May 4, 2014, 4:19 am
Last edit by: weezl
This thread is about prepaid debit cards from Staples. Please post questions on other topics in the appropriate threads elsewhere in this forum.
As of 5/12/2014, all known portals are dead.
*Note- max purchase at one time seems to be 9x $200 (stays under their $2000 limit)
Pluses to Online purchase:
1. Less time/effort/gasoline vs traveling to store to purchase
2. No mgr override or cashier call to Chase needed for large purchases
3. Can bulk activate by phone after receipt of VGCs
4. Email is a nice way to keep record of your purchases
5. Avoids stupid sticky gum (4x per card) that has to be peeled off of each VGC
6. Rare opportunity to liquidate rewards and/or rebate card (YMMV)
Pluses to in-store purchase:
1. No wait/immediate gratification- mail order can take weeks
2. No risk of someone getting to your mailbox to steal your VGCs before you get them out of there
3. Activated at time of purchase- no need to call in or wait for stupid letter containing one activation code/card that comes in the mail separately (the letter sometimes arrives AFTER the VGCs arrive; this can be mitigated, see Pluses to Online #3, above)
As of 5/12/2014, all known portals are dead.
- Get Chase Ink and BB/Serve
1% discount: Sign up Ink (must be Visa) at https://www.visasavingsedge.com/ to get 1% cash back at StaplesEnded 12/31/14- 5x points: Buy Visa gift cards at Staples or the website. $200 ones charge a hefty $6.95 activation fee (with 1% back it was effectively $4.88).
- Liquidate gift cards like any other
*Note- max purchase at one time seems to be 9x $200 (stays under their $2000 limit)
Pluses to Online purchase:
1. Less time/effort/gasoline vs traveling to store to purchase
2. No mgr override or cashier call to Chase needed for large purchases
3. Can bulk activate by phone after receipt of VGCs
4. Email is a nice way to keep record of your purchases
5. Avoids stupid sticky gum (4x per card) that has to be peeled off of each VGC
6. Rare opportunity to liquidate rewards and/or rebate card (YMMV)
Pluses to in-store purchase:
1. No wait/immediate gratification- mail order can take weeks
2. No risk of someone getting to your mailbox to steal your VGCs before you get them out of there
3. Activated at time of purchase- no need to call in or wait for stupid letter containing one activation code/card that comes in the mail separately (the letter sometimes arrives AFTER the VGCs arrive; this can be mitigated, see Pluses to Online #3, above)
Visa Gift cards at Staples(2014-2015)
Jul 6, 2015 | 4:08 pm
#2776
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 637
Unfortunately she would not give me the receipt with error message. She goes card is not working so i tested 2nd card i had same message. I asked her to give me little print out receipt with error she said not for you. Did not want to start with them so i left since i was loading giftcard before they ask to see the card. I was just wondering if any one had similar issues.
Today i was able to load them at RB.
Today i was able to load them at RB.
The weird part is that I tried several times at Kate and some time the transaction went through. Also, I tried at the customer service and the error "tender not allowed" came, then a few seconds later, "approved" and the transaction went through. The rep was surprised too as she thought it was denied.
I have been MS for quite some time and I originally thought I saw everything. Apparently I am wrong lol
Jul 6, 2015 | 5:23 pm
#2777
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
Unfortunately she would not give me the receipt with error message. She goes card is not working so i tested 2nd card i had same message. I asked her to give me little print out receipt with error she said not for you. Did not want to start with them so i left since i was loading giftcard before they ask to see the card. I was just wondering if any one had similar issues.
This hapened with 3 different cards. Figured if by the time I was done loading all the birds if the GCs still didnt take I would simply try with a cashier and see what what, nice to know I ddint need to try that step.
Jul 6, 2015 | 8:02 pm
#2778
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,504
Ran into that same problem last Weds. No matter how I swiped the GC Kate wasnt interested. After the 3rd try I simply used another GC and it went thru. Later on I tried again and the card that didnt work went thru w/o any problems.
