Update 8/30/24: This wasn’t just Amazon, but NY state wide. Part of a test by Amazon to see ‘evaluate how and where consumers purchase Amazon gift cards’. Cards will begin to be sold again starting early October. Hat tip to DDG
Reader Richard Y sent in an e-mail stating that they recently visited Staples in NY and noticed there weren’t any Amazon giftcards stocked, they asked a cashier and were told that these are no longer being stocked. Reddit user OkPhilosopher6566 confirms that a notification came down to remove them in all NY state stores by July 1st, 2024. At this stage it doesn’t look like this is affecting any other states but if you notice it at your local then let us know. This matters as many cards earn a category bonus on office supply stores.
Amazon was probably trying to see if people would start buying them online I guess? Probably want to see if they cut out some of the commission they need to pay
Or maybe to see if they would also simply buy them at other stores?
Maybe for some reason Amazon has to pay a higher commission at Staples than, for example, grocery stores for some reason?
I would expect any ‘negotiation’ of such things to favor the $1.87 trillion company rather than the $6.7 billion company.
I went to my Staples in NJ and they said they are no longer selling Amazon gift cards as of July 1.
I have no idea why people need Amazon GC anyway, you can buy fee free MC/Visa gift card and reload it to Amazon balance..
I live in NYS and never once buy a Amazon GC at Staples
I buy mine with Amazon Fresh 10% Chase deals. Can usually do $600 with all my cards when they offer it, have had it twice already this year. Even works better when the 5% quarter is grocery or Amazon.
Smart
I’ve read DP in the past of people getting banned and/or having problems for using Visa/MC gc to reload Amazon. Are those DPs not accurate?
I haven’t done this in maybe a year since it got to be a pain to delete the cards once I did, but I’ve probably run low five figures through Amazon with VGC.
Why reload Amazon when you can pay directly with the Gift Card?
I don’t follow your question. How is reloading Amazon not “paying directly” with the Visa/MC gc?
There’s no fee on Amazon giftcards so you don’t have to wait for the specials. If you are 100% are you will be spending on Amazon, it saves a step.
you do get 5% back with INKS’s
Or instead of waiting for an offer of a fee free MC/Visa gift card I can easily get an Amazon GC.
I am usually able to find Amazon GC at a 10%+ discount via a rebate from a credit card offer and / or a cashback portal.
@Dima care to share details on either of those?
Hmmm, no one heard about Albert here? ok, I’ll keep that one to myself. Now editing this post…
Bought some last week. If this is true, will try to load up before 7/1/24.
Hmm why can’t people buy Fee free MC/Visa GC and reload it, I always top up my Amazon balance with left over balance from VISA/MC gift card
I was at Staples today in Washington state and I saw plenty of Amazon gift cards available. Mastercards were the way to go today though.
They said removal from NYS
Besides the problem with scammers and the lower rate mentioned previously, maybe Staples realized that Amazon is a direct competitor.
dang – good thing i just got one last saturday 6/15 before they did this
When Staples/Amazon does the same for SF, LA city and then CA state there won’t be a shadow of doubt as to why. Enjoy what’s available till it’s ruined.
NY is lost, everyone knows that. The question, why should we care? 🙂
Were people buying these to resell or to use personally? If for personal use, a decent alternative would be to get the free Amazon prime card which gives you 5% back on all amazon purchases. Not quite as good at 6.25% or whatever people are cashing out their UR for, but still decent.
I use them for personal purchases on Amazon. Yes, I could get a dedicated credit card for Amazon, but that is exactly that – another credit card I probably wouldn’t use for anything else, and since my goal is to buy less stuff, not more, I think I would probably look for 3X Amazon gift cards at the grocery store instead of adding another card to my fleet (taking up a potentially precious 5/24 slot). I am not in NY, so not sure that this will ever impact me, though.
5% UR > 5% Amazon CC Statement Credit