Can’t make it to a Staples Store before 3/11? Shop for Gift Cards Online
As we all know, Staples and Plink are separating on March 11, only to be replaced by Office Depot. Therefore, you only have 3 more days to earn Plink Points for your Staples purchases. If you are busy and can’t squeeze in any last minute visits to Staples, why not shop online? You cannot buy $200 Visa or Mastercard gift cards online, but you can buy $100 Visa gift cards (gift card link). The price comes to $106.95 with free shipping.
To sweeten the deal, there are plenty of cash back and miles/points-earning shopping portals to choose from on Cash Back Monitor. My favorite would be the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall, but chose whichever portal you want.
Assuming you haven’t made any Staples purchases this month (and can’t get to a Staples store before March 11), you could make 10 separate purchases for $106.95 at Staples.com through shopping portals. Here is the math:
- $106.95 x 7 pts/$ = 749 Chase Ultimate Reward Points
- 749 x 10 orders = 7,490 Chase Ultimate Reward Points
- $6.95 x 10 orders = $69.50 in activation fees
- $3.00 x 10 orders = $30.00 in Plink Points
- $69.50 – $30.00 = $39.50 out of pocket costs
- $39.50 / 7,490 Chase Ultimate Reward Points = 0.53 cents per point
However, if you are able to make it to a Staples store and purchase $200 Visa or Mastercard gift cards, you will come out further ahead.
- $206.95 x 5 pts/$ = 1,035 Chase Ultimate Reward Points
- 1,035 x 10 orders = 10,350 Chase Ultimate Reward Points
- $6.95 x 10 orders = $69.50 in activation fees
- $3.00 x 10 orders = $30.00 in Plink Points
- $69.50 – $30.00 = $39.50 out of pocket costs
- $39.50 / 10,350 Chase Ultimate Reward Points = 0.38 cents per point
As always, you can add a PIN to these gift cards and load them to your Bluebird Card at Walmart. Have you maxed out on your monthly Plink Points? If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. Have a great weekend!
Grant, don’t forget when you shopping at Staples store, you can save 1% on Visa SavingEdge when you using Chase Ink ( Visa ) purchase $200 or more. Love it!!!
Good point Wes, too bad I only have an Ink Bold MasterCard :(
Do you have experience with shopping portals to get cashback from staples on the purchase of visa gift cards? Some retailers (such as walmart) don’t give for visa gift cards.
I have bought through the SWA and UR mall and earned points.
I have used uPromise and received %5 cash back plus plink plus 5x UR on Ink Bold
That will work too.
Does any one know how this cut off works? Do the charges need to post before 3/11 or do you just have to make the purchases by 3/11? I am screwed if the latter is true. Charges never post THEN get reported to plink in two days… Any insights? Anyone?
We will just have to wait and see. Worst case scenario you will be out $3 in Plink Points. I think Plink will be somewhat lenient.
Can I do 10 orders in one day on Upromise and still have them count for Plink, or is there a limit on Staples orders in one day?
No limit that I am aware of. Staples might call you and ask you to verify that you made the same order 10 times. I would call them as soon as I finished making the 10 orders and let them know it was intentional.