This hapened with 3 different cards. Figured if by the time I was done loading all the birds if the GCs still didnt take I would simply try with a cashier and see what what, nice to know I ddint need to try that step.
This hapened with 3 different cards. Figured if by the time I was done loading all the birds if the GCs still didnt take I would simply try with a cashier and see what what, nice to know I ddint need to try that step.
Jul 7, 2015 | 11:16 pm
#2779
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 504
Patiently waiting for another rebate to come along. I was out of the country during the last one and missed out on it.
Jul 9, 2015 | 4:01 pm
#2780
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 228
the $200 are out of stock online.
does that happen often?
how long does it usually take before they put them back online?
new to the game. so figuring out whether I should wait for them, or just get them at the grocery store. my stapples got the Visa GC ailed robbed apparently
thanks!
does that happen often?
how long does it usually take before they put them back online?
new to the game. so figuring out whether I should wait for them, or just get them at the grocery store. my stapples got the Visa GC ailed robbed apparently
thanks!
Jul 9, 2015 | 11:10 pm
#2781
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 82
There's a $15 staples GC rebate on MCs next week. Saw it mentioned on doctor of credit's blog.
Not great, but it's free money assuming you have a 5% back card.
Not great, but it's free money assuming you have a 5% back card.
Jul 9, 2015 | 11:31 pm
#2782
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 504
Great, it comes along again and it's yet another week that I'm out of the country! I guess I'll leave my Ink with my parents and see if they'll go make a couple of purchases for me.
Jul 10, 2015 | 12:08 pm
#2783
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: Hilton - Diamond, IHG - Spire Amb
Posts: 903
the $200 are out of stock online.
does that happen often?
how long does it usually take before they put them back online?
new to the game. so figuring out whether I should wait for them, or just get them at the grocery store. my stapples got the Visa GC ailed robbed apparently
thanks!
does that happen often?
how long does it usually take before they put them back online?
new to the game. so figuring out whether I should wait for them, or just get them at the grocery store. my stapples got the Visa GC ailed robbed apparently
thanks!
Jul 10, 2015 | 12:59 pm
#2784
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 44
There gone!! Price shows for me 100000000 for one
Jul 10, 2015 | 1:45 pm
#2785
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,066
Do the MCs work the same way as the Visas when it comes to liquidating? Can we unload onto Bluebird/Serve at Walmart?
Jul 11, 2015 | 7:59 am
#2787
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,066
Does this mean we have to set the MC PIN using that 866 number? Or is that specific to US Bank?
Setting PINS
MetaBank Visa or Sunrise Visa - Use the last four digits of the card number (or to set personal PIN call 888-524-1283)
US Bank Visa and Mastercard - Newer cards come with a pre-assigned PIN, printed on cardstock inside the package. To set/reset PIN, call 866-952-5653. One person reports: Visa that has pre-set PIN locks PIN on first use if not previously reset; always call to set PIN before use. If you forget to reset the pin and you can't unload the funds to your BB, call the toll free # and ask rep. to "reset" the card and they will do some magic and you should then be able to unload the funds at WM.
Vanilla Visa and OneVanilla (not MyVanilla, etc) - Use any random four digits on the first transaction which sets the PIN
Visas generally work better than Mastercards at Walmart registers. Some cards default to credit (and will be denied) and require pressing a button to change the payment type to debit. Here is the workaround:
Old POS systems (monochrome black on green terminals and replacement color terminals):
1a. Screen shows "Insert or Swipe Card Quickly" with "Espanol" button in lower right (note if your screen blinks)
1b. Swipe card
1c. Screen shows "Waiting for cashier..." with with working animation in lower center and "Cancel" button in lower right
2. Press "Cancel" on the screen or red button on pad (if your screen blinks, do not hit button until after blink)
3. Press "ATM/DEBIT" from upper left
4. Press "No Cash Back"
5a. Enter PIN
5b. Screen shows "Waiting for cashier..."
