ADVERTISER DISCLOSURE: The Frugal Tourist is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com and Cardratings. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. All information about the American Express Schwab Platinum has been collected independently by The Frugal Tourist.
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
Starting Sunday, December 1st, through Saturday, December 7th, 2024, Staples will again have their lucrative FEE-FREE $200 Mastercard Gift Card promotion.
Usually, these gift cards cost $207.95 each, but with this deal, you can purchase these cards without the activation fee of $7.95.
Maximum of 5-8 cards per day per customer, depending on the store. In-Store Only.
Make sure to use a credit card that earns bonus points at Office Supply Stores.
| Previous Promo Weeks |
|---|
| October 6 – 12, 2024 |
| September 8-15, 2024 |
| Pro-Tip |
|---|
| Only purchase the number of gift cards you can use in the future. Since these purchases are charged to your credit card, please be mindful only to purchase an amount you can completely pay in full once your credit card bill comes around. It is not a good idea to pay banks hefty interest charges. Hence, do not employ this strategy if you anticipate challenges settling your bill in full on or before the due date. I will list the best ways to redeem these gift cards later in this post. |
Steps on How to Maximize This Staples Promo
Step 1:
We announce these Staples gift card offers as soon as we know about them in our free Facebook Travel Miles and Points group.
Step 2:
Try to swing by Staples on the first hour of the first day of the promotion period.
These deals are extremely popular, so it is not unusual for cards to sell out fast.
Even though they run out quickly, some Staples stores replenish their supply mid-week, so I’ve also had success locating these gift cards later during the promo week.
Hence, it is recommended that you stop by the store a few times if your schedule allows or call the store before heading out to inquire if cards are available.
Step 3:
Purchase the number of gift cards you can realistically use and pay for when the credit card bill comes due.
Since this method is one of my primary sources of miles and points for free travel, I try to maximize this promotion by stopping by Staples a few times each week.
Therefore, I do my due diligence by ensuring I have adequate savings in my sinking fund that I can quickly deploy to pay off my credit cards before their due dates.
In short, I do not purchase beyond what I can afford.
Step 4:
Use these gift cards by utilizing the suggested methods in the articles below.
Since this is a Mastercard, it can also be used to send mortgage payments through Plastiq.
Related: Best Ways to Use Your Gift Cards
Related: Use Your Gift Cards to Pay for Taxes
Related: Use Mastercard Gift Cards to Pay for Mortgage Using Plastiq
Possible Issues
A. Initially, some Staples cashiers and managers were not familiar with the 8-card maximum per person policy. If they refuse to sell eight cards at a time, politely ask them to check the details of the ad posted at the store, which should clearly state that a maximum number of 8 cards can now be purchased per transaction.
B. It is not uncommon for some Staples stores to keep their $200 gift cards at their back office or behind the counter, so inquire if you cannot locate them on the shelves.
C. Make sure the cards you purchase do not have their serial numbers exposed or tampered with.
D. Before leaving the store, ensure that all the cards you purchased have successfully been activated.
E. This is in-store only. Online purchases will not trigger this discount.
Stacking Opportunity: Payce & Bank Offers
Payce
Another cashback app that you can use at office supply stores is Payce.
The critical thing to remember with Payce is that you must activate the deals each month to trigger the cash bonus.
Bank Offers
Check your credit card offers, as there might be a stacking opportunity with Staples during the promo week too.
How and Where to Use These Gift Cards
You can use these Visa gift cards to cover any of the below expenses:
- Costco (in-store, online, and gas)
- Estimated Taxes
- Medical Bills
- Utilities: Electricity, Water, Internet, Phone, Garbage, etc.
- Groceries
- Gas (you need to pay in the store)
- Auto Insurance
- Home Insurance
- Car Repair/Maintenance
- Restaurants
- Shopping (in-store and online)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When Does Staples Announce These Sales?
Staples releases their weekly ads every Thursday.
If you want to be among the first to know about these deals, click the button below to access their weekly ad.
2. How Often Does Staples Have These Gift Cards Sales?
Staples has been running Visa and Mastercard gift card sales about 1-2X per month.
We announce these sales at our free Facebook Travel Miles and Points Facebook Group. Join us there!
3. Do I Need to Register These Gift Cards Before Use?
It is not necessary to register these gift cards before use.
If the gift cards are not registered, you can complete your online purchases using any billing address.
4. When Should I Use These Gift Cards?
These gift cards are considered debit cards, so you can use them anywhere debit cards and credit cards are accepted in the United States.
This blog post has a list of ideas on where you can use these gift cards.
5. When Should I Not Use These Gift Cards?
We do not recommend using these gift cards in the following scenarios:
Do not use gift cards when purchasing high-ticket items that require purchase protection. Instead, I’d use a credit card that offers purchase protection or an extended warranty.
Do not use gift cards when you will likely need to return items in the future.
6. What Do I Do With Gift Cards with Odd Amounts?
Some stores like Costco, Target, and Walmart can drain gift cards with odd amounts.
Alternatively, you can load your Amazon Gift Card balance with the remaining amount on your gift cards.
7. What If My Gift Cards Do Not Work?
First, I would check the card’s balance to ensure there are no fraudulent transactions.
If you notice any irregularities, immediately call the number on the back of the gift card and file a dispute.
Register the card to your name and address if the balance is intact.
Wait for several minutes and then try to purchase again.
Final Thoughts
I am a huge fan of these promotions and try to take advantage of them at every opportunity.
Whether you are a seasoned travel points hobbyist or new to it, I highly encourage you to consider leveraging this method to accumulate a substantial amount of credit card points.
However, this is a gentle reminder to purchase only the number of gift cards you can comfortably pay for once your credit card statement arrives.
It is never a good idea to keep a balance on your cards and consequently pay high interest charges.
That will defeat the purpose of this hobby, which is frugal travel.
Do you plan to swing by Staples this week too?
Hat Tip: Doctor of Credit
ADVERTISER DISCLOSURE: The Frugal Tourist is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com and Cardratings. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. All information about the American Express Schwab Platinum has been collected independently by The Frugal Tourist.
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
USER-GENERATED CONTENT DISCLOSURE: The comments section below is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all questions are answered.
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