Staples changed their rebate payment type from check to visa gift cards

I just realized that Staples offers visa gift cards instead of rebate checks stating from this week. I think it sucks. I just wanna share it with you guys.

If this is true, it really sucks. While I have come across some who prefer this method as this prevents a trip to the bank, I personally prefer the check. I see at least the following drawbacks in receiving my money back as a Visa Card:

1. Someone else is earning interest on my money (however little it may be for a single individual, the combined value of all rebates can be quite meaningful)


2. Someone is tracking my purchases


3. Once I have made some purchases, I have to find a way to get the remaining exact amount to be used somehow (biggest pain in the ...)


4. My payment to phone and newspaper companies ended up putting a larger hold amount because of which I couldn't use the balance until the hold was released

NoMoneyInMyWallet said: deepwallet said: Once I have made some purchases, I have to find a way to get the remaining exact amount to be used somehow (biggest pain in the ...)I gave up on spending the debit cards piece meal. Now I just buy a Rite Aid GC and use it to buy FAR items to convert it to cash.

Sucks that you have to give up CC rewards because you have debit cards to spend. I personally lose 3% to 5% when I use a rebate debit card vs. one of my CCS.

I just buy gasoline with the debit cards. Easy way to spend it all at once and be done with it.

Interesting about the change at Staples, can understand the Visa Card thing with rebates $20 and up but what about their famous $2.99 rebate for a pack of pens? Can't believe they'd issue a Visa card for small rebates unless those are a thing of the past too (free AR pens). Maybe the fees associated with checks were getting too high or they got rid of Parago as their processor.

Since Sunday
Bought 2 Compaqs with a FAR HP printer
3 Dell XPS with FAR HP printer
All indicate a check...

2 Kodak digital cams with FAR Epson r280, those indicate a Visa.

Visa or check, all the same to me.

Just purchased the HP 3600n clr laser printer and the $200 rebate is in the form of prepaid visa. I prefer a check to pay my bills but I guess I can always use this to buy gas.

Bittermelon said: purchased sharp fax machine and brother labeler and they are both visa cards. hope this is only for select items

I also purchase a Sharp fax machine & Brother labeler (PT80) - Sharp is Visa Card & Labeler is check.

I also saw the rebate in the form of a Visa Card, I wasn't really paid attention until now. It still wouldn't stop me as I usually give Visa/Master Cards to my niece/god-daughter to help them on their learning process on plastic.

Burnt through $100 in Norton Prepaid cards today. Good riddance.

$40 for gas.
$60 at CVS for 2 x $25 AMEX GCs (for $25 Spring Fling promo) + a couple of FA ECB items.

I agree these Visa Gift Cards are a HORRIBLE way to pay rebates. Symantec did this and it was very unpopular with customers. I am surprised this is being done more often, not less. I guess more of us need to complain.

That said, it is true they are doing it because:

* They earn interest on the money on the card until you use it.
* Most people never use the exact amount, so they get back a dollar or two on many cards left over people forget about. That really adds up!

I did discover that the best method when this happens is to IMMEDIATELY buy a gift card to a store you shop often with it. They gets the money off the Visa gift card (no interest for them) and you can then apply that gift card towards your next purchase at said store, using every penny you are due!

I use gift cards to buy / reload a WalMart gift card which is then used to get another 3 cents off per gallon of gas

tcool93 said: I really hate getting a Vista gift card for a rebate. Usually all the ones I have seen, will reduce the amount of your "refund" for each month that you don't use the card. I'm sure thats why they do it, so they can rip people off.

Plus I would bet there is some kind of extra charges if you do something wrong. I'm not sure if you can overcharge on it or not, but I'm sure they would tack on a large fee for it.

And its a pain trying to find something that costs what the "rebate" is worth. Its all just a huge hassle, and an attempt to try and rip customers off of getting all their rebate.

The card is simple to use.
Sat it is for $100
buy whatever, that will be subracted and you use it again.
There is no fee for using it.

Rebate checks also have exp dates, whats the big deal.

It is just terrible since there is no activation mechanism to protect the card from stealing. My two norton cards were stolen and used. Now it is more than a month since I filed the dispute, I don't even hear anything back from the rebate center or the card issuer.

Got the VISA rebate card and verified with $200 credit. Used it to pay Verizon bill and what a pain in butt and got ripoff for transaction charge. Apparently it charges you $1 each time you use it so when I pay Verizon $200 it took $1 off so the balance is $199 and it got declined because the balance is $199. I did it 2 more times before I figured out that it takes a $1 off for fees and now it only had $197 left. So I applied $197 to the bill and this time it was good. I'll have to dispute this with either Staples or the card issuer tomorrow. I remember reading footnotes somewhere that we don't get charged for transactions. Anyone have this transaction fee problem?

