Expired: Latest Visa Gift Card Deal Roundup [4/3 Update: $20 off $100 at OM/OD, Q2 Credit Card 5x]

Here’s a roundup of the current Visa and Master gift card deals, which can help you meet minimum spending requirements or make a little profit on the side.

[Update 4/3] OM/OD $20 off $100 is an amazing moneymaker deal; analysis of buying VGCs with credit cards for 5%/5x in Q2

Buy Visa Gift Cards In-Store at Office Depot/Max: $10 off each $50

HT. Laptop Travel

• Deal: From 4/2/2017 to 4/15/2017, buy eligible gift cards of $50 or more in-store at OD or OM, including Master gift cards, and get $10 off. The maximum discount is $20 off per transaction, so buying $100 automatically takes off $20. Buying $200 is still only $20 off.
• Cost breakdown: $206.95 (total cost of Visa gift cards) - $200 - $20 = -$13; that means at least a $13 profit per transaction, and with 1% credit card rewards the total profit becomes about $15.
• Things to note: The stated limit is up to two $10 discounts per person, but if the cashier doesn’t care, you may be able to keep buying. Of course, you can also come back multiple times.
• My take: This is even better if you have a 5x office supply credit card, such as SimplyCash, Ink Cash, or Ink Plus.

Citi Dividend 5% Drug Store (2017 Q2)

• Deal: In Q2, using Citi Dividend to buy Visa gift cards at drug stores can earn 5% cash back.
• Restrictions: Activation is required. Ends 6/30/2017. The annual cash back cap is $300, so if you haven’t used this card before, you can spend up to $6,000 to earn the full $300 cash back. Activation link
• Cost breakdown: $504.95 (total cost of Visa gift cards) - $500 = $4.95; 4.95/500 = 1% fee. With 5% cash back, you profit about $20 per card.
• Things to note: If the card is new, don’t buy too much at once so you don’t attract attention. Drugstore Visa gift cards cannot have your name printed on them. Also pay attention to the issuer of the Visa gift card and whether it can be loaded or used to buy MO.
• My take: This is a very good deal. Drugstores like CVS and Walgreens also carry several kinds of Visa gift cards. Paying a 1% fee to get 5% back means a net gain of 4%, so it’s worth maxing out if you can. After spending the full $6,000 in Q2, this card can go back in the sock drawer.
• Related links: Citi Dividend credit card review 、 2017 quarterly 5x summary

Chase Freedom 5% Grocery & Drug store (2017 Q2)

• Deal: In Q2, using Chase Freedom to buy Visa gift cards at grocery stores or drug stores can earn 5% cash back / 5x UR.
• Restrictions: Activation is required. Ends 6/30/2017. Cap is $1,500 ($75). Activation link
• Cost breakdown: $504.95 (total cost of Visa gift cards) - $500 = $4.95; 4.95/500 = 1% fee. At 5% back, that’s at least $20 profit per card.
• Things to note: If the card is new, don’t buy too much at once so you don’t attract attention. Grocery store Visa gift cards cannot have your name printed on them. Also pay attention to the issuer of the Visa gift card and whether it can be loaded or used to buy MO. Try to avoid holding US Bank Visa gift cards for too long.
• My take: This is a very good deal. Many chain grocery stores sell Visa gift cards and let you pay with a credit card, and drugstores like CVS also carry several types of Visa gift cards. Paying a 1% fee to get 5% back means a net gain of 4%, so it’s worth maxing out if you can. 5x UR is worth at least 5% cash, and if redeemed well, it can be worth 8%.
• Related links: Chase Freedom credit card review 、 2017 quarterly 5x summary

Discover it 5% Sam's Club (2017 Q2)

• Deal: Use Discover it to buy Mastercard gift cards in-store at Sam's Club and earn 5% cash back.
• Restrictions: Activation is required. Ends 6/30/2017. Cap is $1,500 ($75). Activation link
• Cost breakdown: $504.95 (total cost of Visa gift cards) - $500 = $4.95; 4.95/500 = 1% fee
• Things to note: If the card is new, don’t buy too much at once so you don’t attract attention. Grocery store Visa gift cards cannot have your name printed on them. The vanilla-type Master gift cards sold at Sam's Club can only be liquidated at Walmart in $49.99 increments, though at USPS or some chain grocery stores they can be used directly to buy money orders.
• My take: This is a very good deal. Paying a 1% fee to get 5% back means a net gain of 4%, so it’s worth maxing out if you can. If you can’t liquidate the vanilla type all at once, buy carefully. Doing $49.99 at a time is painful. Of course, using Visa gift cards to pay utilities or phone bills directly is also a good option, effectively making it 5% on everything. New Discover cardholders may also have a first-year Cashback Match, so 10% back is very attractive.
• Related links: Discover it credit card review 、 Discover double cash back guide、 2017 quarterly 5x summary

