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.
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1. Wait for the rebate card to arrive. 2. Call 866-923-0052, wait until after the Spanish greeting, then press 2,0 and request a check. 3. They will deactivate your card & mail you a check. 4. Wait for check to arrive. 5. Profit! no profit. If you try to use it, it will decline.
OR
1. Wait for the rebate card to arrive. 2. Go to your bank and request a Cash Advance on the Card (for its full amount of course). Most banks should be able to process it but will need your ID like your Driver License. 3. Deposit the cash into your account or walk out of there with Cash . I don't think you even have to have an account at the bank to do this Cash Advance.
Message edited by: canydavid on 2009-09-02 17:16:27 CDT
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:
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)
Someone is tracking my purchases
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 ...)
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
So far I had only received my money back from Symantec in the form of Visa Cards. I had almost stopped buying Symantec products unless they were a 150% or higher money maker. If all St@ples rebates are going in this direction, I may have to look elsewhere or just give up on rebates altogether.
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.
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.
I would use them either for Gas or Groceries, not that inconvenient. Yes, I know it means not racking up more points on the credit card, but it also means not having to stop at the bank.
I'm not familiar with the new program, but if they'll issue a single card and put all my rebates on it, that would be even better - and maybe faster, with no checks getting lost in the mail.
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.
meltowne said:I would use them either for Gas or Groceries, not that inconvenient. Yes, I know it means not racking up more points on the credit card, but it also means not having to stop at the bank.
I'm not familiar with the new program, but if they'll issue a single card and put all my rebates on it, that would be even better - and maybe faster, with no checks getting lost in the mail.
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.
meltowne said:I would use them either for Gas or Groceries, not that inconvenient. Yes, I know it means not racking up more points on the credit card, but it also means not having to stop at the bank.
I'm not familiar with the new program, but if they'll issue a single card and put all my rebates on it, that would be even better - and maybe faster, with no checks getting lost in the mail.
RE: but if they'll issue a single card and put all my rebates on it,
No, I would not want that. One for each rebate then I know I got it. It would be "whorendous" to have to check the balance every time they said I got the money and it's on the Visa.
Can one pay themselves thru paypal with these? Ive 2 accounts with PP, one bus. and the other normal freebie type. Yea I know I'd take a hit on the fee, but just wondering.
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!
Well, When im down to a few bucks, I just pay off some of my eBay fee, they take as little as a dollar. gas purchases are also a way to do it, but yes, Paying with gift cards do suck, of course selling them with a buy it now for say $40 for a $40 card and the buyer gets like 25% back, is an ok idea, but we still have to pay final value fees and paypal fees. Everyone gets a piece of the pie!!(cept my uncle)
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.
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.
yesidonoitall said: 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's not quite that easy to use. Using your example, if the purchase comes to $100.01, the gift card will be declined. If it comes to $99.67, you are stuck with a card that has a $.33 balance and you have to figure out a way to spend exactly $.33 if you want to get full value from the card.
Yes, if you make a $100.01 purchase, you can try telling the cashier to only charge $100 on the card and let you pay $.01 in cash. If you are lucky, you'll get a cashier who knows how to do that. If you are unlucky, the cashier will have to call over the manager who will futz around with the cash register for ten minutes and finally tell you it can't be done.
The easy way to spend a Visa gift card is to find something that costs exactly the amount of the gift card. For example, my phone company lets me specify the exact amount I want to pay when I pay online. I just put in the balance of the gift card. Or just buy a store gift card for the exact amount of your Visa gift card. If you have a store gift card for $100 and your purchase comes to $100.01, the cash register automatically deducts $100 from your store gift card (instead of rejecting it like a Visa gift card) and asks for the balance due without any special action or knowledge on the part of the cashier.
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. I don't think you even have to have an account at the bank to do this Cash Advance.
