[Expired] Staples: No Activation Fee on $200 Mastercard Gift Cards (7/14 – 7/20)

Deal has ended, view more Staples deals by clicking here.

Update 7/11/24: Deal is back from 7/14 – 7/20

Update 6/14/24: Deal is back from 6/16 – 6/22.

Update 5/16/24: Deal is coming back for 5/19-5/25. Limit 5 this time. (ht kawnipi)

Contents

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • Staples stores will be selling $200 Mastercard gift cards with the $6.95 activation fee waived.

The Fine Print

  • Limit 8 per customer per day; check with your local store to see their rules
  • In-store only

Our Verdict

As always remember to use a card that earns at a high rate on office supply store purchases. Or stack with a Chase  Offer or use your Amex Business Gold for the $20 office supply credit.

Update History:

  • Update 4/18/24: Deal is coming back for 4/21 – 4/27 (ht GC Galore)
  • Update 3/21/24: Deal is back from 3/24 – 3/30 (ht GC Galore)
  • Update 2/22/24: Deal is back from 2/25 – 3/2
  • Update 1/25/24: Deal is coming back for 1/28 – 2/3 (ht GCGalore)
  • Update 12/28/23: Deal is coming back soon for 12/31 – 1/6. Limit 8. (ht kawnipi)
  • Update 12/3/23: Deal is back this week 12/3 – 12/9. Limit 8. (ht Emi S)
  • Update 11/2/23: Deal is coming back for the week of 11/5 – 11/11. Limit 8. (ht kawnipi)
  • Update 10/5/23: Deal is back 10/8 – 10/14
  • Update 9/7@3: Deal is back for 9/10 – 9/16. Limit 8 this time. (ht captduk)
  • Update 8/10/23: Deal is coming back soon for 8/13 – 8/19. Back down to a maximum of 5 cards this time. (ht kawnipi)
  • Update 7/13/23: Deal is back from 7/16 – 7/22
  • Update 6/18/21: Deal is back and valid 6/18 – 6/24 (ht GCG). Stack with Chase Offer for 10% back.
  • Update 5/18/21: Deal is back and valid 5/21 – 5/27
  • Update 4/20/23: Deal is back and valid 4/23 – 4/29.
  • Update 3/23/23: Deal is back and valid until 3/26 – 4/1.
  • Update 2/23/23: Back until 2/26 – 3/4.
  • Update 1/26/23: Deal will be back and valid until 1/29 – 2/4 with a max of 8 this time. (ht kawnipi)
  • Update 7/14/22: Deal is back, valid from 7/17 until 7/23
  • Update 12/1/22: Deal is back and valid until 12/4 – 12/10. Hat tip to GC Galore
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

1.2K Comments
newest
oldest most voted

mjm
mjm (@guest_1875817)
July 16, 2024 17:03

I don’t see it searching my local stores flyer. First time attempting to MS via this, is this typical and will it still be available in store?

Ymmv
Ymmv (@guest_1875901)
July 16, 2024 19:24

judging from the amounts of comments on this post, it is very typical

mjm
mjm (@guest_1875971)
July 16, 2024 21:03

called my local (mistake?) and asked if they had it, they said yes. hopefully my expedited venture X makes it in time 🙂

atexit8
atexit8 (@guest_1875038)
July 15, 2024 13:31

Cleaned out at my Staples. Others in the area don’t have this problem. Sigh.

86
86 (@guest_1876832)
July 18, 2024 04:58

My Staples and those nearby always have more than enough of every denomination, the Office Depot is usually OOS of the $200s.

Aug
Aug (@guest_1874804)
July 15, 2024 03:08

I am new to this. I understand some of you are using this for manufactured spend for your credit card sign up bonuses. What do you guys do with the cards after? Don’t these cards usually have some monthly fee for carrying a balance on the card? It would be great if I can keep the card to spend later but most of the time these cards will start draining your balance with the fees.

mjm
mjm (@guest_1875813)
July 16, 2024 16:59

> Don’t these cards usually have some monthly fee for carrying a balance on the card?

Correct, churning is about making money not paying extra. 99% will pay off the statement balance every time. Unless there’s a 0% interest promotional period or something.