6. Cashier hits blue (not green) "Debit" button on their side
New POS systems (color terminal):
1. Swipe GC
2. Press "Change Payment" on screen (Yellow button on pad should also work, but screen works better for some. Timing is critical.)
3. Press "DEBIT"
4. Press "No Cash Back"
5. Enter PIN - Screen showing another 'Waiting for cashier...'.
6. Ask Cashier to hit blue color Debit button on the screen (not required to ask if Cashier hit debit button already)
When splitting transactions among multiple cards at a Walmart register, make sure to have the cashier hit the debit button on their physical keypad. If they hit the debit button on the touchscreen, it will not work. If your transaction got declined, try having the cashier hit 'Debit' using the physical keypad on the right of the screen.
As of 6/19/2014, Walmart does not accept debit transactions at or above $50 from cards issued by Bancorp, namely Vanilla Visas (OV, VGC, etc.). Attempts result in "Alternate Tender Required," "Debit Not Available," and/or some other error message, at both registers and the Money Center Express (MCE, kiosk, Kate, ATM). There is no workaround.
MetaBank Visa or Sunrise Visa - Use the last four digits of the card number (or to set personal PIN call 888-524-1283)
US Bank Visa and Mastercard - Newer cards come with a pre-assigned PIN, printed on cardstock inside the package. To set/reset PIN, call 866-952-5653. One person reports: Visa that has pre-set PIN locks PIN on first use if not previously reset; always call to set PIN before use. If you forget to reset the pin and you can't unload the funds to your BB, call the toll free # and ask rep. to "reset" the card and they will do some magic and you should then be able to unload the funds at WM.
Vanilla Visa and OneVanilla (not MyVanilla, etc) - Use any random four digits on the first transaction which sets the PIN
Visas generally work better than Mastercards at Walmart registers. Some cards default to credit (and will be denied) and require pressing a button to change the payment type to debit. Here is the workaround:
Old POS systems (monochrome black on green terminals and replacement color terminals):
1a. Screen shows "Insert or Swipe Card Quickly" with "Espanol" button in lower right (note if your screen blinks)
1b. Swipe card
1c. Screen shows "Waiting for cashier..." with with working animation in lower center and "Cancel" button in lower right
2. Press "Cancel" on the screen or red button on pad (if your screen blinks, do not hit button until after blink)
3. Press "ATM/DEBIT" from upper left
4. Press "No Cash Back"
5a. Enter PIN
5b. Screen shows "Waiting for cashier..."
6. Cashier hits blue (not green) "Debit" button on their side
New POS systems (color terminal):
1. Swipe GC
2. Press "Change Payment" on screen (Yellow button on pad should also work, but screen works better for some. Timing is critical.)
3. Press "DEBIT"
4. Press "No Cash Back"
5. Enter PIN - Screen showing another 'Waiting for cashier...'.
6. Ask Cashier to hit blue color Debit button on the screen (not required to ask if Cashier hit debit button already)
When splitting transactions among multiple cards at a Walmart register, make sure to have the cashier hit the debit button on their physical keypad. If they hit the debit button on the touchscreen, it will not work. If your transaction got declined, try having the cashier hit 'Debit' using the physical keypad on the right of the screen.
As of 6/19/2014, Walmart does not accept debit transactions at or above $50 from cards issued by Bancorp, namely Vanilla Visas (OV, VGC, etc.). Attempts result in "Alternate Tender Required," "Debit Not Available," and/or some other error message, at both registers and the Money Center Express (MCE, kiosk, Kate, ATM). There is no workaround.
Jul 11, 2015 | 10:11 pm
#2788
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: MDW
Programs: WN (CP 6x, A+ 2x), Marriott (LT Titanium), Hyatt Explorer, Hertz PC, UA/*A Silver
Posts: 425
Jul 12, 2015 | 2:31 am
#2789
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 54
i bought VGCs once before at a staples and they needed to call a manager over to push some keys in. is it like that for all stores?