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Staples has launched a new online deal and is selling $100 Mastercard gift cards with no activation fee. However, you might need a Staples Plus membership in order to get this discount.
The Deal
- Buy $100 Mastercard gift cards from Staples.com with no activation fee.
- Direct link.
Key Terms
- Expires August 25, 2018.
- Limit 3.
Quick Thoughts
These cards usually come with a $6.95 activation fee, so this deal will save you almost $21 if you max it out.
It’s listed as a Staples Plus deal which – in theory – means you need to pay for Staples Plus membership ($49) in order to take advantage of this deal. That wasn’t necessary the last time they ran a somewhat similar deal though as it was open to anyone.
I’m not entirely certain how this deal will work though. When adding three gift cards to my shopping cart, it shows the total as $300 in the top section, but $320.85 in the section below:
Clicking through to checkout also shows the total as $320.85. That might mean that Staples Plus membership is required. Having said that, Staples gift card deals can sometimes act goofy for the first few hours after being launched. For example, the code for a Domino’s eGC deal didn’t work for several hours after going live back in March, so that might be the case here too.
I wanted to get this deal out ASAP though seeing as if it does work without Staples Plus membership, it’ll likely sell out quickly.
Paying with an Ink Cash or old Ink Plus card will earn you 5x / 5% on the transaction. Even better, use the 10% Staples Amex Offer to make this a $30 moneymaker. There’s another Staples Amex Offer for $5 off $25, but an Ink Card or the 10% Amex Offer will earn you a better return than only saving $5.
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[…] on the product page. They have run this and other similar promotions previously. For example, Stephen posted a similar deal last August, but the limit was 3. YMMV as to the limit – feel free to share any contrary reader reports […]
[…] Staples: $100 Mastercards With No Activation Fee. Limit 3. (Expired Aug 25th) […]
That is a pretty cool special offer! I hate those activation fees especially since MC charges the merchants their usually percentage when you use the card to buy something.
Office Depot is having a $15 instant off $300 Mastercard GC this week
Gonna stock up to replenish my UR’s….looks like I will be buying a lot of M.O.s at Fred Meyer
Is there any particular process or tips for having MO’s created at Fred Meyer? I assume it’s through western union? Is there a cost?
Could these be used for the Plastiq Fee Free Dollars?
Checked out as guest / $300 total.
Worked for me, but I had a membership. Showed the savings as being the 20.95.
has anybody tried to stack it with the AMEX offer? I didn’t get the “congratulations… ” e-mail from AMEX like they normally send.
Got amex emails on 2 orders
Just a heads up. The activation issues with these cards may not make them worthwhile. The last time I bought these cards from Staples.com I had to call in 3 times to activate all my cards, even though they have a website and I got activation codes in a separate letter. The website for the cards was either not working or unavailable. Proceed at your own discretion
Bought these as guest checkout and delivered quickly. They were a PITA to drain at WM to prepaid reloadables; PIN didn’t work as debit, kept running as credit for me. Didn’t try to buy MOs, just used them to pay for insurance premiums and this is the first and last time I’ll buy them.
I spent 2.5 hours on hold/calls to get these activated/registered. Supposedly you can do it online but that only worked for 1 of 6 cards I got. Loops and piss poor customer service. A supervisor tried to activate the rest but 2 still did not work. Ridiculous. The Retailmenot rebate did post, a small consolation. For those seeking to avoid this hell, the best route was to go the website printed on the back of the card on your mobile phone and they have a faster route to register via texting. If you want to make a purchase where your billing address is required, you need to register.
Yea, had the same problem trying to activate them last time. The key is not to try logging into the prepaidgiftcardsite.com site before actually calling in and activating them. Otherwise, they will lock that card. Does Retailmenot send an email once you have used the rebate? Just placed an order thru Retailmenot, but haven’t received any confirmation.
They work great to pay your Target Red card bill in-store.
Has anybody tried to pay for this deal with a Staples branded gift card?
[…] Hat tip to Frequent Miler […]
Liquidation options? Can’t remember if the USPS still takes these.
They should be paying us to buy MC cards because of so many reported problems. Another report was posted recently of the person’s just bought cards getting drained before they could use them (within same day as purchase). Why does MCG have more problems like that than VGC?
@Maria…..The Miles Magician always liquidates his MC GC at Fred Meyers by buying M.O.’s ……they disappear like MAGIC! Poof!
Worked for me with no membership at 8:11 ET.
Are these gift cards that can be used anywhere debit cards are accepted or only at certain stores?