I would reccomend reading /r/churning wiki

Frey
Frey (@guest_1876891)
July 18, 2024 08:33

I think they meant a fee on the prepaid card.

big_ugly
big_ugly (@guest_1874425)
July 14, 2024 06:46

I have the 10% CB offer on 3/4 Chase cards, and interestingly, an identical offer on USB Shopper Cash card.

Frey
Frey (@guest_1874431)
July 14, 2024 07:24

The Chase offer is for online only. Is there a new one out that works in store?

big_ugly
big_ugly (@guest_1874439)
July 14, 2024 07:59

No. You’re correct. I shouldn’t post before my morning coffee.

INK it is, then.

Michelle
Michelle (@guest_1874585)
July 14, 2024 15:24

I used the online 10% ($17) back for a $300 VGC and already credited for CB on my statement.

randomguy
randomguy (@guest_1875930)
July 16, 2024 20:02

So you paid $310 for a $300 visa (10$ fee). You got 17$ back. So your net gain is 17+3.1=20.1$ (1% default cashback). You paid 310$. So your effective purchase price is 310-20.1=289.90$ (approx). If you had bought 300$ with INK, your price would have been 300×0.95=285$.

Am I missing something?

BankBonusIsMyReligion
BankBonusIsMyReligion (@guest_1873198)
July 11, 2024 19:50

Has anyone successfully purchased loads and loads of Staples Visa/MC in the past without any hiccups? (via any U.S. Bank credit cards)

P2 has a couple grand in spend that they want to knock out, but I’ve heard mixed things about U.S Bank and gift card purchases.

Fred
Fred (@guest_1873257)
July 11, 2024 21:11

Spread out your purchases over several days, or several stores. Don’t call attention to yourself. Take it easy, not greedy.

BankBonusIsMyReligion
BankBonusIsMyReligion (@guest_1873263)
July 11, 2024 21:19

yeah, the only horror story I’ve heard was on the Altitude card , and people were mostly abusing that with the 3x Mobile Wallet points.

P2 has the Biz Triple Cash Rewards and has already organically spent the $2500 in regular spending over the course of 5 weeks.

I’m sure 1 transaction from Staples in the amount of $400 to $800 is definitely not going to put a huge target on their back.

barrytuneup
barrytuneup (@guest_1874575)
July 14, 2024 15:01

Years ago, I had lots of trouble with USBank CC used for buying gift cards. I exclusively use Chase Ink for Staples fee free VGC/MCGC. Don’t know if you buy a few 500.00 VGC in grocery with USBank cards, but I mix in a few groceries with AMEX BCP and OBC and for years, not a peep. Hope USBank has changed. I remember getting constant fraud alerts with USBank, so I gave up. This was back before texting was in vogue, I had to call in and wait on hold. Not for me.

Landon
Landon (@guest_1873153)
July 11, 2024 18:56

Awesome. Chase Inks go BRRRRRR

Josh
Josh (@guest_1873067)
July 11, 2024 17:12

July 16-20? Tuesday to Saturday?

Is that a typo?

Suppose to be sunday to saturday july 14-20?

Eric
Eric (@guest_1873092)
July 11, 2024 17:50

 William Charles Please fix the typo on the dates. It should say 7/14 to 7/20

rophy
rophy (@guest_1861883)
June 19, 2024 21:26

costco accepts mastercard online so i got a bunch of costco shop cards with these

Celia 🔗
Celia 🔗 (@guest_1861921)
June 19, 2024 22:14

You can also use the MC cards in store with the PIN.

randomguy
randomguy (@guest_1874798)
July 15, 2024 02:37

But with digital shop cards, you don’t need to carry the physical card with you 🙂 🙂

2and a half nuts
2and a half nuts (@guest_1876968)
July 18, 2024 11:06

Define a bunch. In my case got six of the hundreds csc using ,,200denom mcgc. When i did two after that it didnt work and the transfer draiined the 200mcgc. I had to contact gc and wait about 3,,or 3.5 before funds released back onto card. Keep all your paperwork.

Jay
Jay (@guest_1860500)
June 17, 2024 00:09

Will these(and/or the Visa’s) work after buying in person, then use at Staples online for 3rd party gift card purchases?

The MC’s already worked for me on 3rd party GC’s at AARP.

Jimmy
Jimmy (@guest_1860337)
June 16, 2024 15:09

Just tried it this morning, easy peasy. Though they did ask for ID even for $200 GC