Giftcards.com 1.25% Cash Back

• Deal: If you click through from cash back portals like TopCashback, SimpleBestCoupon, or Swagbucks to Giftcards.com, you can also get 1.25% cash back.
• Cost breakdown: $506.95 (total cost of Visa gift cards) + $1.99 (shipping) - $500 - $6.25 (2% portal cash back) = $3, which works out to a 0.6% fee.
• Things to note: Buying too much at once or too much within a short period may get your Giftcards.com account shut down.
• My take: If you’re trying to meet a minimum spending requirement for a sign-up bonus, this method can get you very close to break-even. These Visa gift cards not only have a PIN, but can also have your own name printed on them, so they’re a great option for liquidation or buying MO. Personally, this is my favorite way to complete minimum spending requirements.
• Related links: TopCashback（sign up here，TCB guide）、Giftcards.com（view here）

Expired

Staples $300 Master GC Get $20 Staples GC (3/19-3/25)

• Deal info: Buy $300 in Mastercard gift cards in-store at Staples and, after submitting the rebate, you can get a $20 Staples gift card as a rebate. Valid 3/19-3/25.
• Cost calculation: $206 + $105 (total cost of the Visa gift cards) - $300 - $20 (rebate) = -$9. In other words, before even counting any credit card rewards, you come out $9 ahead. Of course, a Staples gift card is not as valuable as a Visa gift card.
• Things to note: One rebate per household. Just submit the rebate online through easy rebate. Staples only carries $100 and $200 Mastercard gift cards in-store, so either $300 or $400 works.
• My take: This is very good if you're trying to meet a minimum spending requirement for a signup bonus. It's even better if you have something like Ink that earns office supply stores at 5x. This Mastercard gift card has a PIN, so you can load it to a prepaid card, or simply use it directly like a debit card.
• Related link: Staples ad (select the 3/19-3/25 ad, page 5)

Buy $300 at Staples in-store and get a $20 Visa Rebate (March 12-18)

• Deal info: Buy $300 in Visa gift cards in-store at Staples and, after submitting the rebate, you can get a $20 Rebate Visa Card. Valid 3/12-3/18.
• Cost calculation: $206 + $105 (total cost of the Visa gift cards) - $300 - $20 (rebate) = -$9. In other words, before even counting any credit card rewards, you come out $9 ahead.
• Things to note: One rebate per household. Just submit the rebate online through easy rebate. Staples only carries $100 and $200 Visa gift cards in-store, so either $300 or $400 works.
• My take: This is very good if you're trying to meet a minimum spending requirement for a signup bonus. It's even better if you have something like Ink that earns office supply stores at 5x. This Visa gift card has a PIN, so you can load it to a prepaid card. Unfortunately, you can only do it once.
• Related link: Staples ad (page 2)

Basics

Here is a simple introduction to some basic concepts. More will be added as new deals come up. If you have questions, feel free to leave a comment~

• Visa gift card: A Visa gift card can be used at any merchant that accepts Visa. If it has a PIN, it can also be loaded to certain prepaid cards at some merchants.
• Loading the bird: “Bird” = prepaid card. “Loading the bird” means loading a Visa gift card onto a prepaid card. The funds in the prepaid card can then be used to pay credit cards or transferred back to a bank account.
• Prepaid Card: For example, Blue Bird, Serve, Gobank, etc.
• MO: Money Order, a cash equivalent. Beginners should avoid it if possible.
• Cost: The fee required to buy a $500 VGC. If the cost is lower than the rewards you earn back, or if you're willing to pay that cost to complete spending for a signup bonus, then it is a good deal.
• Why do Visa gift card deals: By buying Visa gift cards with low fees > loading them to a prepaid card -> using that to pay back your credit card, you can profit from the cycle (credit card rewards + portal rewards > fees). It is also a low-cost way to generate a large amount of spending to meet signup bonus requirements.