the card number but can be changed online.
As of 5/12/2014, all known portals are dead.
Earn 5x points with Chase Ink, or Simply Cash for 5% cash back
Buy Visa gift cards (Metabank) at Staples ($200 for $7.95) or the website ($300 for $8.95).
2k Limit per transaction / 10k per day for online. In-store is usually 2k but YMMV
Often times, there are promotions with no or reduced activation fees
The previous discussion can be found here.
The VGCs sold at Staples are issued by Metabank and serviced by Blackhawk Network.
The activation code for online purchase comes with the card. Cards purchased at store are activated at check-out.
To activate cards over the phone (without activation codes), call (877) 426-2551 to talk to a rep.
To activate cards over the web, www.giftcardkey.com.
The default PIN number is the last four digits of the card number but can be changed online.
As of 5/12/2014, all known portals are dead.
Earn 5x points with Chase Ink, or Simply Cash for 5% cash back
Buy Visa gift cards (Metabank) at Staples ($200 for $7.95) or the website ($300 for $8.95).
2k Limit per transaction / 10k per day for online. In-store is usually 2k but YMMV
Often times, there are promotions with no or reduced activation fees
Visa/MasterCard Gift Cards at Staples(2017 onwards)
Jun 18, 2018, 9:57 am
#766
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 69
Amex Simply Cash -- Only 1% Rewards? Please Reply With June 11 or Later Data Points
Sorry for the re-post, but I am now seeing this on three different accounts. In all cases Staples online transactions. Prior to June 11, would eventually display on the new version account activity preview as earning 5% Rewards. Beginning with transactions posting on June 11, displaying as only 1% Rewards. See original post below for more details. Is anyone else seeing this for transactions posting June 11 or later?
Matt
Matt
Amex Simply Cash and Smply Cash Plus. I am well aware of previous false alarms regarding the elimination of 5% at office supply stores, but what I am now seeing is concerning. As recently as a transaction posted on June 6, the new version Amex account activity preview was displaying 5% Rewards for my Staples Online transactions. But beginning with transactions posted on June 11, it is displaying 1% Rewards. Anyone else seeing the same?
Notes:
1. The normal pattern in the new version account activity preview for Staples (and also for Office Max/Depo): for a few days after posting, the display will not have any indication of Rewards, i.e., no Rewards box at all. After a few days, the Rewards box will appear and indicate 5% Rewards with the exact amount earned. In my experience, I have not noticed a period of time when 1% Rewards is indicated, and then later it changes to 5%, but maybe I've missed that and all is well. Has anyone ever noticed such a change?
2. Staples charges are listed as separate charges for each item purchased (Level 3). What's curious is that even my non-VGC charges from June 11 are displaying as only 1% Rewards. Gives me hope.
3. The June 11 and later charges displaying as 1% Rewards are on two different cards -- one Simply Cash, the other Simply Cash Plus. These are online transactions.
Notes:
1. The normal pattern in the new version account activity preview for Staples (and also for Office Max/Depo): for a few days after posting, the display will not have any indication of Rewards, i.e., no Rewards box at all. After a few days, the Rewards box will appear and indicate 5% Rewards with the exact amount earned. In my experience, I have not noticed a period of time when 1% Rewards is indicated, and then later it changes to 5%, but maybe I've missed that and all is well. Has anyone ever noticed such a change?
2. Staples charges are listed as separate charges for each item purchased (Level 3). What's curious is that even my non-VGC charges from June 11 are displaying as only 1% Rewards. Gives me hope.
3. The June 11 and later charges displaying as 1% Rewards are on two different cards -- one Simply Cash, the other Simply Cash Plus. These are online transactions.
Jul 4, 2018, 9:11 am
#767
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: TYS/BNA/ATL
Programs: UR, TYP, MR, C1, AA, UA, WN, BA, AS, AV, AC, Choice, Hyatt, IHG, Hilton, Wyndham, Marriott
Posts: 1,973
Sorry for the re-post, but I am now seeing this on three different accounts. In all cases Staples online transactions. Prior to June 11, would eventually display on the new version account activity preview as earning 5% Rewards. Beginning with transactions posting on June 11, displaying as only 1% Rewards. See original post below for more details. Is anyone else seeing this for transactions posting June 11 or later?
Matt
Matt
Jul 5, 2018, 10:08 am
#769
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 69
That is normal for Staples. Seems to take 5 - 20 days for the Rewards box to appear. Not to worry. Update on my situation: I have several Staples online orders subsequent to June 11-12 -- all are showing the correct 5% in the Rewards box. Only issue is transactions on June 11 and June 12. They continue to show 1% in the Rewards box. This is on 3 different accounts. so there is some glitch happening on June 11-12. Anybody else experiencing same?
Jul 5, 2018, 6:04 pm
#771
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 65
On June 23rd I purchased 10 seperate orders of 3X$300 visa giftcards with amex cards to maximize 10% amex offer. In each case I got the amex credit after 2-3 days. 7/10 envelopes arrived within 5 days or so and two days later 10/10 activation codes arrived. the 3/10 order that were missing have still not arrived. I called blackhawk or giftcardmall who fulfills the orders and figured out which orders hadn't arrived and escalated the case with them. They told me to call staples. I called staples and the told me that they should still arrive and to wait until the expected shipping date of July 10 and to call back if they still haven't arrived? Is this common with Staples visa orders? Should I be worried? Any advice?
Last edited by voisinator; Jul 5, 2018 at 6:25 pm
Jul 5, 2018, 6:16 pm
#772
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,528
Jul 5, 2018, 6:24 pm
#773
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 65
I had the offer on 10 different authorized user cards and received the rebate on all of them. All delta platinum business cards. Actually have the offer on 10+ SPG business cards as well but wanted to make sure that I could get all of the gift cards and manufacture spending them without issue.
Jul 8, 2018, 10:55 am
#774
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 350
I had the offer on 10 different authorized user cards and received the rebate on all of them. All delta platinum business cards. Actually have the offer on 10+ SPG business cards as well but wanted to make sure that I could get all of the gift cards and manufacture spending them without issue.
Jul 9, 2018, 9:58 am
#776
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SAN
Programs: Delta Gold. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Explorist.
Posts: 1,674
Jul 9, 2018, 4:29 pm
#777
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,528
I had the offer on 10 different authorized user cards and received the rebate on all of them. All delta platinum business cards. Actually have the offer on 10+ SPG business cards as well but wanted to make sure that I could get all of the gift cards and manufacture spending them without issue.
Jul 9, 2018, 5:32 pm
#778
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 65
I received the $93 credit for all of them a few days later. The original amex offer exluded gift cards in bulk which this is not since 10 individual orders or 3 gift cards. hadn't heard of anything about the terms changing to exclude gift cards in general.
Jul 15, 2018, 8:57 am
#780
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
I also received the credit day later on the Exxon gas. But the credit has stopped posting the last two re-fills.
They should still post, just do not know if we'll have to wait to Nov-2018.