ANightShopper said: hkteaman said: Got the VISA rebate card and verified with $200 credit. Used it to pay Verizon bill and what a pain in butt and got ripoff for transaction charge. Apparently it charges you $1 each time you use it so when I pay Verizon $200 it took $1 off so the balance is $199 and it got declined because the balance is $199. I did it 2 more times before I figured out that it takes a $1 off for fees and now it only had $197 left. So I applied $197 to the bill and this time it was good. I'll have to dispute this with either Staples or the card issuer tomorrow. I remember reading footnotes somewhere that we don't get charged for transactions. Anyone have this transaction fee problem?Do not worry. You need to go to Verizonwireless B&M to pay their bills without $1 authorisations. They have billing ATMs there. Wait couple of weeks for the release $3 back to your card before going to do it. And don't drop the card balance below $1. It won't take it.

To the people saying it doesn't matter and paying for gas with this. It matters because credit cards pays you Cash Back as little as %5 at the pump.

I guess its too late now that I used the $197 that was left after the 3 attempt from Verizon to charge $200 initially.

Thanks for the replies.

VivYip said: how long does the visa take to arrive from the time rebateshq says the card has been mailed?

Personal experience is 7-10 days.

With some of my recent purchases I would have to carry a 2nd wallet just for these Debit Cards.

Does anyone know if there is a way to provide feedback to St@ples that we would prefer a choice of Visa Debit Card or Check?

After all, St@ples has been a very customer friendly store thus far and they just might listen. Who knows???

jacquesb said: If you purchase an item at a retail store with that Visa Prepaid Card, and later return that item, will the retailler give you Cash Back, or will they only give you a store credit?Neither. They're suppose to refund back to the card.

So, don't throw away the card until you know you're done with it. More reason to either use it on consumables (gas, food, etc.) or buy a store gift card.

paid myself via paypal. One reg account to my bus account. they take 41.75 per $50, so i kinda sux, but its a way to get cash out of it.

I did request some checks for these debit cards before and I got them within one week. However, recently, I've been waiting for a month and haven't got my checks yet. They said that I had to wait for 4-6 weeks. Has anyone experienced this delay?

1brooklyn1 said: To avoid getting those annoying debit cards, and get a check instead, dial 866-496-6189( even though the number is for symantec debit cards I found it to work for any easy rebate debit card) press 0-0-tracking number- 4 -2 to get customer service, (- = followed by). Get the tracking number by going to rebateshq.com, it will generally take a few days for the tracking # to show up at rebateshq.com, after it was submitted on StaplesEasyRebates.com. Also, don't request the check until you see that the debit card was sent out, which can be seen at rebateshq.com, usually 3-4 weels on an easy rebate. The only downside to getting the check is you will have to wait an additional 7 to 10 days,which I still do anyway.

I missed $30 on one check too and it has been month and nothing changed. If the checks don't come within 3-5 days, for sure something wrong is happening. The CSR and supervisor insisted that I had to wait 4-6 weeks. They don't know what is going on. Should I file a BBB complaint?

Izpoof said: woodsley said: I did request some checks for these debit cards before and I got them within one week. However, recently, I've been waiting for a month and haven't got my checks yet. They said that I had to wait for 4-6 weeks. Has anyone experienced this delay?

1brooklyn1 said: To avoid getting those annoying debit cards, and get a check instead, dial 866-496-6189( even though the number is for symantec debit cards I found it to work for any easy rebate debit card) press 0-0-tracking number- 4 -2 to get customer service, (- = followed by). Get the tracking number by going to rebateshq.com, it will generally take a few days for the tracking # to show up at rebateshq.com, after it was submitted on StaplesEasyRebates.com. Also, don't request the check until you see that the debit card was sent out, which can be seen at rebateshq.com, usually 3-4 weels on an easy rebate. The only downside to getting the check is you will have to wait an additional 7 to 10 days,which I still do anyway.

loL. I GOT MY CHECKS IN ABOUT 3 DAYS. But.... I was supposed to get $500 on one check but only got $410, so im followig up on that. Secondly.. I use a 2nd address with a different zip code to get more rebates for when I go over the limit and I had $250 converted on those and I got one big check for $250 4 days later however it came to my 1st address address! lol.
On the phone now trying to find out where my missing $90 is at. And I still have like $1500 in credit/debit cards to go. Gawd this is a pain, but its worth it.

Just found out that my card is now worth ZERO 'cause they deducted $3 a month after 6 months. I didn't read the small print.) This is the last straw for me with Staples. Employees are of no help or rude unless they are trying to sell you a product warranty deal.