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)
Jul 26, 2020, 1:33 pm
#1531
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
I stay away from Wallys with MCs since I know of only 1 that will allow split payments and dont want to burn myself there when I have Vs. That said if you go with MC and you mess up on a swipe will that count as 1 of the 4 allowed? so now you can only swipe 3 cards but the MO is for say $799.12 so youd have to cash up or use a legit DC Or is it max 4 swipes that go thru and any that doesnt its as if you didnt swipe at all
Jul 27, 2020, 7:00 am
#1532
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: NY
Posts: 523
I stay away from Wallys with MCs since I know of only 1 that will allow split payments and dont want to burn myself there when I have Vs. That said if you go with MC and you mess up on a swipe will that count as 1 of the 4 allowed? so now you can only swipe 3 cards but the MO is for say $799.12 so youd have to cash up or use a legit DC Or is it max 4 swipes that go thru and any that doesnt its as if you didnt swipe at all
Jul 27, 2020, 7:59 am
#1533
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,322
FWIW -- Publix is my favorite place to liquidate MCs and also $500 cards in general. If you order, say, 4x $499 MOs, and use 4x $500 cards, the POS will autodrain each card. No need for human intervention, requesting split payment, etc. The relatively high MO fee is well worth it in terms of convenience, no hassle, etc., plus the clerks are almost always nice.
Jul 27, 2020, 8:03 am
#1534
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,408
I stay away from Wallys with MCs since I know of only 1 that will allow split payments and dont want to burn myself there when I have Vs. That said if you go with MC and you mess up on a swipe will that count as 1 of the 4 allowed? so now you can only swipe 3 cards but the MO is for say $799.12 so youd have to cash up or use a legit DC Or is it max 4 swipes that go thru and any that doesnt its as if you didnt swipe at all
At least, it hasn't to this date
Jul 27, 2020, 11:44 am
#1535
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,293
FWIW -- Publix is my favorite place to liquidate MCs and also $500 cards in general. If you order, say, 4x $499 MOs, and use 4x $500 cards, the POS will autodrain each card. No need for human intervention, requesting split payment, etc. The relatively high MO fee is well worth it in terms of convenience, no hassle, etc., plus the clerks are almost always nice.
Jul 27, 2020, 5:52 pm
#1536
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
FWIW -- Publix is my favorite place to liquidate MCs and also $500 cards in general. If you order, say, 4x $499 MOs, and use 4x $500 cards, the POS will autodrain each card. No need for human intervention, requesting split payment, etc. The relatively high MO fee is well worth it in terms of convenience, no hassle, etc., plus the clerks are almost always nice.
Due to not wanting them to remember me I only get 2 MOs @ 2 cards per MO. Never mention spliting payments, I simply run the 1st card and then wait for them to press a key so I can run the 2nd, usually they dont say Boo. 1st card takes the whole amount on the card and the 2nd takes whats left due. R U saying with Publix the csr doesnt have to press any key and you swipe 1 after the other?
Aug 2, 2020, 5:30 pm
#1539
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 239
Anyone have a workaround for logging into the prepaidgiftbalance.com website for checking transactions? after entering the CC# and 3 digit code with captcha confirmation, it won't log into the card details. The page just refreshes back to the login page. I tried Safari and Chrome.
Aug 9, 2020, 7:19 am
#1542
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,408
My local Staples ran out of VGCs by Tuesday of last week. They were allowing 5 cards per visit and people obviously took advantage of that.
Aug 12, 2020, 12:26 pm
#1543
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 262
Wen to a store I havent been to in a long time, (out of my area but I was in that area and no other S nearby). I figured Id grab 6 and hope they dont say Boo, its only 1 more then the limit.Only 2 sealed ones on the rack along with 2 already opened, open the secret compartment and find another 4 scattered around closed).
Get on the checkout line.After a few min wait its my turn. Its a young girl and the 1st thing she does is contact the mgr to see if she can sell them to me and what the limit is. The mgr gets there very quickly and tells her theres a max of 2, I mention to him that the online flyer says its 5 max per day. He says it was never max of 5 and has always been a max of $2K . Got my 6 but with him standing around I didnt want to open the rack up and see if I could find another 4. Did that the last promo and the mgr went Nuts , turns out the Vs were behind the counter and he had no problem selling me 8
Get on the checkout line.After a few min wait its my turn. Its a young girl and the 1st thing she does is contact the mgr to see if she can sell them to me and what the limit is. The mgr gets there very quickly and tells her theres a max of 2, I mention to him that the online flyer says its 5 max per day. He says it was never max of 5 and has always been a max of $2K . Got my 6 but with him standing around I didnt want to open the rack up and see if I could find another 4. Did that the last promo and the mgr went Nuts , turns out the Vs were behind the counter and he had no problem selling me 8
Aug 13, 2020, 1:07 am
#1544
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,498
Yeah its not cool when you get caught trying to open the gift card rack in stores and I am not surprised the managers get mad. I am pretty sure Staples managers already know that people come in to buy a bunch of VGCs so you really shouldn't be afraid to ask a Staples associate to check if they have any VGCs in stock. I am cool with the Staples manager at my local Staples and have no issue asking them to check if they have any VGCs inside that gift card container if they are out.
