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)
Aug 7, 2018, 12:57 am
#796
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 106
I bought $100 MCGC from staples.com for $101.95 x3. I got the gift cards and I can't seem to register them online and the customer support number I called said that these gift cards are not loaded correctly and to contact the seller. Is there some delayed activation on these gift cards or something else? What am I missing?
Aug 7, 2018, 7:13 am
#797
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
I bought $100 MCGC from staples.com for $101.95 x3. I got the gift cards and I can't seem to register them online and the customer support number I called said that these gift cards are not loaded correctly and to contact the seller. Is there some delayed activation on these gift cards or something else? What am I missing?
If you have your receipt, I would go back to the Staples and see if they actually activated the cards. I presume they were not drained by some nefarious character illicitly?
Aug 7, 2018, 8:24 am
#798
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 422
If you try to check the balance before activating the cards then the cards will be blocked so avoid that if you can
First you need to activate it so the funds are loaded in 1-2 hrs (activation letter comes separately) — you can call Staples activation support @ 877-233-4633 if you don’t want to wait for activation letter (they’ll look up the cards by Staples order number)
Then you can call the number on back of card and ask if there’s any block on the card — they’ll tell you its “inactive” to prevent fraud since someone tried to login online before activation. Let them know that was you — you bought the card online and didn’t know that the card had a separate activation process so you tried logging in first. They’ll get another dept to reactivate the card while you wait on the phone — they’ll tell you it’ll be available for use in 10 mins but it’ll probably take a few hrs
I unblocked 2 cards yesterday and tried logging into one after 30 mins but it gave an error and now its blocked again — the 2nd card I waited a few hrs to login and it was working fine
First you need to activate it so the funds are loaded in 1-2 hrs (activation letter comes separately) — you can call Staples activation support @ 877-233-4633 if you don’t want to wait for activation letter (they’ll look up the cards by Staples order number)
Then you can call the number on back of card and ask if there’s any block on the card — they’ll tell you its “inactive” to prevent fraud since someone tried to login online before activation. Let them know that was you — you bought the card online and didn’t know that the card had a separate activation process so you tried logging in first. They’ll get another dept to reactivate the card while you wait on the phone — they’ll tell you it’ll be available for use in 10 mins but it’ll probably take a few hrs
I unblocked 2 cards yesterday and tried logging into one after 30 mins but it gave an error and now its blocked again — the 2nd card I waited a few hrs to login and it was working fine
Aug 7, 2018, 1:37 pm
#800
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 463
I bought $100 MCGC from staples.com for $101.95 x3. I got the gift cards and I can't seem to register them online and the customer support number I called said that these gift cards are not loaded correctly and to contact the seller. Is there some delayed activation on these gift cards or something else? What am I missing?
The WIKI contains a phone number if you want to activate without waiting for the activation codes.
Aug 23, 2018, 5:16 am
#803
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Northeastern United States
Posts: 597
I've tried a good amount of portals for Staples GC purchases and have had zero success in the past year or so. I'm not saying there isn't one out there that works, but I not aware of any. If you find one you might want to be careful whom you share that information with as things like that get abused and closed down fast.
Aug 24, 2018, 9:20 am
#806
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 106
I've tried a good amount of portals for Staples GC purchases and have had zero success in the past year or so. I'm not saying there isn't one out there that works, but I not aware of any. If you find one you might want to be careful whom you share that information with as things like that get abused and closed down fast.
Aug 24, 2018, 2:59 pm
#807
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 506