The Offer
- Purchase at least $300 in Mastercard giftcards from Staples and receive a $20 staples gift card when you complete the Staples Easy Rebate. Because this deal is not live yet, it will not show up on the Easy Rebate website.
The Fine Print
- Limit of one per household
- Mastercard gift card issued by U.S Bank
- Valid from October 12th till the 18th
Our Verdict
- 2 x $200 gift cards + $6.95 activation fees each: $413.9
- Use a rewards earning credit card that earns at a high rate at office supply stores (5%): $20.695
- Use a card that is enrolled in Visa Savings Edge to get an additional 1% cash back: $4.139
- Receive $20 Staples gift card (can sell for 86.5% facevalue): $17.30
- Unload your Mastercard gift cards using a manufactured spending unload method: $400
In total you’d net $28.234 profit (or 7% cash back) which isn’t to shabby. In the past you’ve been limited to one of these per household, although it has been possible to get around these limitations (more information here). Expect to see a lot of bloggers cover this, because it times in very well with the increased sign up bonus on the Chase Ink Plus card (currently at 70,000 points). Remember to ask yourself these questions before applying for any credit card.
Hat tip to Miles to Memories
View Comments (5)
Can you describe your process for sending in gift cards when you resell them to cardpool or any of the others? I've got some discover cash I was going to redeem for $25 in staples gift cards for $20 and sell back at 86%. Do you get any sort of postal insurance or send certified mail? Do you send them in all at once?
We have a post on this topic, I think you'd find it helpful. Here's the link:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/the-complete-guide-to-selling-your-unwanted-gift-cards-for-cash/
Not all gift card resellers will buy $20 Staples gift cards. For example, Cardpool is "only accepting cards with values between $25 and $500"
Do you know if these can still be unloaded at Kate?
*Too!!!