The Offer
Direct link to offer (p13)
- American Express gift cards have a $0 purchase price at Walgreens until November 19th, 2016
The Fine Print
- Valid until November 19th, 2016
- Promo not valid in VT
Our Verdict
Might be useful for people that still need to spend $1,500 on the Chase Freedom for the 5% bonus at drugstores, other cards that earn at a high rate on drugstore purchases can be viewed here. Reader Jeff H also states you need to input your Walgreens Balance Rewards membership to get the fee waiver.
Hat tip to Stars09 on slickdeals
View Comments (19)
FYI I just did this in Georgia it works here.
Considering I am waiting for the other GC promos coming up (BB&B and OD), this one actually will be ok, too, but only because of the no fee.
I'm trying to decide whether it's better to buy one of these and liquefy it organically, or buy a Visa or MasterCard and buy a money order.
Let's assume I buy a $500 card with my 5% Chase Freedom.
Amex $500 * 5% = $25 profit
Visa/MC $500 * 5% + $5.95 * 5% - $5.95 - $0.70 = $18.65
Plus the opportunity to spend $500 on my Chase Freedom Unlimited elsewhere: $500 * 1.5% = $7.50
$18.65 + $7.50 = $26.15 profit
I'm guessing the $1.15 difference would be eaten up by gas...
good deal to use freedom or obc. only problem is how to liquidate amex gc.
How do You liquidate these?
My Plan is to use them next week on the OD/OM $15.00 off $300.00 VCG deal. I did this already with the Kroger $100.00 AMEX card last week. Use it as a CC - No PIN involved.
I purchased the no fee $100.00 MCGC for $100.00.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/officedepotmax-15-off-purchase-300-visa-gift-cards-store-limit-1/
Have you previously tried doing split transactions as credit at OD/OM? Does their POS system auto-drain the card as credit and then require add'l payment?
Thanks for the DP.
Obviously you don't have an Ink card, else you'd use that for the OD/OM deal.
Since most ways of liquidating gift cards require a PIN, Amex gift cards aren't so useful.
I used the Freedom card at Walgreens which @ 5% UR is the same thing for a card that does not give that rate at OM.
No I do NOT have INK, but I do have a new to me competitive card that will give 5 ppd spent. I do NOT want to set alarms and have it killed. I was gong to mix the sales.
AFIK, yes, OM/OD will flush the AMEX GC and indicate a balance due.
Unless you've hit the many OD/OM deals already and your Ink card needs 6 months to cool off. :)
Do they have variable load amex gcs at walgreens?
Up to $500.00 - yes. Sign on GC display limits purchase to $500.00 per GC brand per day. I was successful going to two locations. Both checked ID vs CC, No bid deal. Walgreen Balance Rewards number required or GC fee automatically rings up. Manager cannot override AFIK
how many $500 amex GC CAN one buy in one transaction at WG? can i buy 3 x $500 = $1500 at WG?
Depends if store enforces the $500.00 per brand per day max purchase rule on the GC display. I bought one card at each of two stores close to each other. Do you have other WGs near each other?
do most walgreens still not accept credit cards for GCs?
YMMV on location
In the LA area Walgreens has not accepted credit cards for these types of purchases for well over a year. Very rarely you can get a Rite-Aid cashier who is cooperative. And CVS is fine as long as you don't exceed their daily limit (not sure of the amount, I think it's $1200). But no Walgreens.
Rite-Aids are now hard-coded not to take ccs for variable load gift cards.
the ones near me accept ccs but sometimes they only let me buy one at a time.