On the heels of this week’s fee-free Mastercard gift cards, Staples is offering fee-free fixed $200 Visa Gift Cards through July 27, 2024. The limit is again eight per customer per day (although some stores may allow more).
Different stores appear to have different policies regarding the variable-load cards that some Staples now sell. Some folks report that fees are waived when they purchase them…others find that they aren’t. Your mileage may vary.
The Deal
- Staples will waive the $7.95 activation fee when you buy a $200 Visa Gift Card between 7/21/24 – 7/27/24.
- Direct link to weekly ad (see the 7/21 ad page 8)
Key Terms
- Offer valid July 21 – July 27, 2024.
- Limit 8 per customer per day (YMMV on whether your cashier / store allows or enforces the limit)
- In-store only
Quick Notes
These deals can be great way of getting rewards through spending at office supply stores. If you can buy 8 at a time, that’s a potential of $1,600 that’s possible each day. Note that some stores may allow you to purchase more than 8, and we also hear occasional reports that some managers will only sell a smaller amount despite what the ad says.
See our Current Visa and Mastercard Gift Card deals page for other currently-available deals.
Other times this deal has run recently at Staples:
Fee-free Visa Gift Card Sales
- 6/23/24 – 6/29/24
- 5/26/24 – 6/1/24
- 4/28/24 – 5/4/24
- 3/31/24 – 4/6/24
- 3/3/24 – 3/9/24
- 2/4/24 – 2/10/24
- 1/7/24 – 1/13/24
- 12/10/23 – 12/16/23
- 11/12/23 – 11/18/23
- 10/15/23 – 10/21/23
- 9/17/23 – 9/23/23
- 8/20/23 – 8/26/23
- 7/23/23 – 7/29/23
- 6/25/23 – 7/1/23
- 5/28/23-6/3/23
- 4/30/23 – 5/6/23
- 4/2/23 – 4/8/23
- 3/5/23 – 3/11/23
- 2/5/23 – 2/11/23
- 1/8/23 – 1/14/23
- 12/25/22 – 12/31/22 (only on $100 cards)
- 12/11/22 – 12/17/22
- 11/6/22 to 11/12/22
- 10/9/22 to 10/22/22
- September 25-October 1, 2022
- September 4-September 10, 2022
- August 7-13, 2022
- July 10-16, 2022
- June 12-18, 2022
- May 8-14, 2022
- February 27-March 5, 2022
- January 16-22, 2022
- December 12-18, 2021
- October 31-November 13, 2021
- October 17-23, 2021
- September 26-October 2, 2021
- September 5-11, 2021
- August 8-14, 2021
- July 11-17, 2021
- June 13-19, 2021
- May 9-15, 2021
- February 28-March 6, 2021
- January 17-23, 2021
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I had to call the support number to register my cards — the usual website hasn’t been working for me (www.giftcardmall.com/mygift). Is anyone else having this issue?
I was able to purchase 8 Visa GC today.
bought 8 today as usual. but at check out- there was a delay from the system saying it’ll take 24 hours to activate them. this is new. anyone else have this experience recently?
I have never had this happen.
My Staples store still had $200 VGC as of Tuesday. I was able to purchase 8 cards. Shelves were also stocked with $500 VGC. But manager mentioned there was a $2000 per day limit, which prevented me from purchasing $500 VGC at least for that day.
was able to purchase 8 cards on a Wednesday.
Can this be used for an AMEX SUB or is it disqualifying? Thanks
Don’t use it for amex SUB. You risk having your points being clawed back
How do you liquidate these gift cards?
You use them just like a debit or credit card.
Ok thanks. Anyway to cash it out?
No
Just purchased $1k visa at Staples. P2 was screaming, that $1k could be earnings 4.5 to 5%. Lol.
After 12 months.
OK. Because I’ve learned so much from the comments on this site. I’ve earned 100s of thousands of miles doing this — buying MC or Visa gift cards with my Ink at Staples or Office Depot, then using the cards to settle bills. (I’m lucky, there’s an ODP on my way home from work…)
HOWEVER. You should mind that there’s a downside — one of my cards got hacked last week, and BHN has TERRIBLE customer service. Sure, I got the money back… I’m careful! I keep spreadsheets and take pictures and usually use the cards within 15 minutes of buying them. AND STILL, I got hacked. Got made whole. Don’t cry for me. But there is no such thing as a (totally) free lunch, and if you buy these cards, know: 1. They get hacked. 2. BHN is horrid. 3. Be organized. (I am totally disinterested in arguing with anyone. I’ve been playing this game LONGER THAN YOU HAVE BEEN ALIVE and I play it better than just about anyone, hosts of this site excluded.)
I’m new to this…..what’s the best way to protect yourself from being hacked? Can you set up a PIN right away?
thanks for the headsup very interesting way to generate miles. I ma sure there are many other methods too
My local Staples was selling them today – $200 fee-free VISA gift cards.
My Chase offer has a 10% cash back on purchases on Staples.com purchase. Does it count if I buy the Visa gift card online (despite the $7.95 activation fee)?
No,since this offer is for in-store purchases only.
My Staples cleric just wanted to educate me that I don’t get the full $200 value from one of these cards because there are transaction fees, separate from the activation fee. He recommended using it for the biggest purchase amount possible instead of many smaller ones, losing something like 70 cents each time…
I can’t find any research that supports this, does anyone know the truth about this?
Thanks
This “cleric” has clearly not completed his formal religious training in the ways of manufactured spending. He clearly has misinterpreted the teachings of his spiritual forebears, because what he is dispensing is IME total BS, and I say that after purchasing/spending more than 250K of VGC via these Staples deals.
I was surprised to see the statement that the fee free promotion will not be applied to the variable version of the Visa card $20-$200. I have bought a bunch of these cards over the past few months as the $200 version was gone from the racks and have had no issue with them ringing up without the activation fee. I will have to try it this coming week and see how my Staples store rings them up and the activation fee drops off? Maybe something has changed.
It’s not “Now live”.
Reading through the comments below, it seems like these are a bit pain to use or liquidate.
Any suggestions on the easiest way to use these? Can I add them to my phone wallet?
I was able to purchase 8 cards on Sunday and 8 cards on Monday. I was able to split tender payment on Sunday, but manager on duty on Monday had no idea how to split tender.