perkunas

I think their corporate rule is no buying GCs with GCs. But, IME, this is not hard-coded. I have used Staples GCs ($15-20 apiece) for partial-payment for VGCs, and I have also been told this is not allowed. Since there is no PIN to enter when using a staples GC for payment, it is pretty clear to the cashier what is happening, but the computer doesn't necessarily stop it and the cashier may or may not stop it.

I would then differentiate using a GC to buy VGC vs. using a VGC (like a 5b or whatever) to buy a VGC. In this sort of transaction you have a PIN to enter so it is more legit like buying with a debit card. But, your name isn't on it. Again I think the transaction can go through the computer just fine, but the cashiers may not like it if they realize you have a "debit" card that has the words "gift card" scrawled on it somewhere.

So, basically it is YMMV.

infa007

Thanks for the explanation. I am very new to all this and was a bit surprised - I need to find other cashiers to try it out with. For now, I ordered online and would see if I can do the next step of MO at WM.

cashcyclone

Congrats everyone. Orders using 5% Simon GC just started to be cancelled or stopped delivery by Staples. They say GC can't be bought with GV and pending charges are being reversed.
Yes you killed that one too.

bar19900

Care to explain? Your orders were cancelled ? You called in?

cashcyclone

Online order that was placed 2 days ago and was still pending was just cancelled via email. Last week order wasn't. Looks like policy for prepaid cards for gift card orders has just changed.

jjangoo

eh give yourself more credit. this was a team effort.

bar19900

interesting that you're the only DP of this so far. I've had ones cancelled in the past randomly, but all was well moving forward. Proof that they cancelled specifically due to use of prepaid card?

kciflyer

I just ordered some last night and my order has not been cancelled. As has been reported in this thread, they had some problems reflecting the correct balances on the Simon's FBs resulting from purchases of Staples VGCs, so maybe this is somehow related to that and not a wholesale ban of the use of Simon's FBs.

cashcyclone

I called to find out why. She put me on hold to investigate and came back and said it is because I used prepaid gift card. Let's hope they do this randomly. Those orders are pending for few days and she said she would stop the delivery if it the order was shipped. So they have plenty of time to randomly cancel orders for that particular reason. It was never the case in the past. Usually it was stock issue not a form of payment to cause cancellation.

jjangoo

why did you feel the need to call? i get order cancellations all the time...

oopl

Exactly. Don't call. cashcyclone, you have yourself to blame for this situation and the repercussions.

DJC1975

I've bought many gift cards from physical Staples stores but only recently made my first purchase online. I bought 6 of the $300 Visa cards and they arrived in the mail today. Inside it says the activation codes were mailed to the purchaser which I haven't received yet. I wasn't expecting to receive the cards nearly this quick as I bought them Saturday 4/01 and it said to expect delivery Monday 4/17. Is it normal to to receive the actual gift cards before the activation codes? Thanks for any insight!

Java Cool Dude

Yup, now you can either wait for the activation codes or make a quick call and activate them over the phone.

jjangoo

Had an eye on the site since 11 PM and the cards are still out of stock.

njdealguy

Buying $300 cards is becoming kind of a unicorn Last 2 days in a row after 12AM est still out of stock online!