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 $8.95).
2k Limit per transaction / 10k per day for online. In-store is usually 2k but YMMV
Often times, there are promotions with no or reduced activation fees
Visa/MasterCard Gift Cards at Staples(2017 onwards)
Sep 5, 2018, 3:40 pm
#857
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: UR, Marriott, AA, WN, Chick Fil A Red
Posts: 182
Charges are still pending, and I don't see reward points yet, but the T&C of the offer didn't exclude GCs I don't think. Also did the OD/OM offer for 25 bonus points/$ and charges are still pending. These were the first times I've really used that card (outside $1k/mo serve load) and surprisingly didn't get fraud alerts either.
Sep 6, 2018, 3:13 pm
#858
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
was in the boondocks yesterday when I saw a Staples sign out of no where, recently opened plaza. Hit the motherload.All the other locations were bone dry
Today as I was driving by my reg location, I thought who knows maybe they got a shipment in, was bone dry and the asst mgr was standing near there so I didnt want to open up the secret compartment. Long line to walk around to get to the when all of a sudden I saw an employee coming out of the back with what looked like the cards. Yep indeed, I was gonna tell him he needs to get some more what he put out is gone, but didnt and I left a few for the next person
So a bare bones rack doesnt mean they dont have any.
Today as I was driving by my reg location, I thought who knows maybe they got a shipment in, was bone dry and the asst mgr was standing near there so I didnt want to open up the secret compartment. Long line to walk around to get to the when all of a sudden I saw an employee coming out of the back with what looked like the cards. Yep indeed, I was gonna tell him he needs to get some more what he put out is gone, but didnt and I left a few for the next person
So a bare bones rack doesnt mean they dont have any.
Sep 7, 2018, 6:20 pm
#859
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 86
Hi all! new to this method of MS. just wondering--does Serve at family dollar still work to get rid of these VGCs without fees? i'm having trouble finding some liquidation methods, since paying for my Citi card doesn't work with MetaBank VGCs.
Sep 7, 2018, 10:02 pm
#860
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 463
Sep 23, 2018, 9:38 am
#861
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 233
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
Oct 6, 2018, 5:16 pm
#862
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
Visited my local Staples store today. It looks very sad. All the $100 and $200 VGCs are gone. Only $50 left. It is so clean. The store does charge the activation fee. So if you do pay 2.5% $ fee on activation, your profit margin is much smaller, even with the 5% AmEx card. The Ink cards are better. But with all the work on liquidation, I somehow do not feel the urge to do anything.....
Oct 22, 2018, 12:57 am
#866
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,509
Not sure what MC issues you are experiencing. I have never had issues with MCGCs from Staples and I have done a ton. Probably an issue with the way you are loading the cards.
Oct 22, 2018, 7:32 am
#867
Join Date: May 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 207
Well, it's not the loading aspect, it's the activation. But the last 2 rounds of MCGC, I'm referring to OD/OM sales (you can look at that thread here around late August dates). Under the card number, there was a line about the carding being activated in 24 hours. For some, it actually activated. For others, they had to call, or worse, fax in copies of the receipt and wait weeks to receive a replacement.
Oct 22, 2018, 8:50 am
#868
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
Well, it's not the loading aspect, it's the activation. But the last 2 rounds of MCGC, I'm referring to OD/OM sales (you can look at that thread here around late August dates). Under the card number, there was a line about the carding being activated in 24 hours. For some, it actually activated. For others, they had to call, or worse, fax in copies of the receipt and wait weeks to receive a replacement.
So far I have tried to avoid being in that third category.
Oct 22, 2018, 9:35 am
#869
Join Date: May 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 207
Yeah the bulk MCGC sales at office supply stores fall in that third category for me too.