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)
Mar 9, 2021, 8:04 am
#1711
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 198
3 managers - all teaming up to say no. I even told them that they need to call the GC tech support line and get this sorted out. They deny, They give this crap about Staples not making any money on GC sales and they are just middleman between blackhawk and Metabank. Atleast i found the CS willing to help out. They took the SN of the GC while they were talking to Blackhawk and told me that they will get back to me in 24-48 hrs.
Mar 9, 2021, 9:40 am
#1712
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
3 managers - all teaming up to say no. I even told them that they need to call the GC tech support line and get this sorted out. They deny, They give this crap about Staples not making any money on GC sales and they are just middleman between blackhawk and Metabank. Atleast i found the CS willing to help out. They took the SN of the GC while they were talking to Blackhawk and told me that they will get back to me in 24-48 hrs.
Examine your receipt closely and see if the GC number on the receipt matches the actual GC. I suspect that the answer will be no.
In my case, the CSR had scanned in the same gift card twice but run the unscanned card into system. So the number on the scanned card did not match the receipt.
Mar 9, 2021, 9:52 am
#1713
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 198
Usually what happens is that the GC number is entered incorrectly into the computer at the store.
Examine your receipt closely and see if the GC number on the receipt matches the actual GC. I suspect that the answer will be no.
In my case, the CSR had scanned in the same gift card twice but run the unscanned card into system. So the number on the scanned card did not match the receipt.
Examine your receipt closely and see if the GC number on the receipt matches the actual GC. I suspect that the answer will be no.
In my case, the CSR had scanned in the same gift card twice but run the unscanned card into system. So the number on the scanned card did not match the receipt.
Mar 9, 2021, 11:02 pm
#1714
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
1 time i noted the same print out 'item will be activated within 24 hrs' at safeway; the store mgr insisted that the gc will work after a day or so, but not so. There was an issue with that gc & can't be activated; i had to have a safeway corp. CSR to contact / confirm with metabank
,who then called the store where I already paid for the bad gc to explain; then, i had to return to the store, where the mgr offered me a refund or xchg for another... pita!
yep, the store had the $; the mgr sbeen able to confirm with metabank that the gc was bad or can't get activated; then offered an xchg or refund
,who then called the store where I already paid for the bad gc to explain; then, i had to return to the store, where the mgr offered me a refund or xchg for another... pita!
yep, the store had the $; the mgr sbeen able to confirm with metabank that the gc was bad or can't get activated; then offered an xchg or refund
Last edited by danhouston; Mar 9, 2021 at 11:19 pm
Mar 10, 2021, 12:30 pm
#1715
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
Usually what happens is that the GC number is entered incorrectly into the computer at the store.
Examine your receipt closely and see if the GC number on the receipt matches the actual GC. I suspect that the answer will be no.
In my case, the CSR had scanned in the same gift card twice but run the unscanned card into system. So the number on the scanned card did not match the receipt.
Examine your receipt closely and see if the GC number on the receipt matches the actual GC. I suspect that the answer will be no.
In my case, the CSR had scanned in the same gift card twice but run the unscanned card into system. So the number on the scanned card did not match the receipt.
GCs are scanned with scanner. Then the cards are activated at the back end. You should examine your receipt carefully.
Mar 10, 2021, 10:09 pm
#1716
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
in my case, the #s on the receipt matched those on the gc & showed 'approved'; all looked normal, but it wasn't activated; that's why it printed 'the item will be activated in 24 hrs'; when calling in for a dispute, metabank merely told me that the gc simply wasn't properly activated
Last edited by danhouston; Mar 12, 2021 at 1:24 pm
Mar 25, 2021, 1:37 pm
#1718
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
Mar 26, 2021, 7:37 pm
#1720
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 463
Mar 27, 2021, 7:38 am
#1721
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
Mar 27, 2021, 8:15 am
#1722
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
The fact that no one else has commented on their inability to use these cards in their original organic manner leads me to believe that whatever the problem was, it has now resolved.,
Mar 28, 2021, 11:05 am
#1723
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 524
Sorry if this has been asked before, but since it is not in the wiki:
Does buying VGC/MCGC at Staples with an Amex SimplyCash qualify for the 5% bonus spend? Does it pose risk of financial review/shutdown?
Similarly, does buying third party GCs like Amazon qualify or pose any risk? I assume no for this one, as I have plenty of personal data points, but still wanted to ask.
Does buying VGC/MCGC at Staples with an Amex SimplyCash qualify for the 5% bonus spend? Does it pose risk of financial review/shutdown?
Similarly, does buying third party GCs like Amazon qualify or pose any risk? I assume no for this one, as I have plenty of personal data points, but still wanted to ask.
Mar 28, 2021, 12:31 pm
#1725
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
Sorry if this has been asked before, but since it is not in the wiki:
Does buying VGC/MCGC at Staples with an Amex SimplyCash qualify for the 5% bonus spend? Does it pose risk of financial review/shutdown?
Similarly, does buying third party GCs like Amazon qualify or pose any risk? I assume no for this one, as I have plenty of personal data points, but still wanted to ask.
Does buying VGC/MCGC at Staples with an Amex SimplyCash qualify for the 5% bonus spend? Does it pose risk of financial review/shutdown?
Similarly, does buying third party GCs like Amazon qualify or pose any risk? I assume no for this one, as I have plenty of personal data points, but still wanted to ask.