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. 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.

Staples is offering one of their lucrative FEE-FREE $200 Visa Gift Card promotions between July 21st and July 27th, 2024.

Typically, these gift cards cost $207.95 each, but with this deal, you can purchase them without the activation fee of $7.95.

This offer is valid in-store only.

While the maximum number of cards allowed per transaction daily is 8, the branch determines the quantity they prefer to sell.

Make sure to use a credit card that earns bonus points at Office Supply Stores.

---

Why Buy These Fee-Free Visa Gift Cards At Staples?

---

When you use a credit card that earns bonus points at office supply stores, these discounted gift cards can generate an enormous amount of travel points that can ultimately be redeemed for discounted flights and free hotel stays.

You can then use these gift cards to make regular purchases anywhere they are accepted in the United States.

Caution: 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 to Maximize This Promotion

---

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 cards usually 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 during the week.

Hence, try to stop by the store a few times if your schedule allows.

Alternatively, calling the store before heading out to inquire if cards are available is also recommended and can save valuable time.

Make sure to pay using a credit card that earns bonus points at Office Supply Stores.

Step 3:

Purchase only the number of gift cards you can conveniently pay off entirely on or before the due date.

Since this method is one of my primary sources of miles and points for free travel, I try to stop by Staples a few times during the promo week.

Therefore, I do my due diligence by ensuring I have adequate savings in my sinking funds that I can quickly deploy to pay off my credit card before its due date.

In short, I do not purchase beyond what I can pay once the credit card bill arrives.

Step 4:

Use these gift cards by utilizing any of the suggested methods in this article.

---

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. The ad should clearly state that a maximum of eight cards can now be purchased per transaction.

B. It is not uncommon for some Staples stores to keep their $200 Visa 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, so if you do not have Staples near you, sorry! Online purchases may 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 this 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:

1. Costco (in-store, online, and gas)
2. Estimated Taxes
3. Medical Bills
4. Utilities: Electricity, Water, Internet, Phone, Garbage, etc.
5. Groceries
6. Gas (you need to pay in the store)
7. Auto Insurance
8. Home Insurance
9. Car Repair/Maintenance
10. Restaurants
11. 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.

However, if you run into any issues using these gift cards online, no worries!

Just register the cards like you normally would, and that should fix the problem.

---

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

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE – Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. The content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.