[quote=“TripleB, post:123, topic:649”]
I like your philosophy. You should consider teaching it![/quote]
I see what you did there, TripleB. 
1 Like
I’ll keep using my OBCs for AXP sync offers. When juicy offers come, my primary and AU cards always get them and they’re always utilized that’s why I continue to get them. I hope I’ll find that other CC others were talking about that gives as much, if not higher CBs with much lesser fees.
$30/HR - that’s funny.
1 Like
Do the discounted Visa GC deals at Office Depot/Office Max still come around? I don’t remember specifics because I Never used them but I remember them being something like activation fees waived or something, limit one or two per customer.
While I don’t want to get into MS in a big way, I realize with my foray into Walmart Chase Freedom Q4 spend that I have no problem spending a few hundred dollars on a gift card organically over the course of a month, on spend that I’d otherwise only earn 2% rewards on. And I have one of the old Chase Ink cards that does 5% at office supply - and more importantly, I need a few thousand more UR for a trip I’m planning and if I can do $1,000 worth of visa GC at office supply, that’s 5k UR.
Sign up for Uber visa local deals. That $1000 of spend at Staples could earn you $50 in under credits.
You’re starting down a long and winding road. Welcome TripleB.
2 Likes
What are the best MS opportunities for Office Spend? I have an older Chase Ink Business Cash card that has no AF and 5% UR for up to $25k/year Office Supply Store.
I took a trip to Office Depot today and the “best” I saw were $200 Visa GC with a $5.95 fee. That comes out to 2% net cash back, if I value UR at 1 cent per point. Which comes out to be $500 if I use my entire $25k. Definitely not worth it, given Chase is my primary bank and I don’t want to make them mad. I am a few thousand UR short of a trip so I’d like to do a little.
Is my best bet staples online $300 GC they mail you with an $8 fee?
Heads up on OD/OM promo starting this Sunday, Oct 22:
Office Depot/Max: $15 Instant Discount with $300 in Visa Gift Cards Five-Back [10/22-10/28]. Limit one per transaction.xxxxxxxx
FiveBack VGC variables are up to $200 with a fee of $6.95 and you can buy two to get $15 discount. NOT all OD/OM carry FiveBacks and I’m not sure if the regular VGCs will also qualify for the promo. You can call your branch so you don’t waste gas/effort if they don’t carry the 5Backs. The Grocery/Dining/Style everywhere variable VGCs have lesser fees at $4.95, hopefully they qualify for the $15/$300 discount as well. I’ve been waiting for this promo to come back!
1 Like
Staples is matching with an offer of their own 10/22-10/28, not an instant discount but still good for some spend.
But in general yes the $300 cards from staples are the best bet. They go in/out of stock from time to time.
For those doing the $15 rebate at Staples for buying $300 Visa/MC GC, take note that offer is IN-STORE only so you need to buy two $200 of either Visa or MC GCs and pay $13.90 in fees. The best CCs to use are: Chase Ink+, Chase InkCash, AXP simply cash since they give 5% reward for purchases at office stores. Sad to say there is limit of 1 per name and address although there are those who managed to send submissions using different addresses. No guarantees of success for those who submit multiple rebates.
I did see FiveBack VGCs in stock at my local OD today when I looked. I’m a little concerned about old threads I’ve read on /r/Churning that some ODs block sales made by CC and only accept cash for the GC purchase.
Any tips on what to do with the FiveBack cards? Do you just drain them buying Walmart GCs? Personally, I’ll probably just use for organic spend, since I put $500 per month on CCs anyway for regular routine spending. But maybe I’ll go nuts and buy a few extra and try to cash them out in the form of Money Orders.
the method of paying AXP CC using VGCs have been discussed in other boards but it’s a bit more expensive than the MO route. It is using MoneyGram with much higher fees charged at WM than the MO route of .70 per $1000. While this works for some, many have also been shutdown for this method.
1 Like
just keep in mind, the $15 rebate offer on $300 or more V/MC offer at Staples is only available IN-STORE and b&m stores don’t carry $300 VGCs, they sell only up to $200 fixed amounts.
Has anyone ever used a card embosser to put their name and make a VGC look like a debit card for the purposes of buying MO’s. My local Walmart always like to see the card you swipe.
1 Like
Buying a card embosser on the internet and having $100k+ of money order deposits in your bank accounts seems like a great way to meet some federal law enforcement agents.
3 Likes
It’s rare for WM associates at my go-to stores to ask to see the GC but even if they do, I buy most of my GCs online and they have my name on them in case they want to look. I put my DL on top so they can easily match the name and that makes them cooperative.
I wouldn’t go to the extent of buying an embosser since most of the GCs on the rack say Gift Card Recipient or something similar they can still see even with a name embossed on top of it.
As to getting questioned by LEA, it’s possible but as long as you have paper trail of what you’re doing and can explain each step, you don’t have anything to worry about. A particular MSer Tahsir who is well known on travel codex blog was questioned by LEA at a WM in TX, google for his (mis)adventure and read the interesting discussions that came with it. I have MSd in different ways as it has evolved over the years and I feel confident of what I’m doing. As always, YMMV 
@Ma_Barker
Which online GC have your name imprinted on them? And where do you order them from?
Found it for anyone else interested: I Was Detained by the Police for Manufactured Spending - Travel Codex
I buy my GCs with my name on it from giftcard mall. for details, check the wiki on flyertalk including DPs from those banned from ordering. GCs bought from them DO NOT work at USPS.
2 Likes
What is DP?
It appears Gift Card Mall charges a $5.95 fee for a $500 GC which is 1.2%.
Assuming a 2% Cash Back credit card, you’re only making 0.8% return which might come out to $5 an hour depending on daily limits of money orders from Wal Mart. Even assuming a promotion 3% cash back card like Alliant’s card during the first year, it seems fairly low return.
I’ve always thought you needed to do this on a 5% office supply card to make it profitable, or do it in conjunction with minimum spending requirements for multiple cards.
Please explain the gift card mall card deal - are people using 2% cards and making high enough volume that 0.8% is worth it, or is it just for minimum spend signup bonuses? Or is there a loophole to get more than 2% on gift card mall?
2 Likes