The Offer
No direct link, check your local store
- Office Depot/Max are offering a $15 instant discount when you buy $300 in Mastercard gift cards this week.
The Fine Print
- Valid 12/8/19 – 12/14/19
- Limit 1 per household/business
- Discount applied at register
- Purchase fees may apply
- Valid in store on Mastercard gift cards only
- Issued by MetaBank
Our Verdict
The $15 discount more-than-covers the purchase fees. Lots of people like racking up their INK points or another card that offers a bonus at office supply stores. As always, it’ll be store dependent how many times they let you come back during the week.
Hat tip to Drivesabrowntruck
Will this offer return in 2020? Haven’t seen anything since Dec.
Thanks for the post, DOC! Got a new CC on its way in the mail. Will plan to start with this…
Any issues ms-ing on amex Simply Cash ?
Yeah, read up on what Level III data is. Chase DGAF but Amex is known to.
A few weeks ago, I use my Amex Simply Cash BIZ card buy three $200 VISA GC at staples, all got 5% cashback.
Anything changed recently?
Or OD/OM send Level III data but Staples only send Level I or II data?
Thanks.
Its shows ur buying giftcards and with amex even if u get the 5% amex can clawback it whenever they want
I’ve never had an issue.
my local office max only allows a max of $400/ day and local Walmart does not allow “cash out” option of money orders 🙁
ideas on how to cash out these mastercard $20 gc? my local Walmart does not allow MO purchases with prepaid cards
If I buy three $200 MasterCard Gift Cards at OD/OM, whether the check out system will apply two $15 instant discounts?
Thanks.
No.
Skip this and wait for the visa instead
#truth #hardpass
Yes, VGC only requires 4.95 fee for 200 and 3.95 fee for 100 everywhere, while MGC requires 6.95 fee for 200.
Be careful using Chase Ink at office store only. They are on to us who only do manufactured spend.
I got an email from chase basically saying with email heading that we are concerned about your account and may be in violation of our reward usage. Saying please stop what you are doing and we may close all accounts if this continues or if they seem necessary. So be careful but i have question on what to do?
Yes i only do manufactured spending i.e. buying from staples when Visa/MC are free in 2-3K volume – nothing big that’s it. Anyways, the question is what are possible next preventive steps? Should i call as the email/letter suggests? Wait and do nothing (also don’t buy gift cards again!) and they will let it go or they will shutdown? The goal is to avoid shutdown! Another question is that i have 1.5 Million UR points and will i lose this and/or transfer/cash out? If so what are best options?
Blah blah blah bullcrap blah blah.
Send DoC a screenshot of this email to verify what you’re saying cause I’ve literally never seen a DP of this ever.
I’ve seen these letters, posted on other blogs.
I cap my ink 50k category a few years in a row, never seen or heard of such a letter…
really? Having some trouble taking this report seriously. 1.5 million UR points? Reeeaaally?
I’ve been doing about 1-2k monthly levels of such spend via od & staples — for several years — with additional spend mixed in — but marginal. Never did I never see such a warning — or hear of one that was verified.
If you’re not just being a …. so and so, Put up (with a screen shot of the plleged letter to DoC) or…..
hopefully this is genuine skepticism. All things start someday – there is first time for everything!. Unfortunately i dont have option to upload picture that shows the email. Doc – can i send it to you? My intent is to make sure folks in community are aware that rules in this game are constantly changing!
PSA
Best way I’ve found to drain these @1% is paying mainly MC categories on Plastiq (i.e. Mortgage/Auto Loan or Lease).
Granted your limited on velocity to Loan payment amounts -but can also pay other categories the accept Visa, utilities or rent (we can pay all utilities with CC no fee but some don’t take Amex – but only Comcast earns 5x with CIC) So it’s a little hassle to enter the card on Plastiq unless you use a laptop/desktop.
How do you reliably only pay 1% on Plastiq?
These MCGC generally are 1%, but not all are (i.e., GCM are never 1%).
Thank you, works, really nice find here, I really appreciate it. This is worth a net value of $1,200 to me as I have a 0% loan and don’t do the other MS stuff (am curios about more though)
Does it mean it’s going to be Visa next week?