Have you checked out other stores or gas stations?
RFDers tend to buy them to meet minimum spend to unlock the welcome bonus on a new credit card. I assume that's what the OP is doing. I really hope he isn't buying them to give as gifts because nobody should do that.
would it be better to just buy an amazon shoppers or some other store gift card that u shop at then at least ur not wasting 3-5 on an activation fee.
Sure, if you don't mind tying up your spending to one of those places. A Visa/MC gift card can be spent anywhere including for things that have no gift cards available (like on that big car repair), so for some it's worth paying the 2-3% fee.
i guess but at shoppers or Walmart u can get a gift card for almost anything so not like there is not a lot of choices and don't most of those min requirement things only amount to like 50 to 100 bucks so its not like its hard to spend 50 or 100 at Walmart or another place u can get a gift card with no fee for.
Depends where you shop. The last time I bought a gift card to meet credit card MSR it was at SDM on a $200 Visa card that I paid $7 to activate, so 3.5%. There were literally no gift cards in the store for places that I knew I would shop at. So I got the Visa card and used it up in a few days. Worked for me.aaron158 wrote: ↑ i guess but at shoppers or Walmart u can get a gift card for almost anything so not like there is not a lot of choices and don't most of those min requirement things only amount to like 50 to 100 bucks so its not like its hard to spend 50 or 100 at Walmart or another place u can get a gift card with no fee for.
Not so much if you are looking to spend in the THOUSANDS
Do you intend on gifting a Visa or Mastercard? There are prepaid bank cards you can sign up for that work the same for personal use without the fees so the retail cards are primarily being sold online due to low demand.
Just in case you don't know that 99% of people on RFD are looking for ways to buy prepaid gcs using a real credit card.
I'm talking VISA prepaid, not the reloadable type. For the ones sold at Post Office the fees are $3.95 for values of $25-$49.99, $4.95 for 50-$99.99, $5.95 for $100-$149.99 and $6.95 for $150-$500. ZERO usage fees thereafter. I buy the $500 cards ($6.95 fee = 1.4%) and use them for all online purchases, so I'm safe from retailer hacks
Is it possible that stores are keeping these behind the counter because of those Indian scam call centres?
Buy your card with cash or debit only at Canada Post. Just in case you don't know that 99% of people on RFD are looking for ways to buy prepaid gcs using a real credit card.Kfox wrote: ↑ I'm talking VISA prepaid, not the reloadable type. For the ones sold at Post Office the fees are $3.95 for values of $25-$49.99, $4.95 for 50-$99.99, $5.95 for $100-$149.99 and $6.95 for $150-$500. ZERO usage fees thereafter. I buy the $500 cards ($6.95 fee = 1.4%) and use them for all online purchases, so I'm safe from retailer hacks
lol do you spend $4-$20k @ Amazon a year? Cause I don’t and money would be locked up. Lol. Think
PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Not so much if you are looking to spend in the THOUSANDS
Which is what most CC Churners are doing ... they want to put the money into something they truly can use anywhere anytime vs sitting on say a pile of GCs in the $ 50 or $ 100 amount for a bunch of stores they dont truly know when they’ll shop at next ... or get to spend the total anytime soon (say $ 1000 in Grocery Store GCs)
By buying Visa or MasterCard GC, they have the ability to spend the money on it pretty much anywhere for anything
And when it comes to the GC carrying cost ... it’s chump change vs the perks earned at the other end for making those qualifying purchases
Example ... Airmiles Reserve Card, needs a $ 3000 spend in 3 months to earn back 2400 Bonus AirMiles
2400 Airmiles is $ 250+ (Never mind all the other perks that come with that particular CC ... like Airport Lounge Access / Travel Insurances / Flex Fly / or Annual Companion Flights)
All in the new card holder could easily be seeing a return of $ 500 to $ 1000 annually
Not sure WHY you chose to quote me in your Reply # 18
Oh man. That's a lot of fees just for making online purchases. If that's all you are doing, you should get one of the free reloadable prepaids like Koho, Mogo, or Stack. You can load them up by Interac e-transfer and use them online. No fees. Or at least get a reloadable PayPower card. The fees are higher but you can reload them with a credit card at the supermarket. Load them with the right card and the points you earn will pay for all of the fees and then some.Kfox wrote: ↑ I'm talking VISA prepaid, not the reloadable type. For the ones sold at Post Office the fees are $3.95 for values of $25-$49.99, $4.95 for 50-$99.99, $5.95 for $100-$149.99 and $6.95 for $150-$500. ZERO usage fees thereafter. I buy the $500 cards ($6.95 fee = 1.4%) and use them for all online purchases, so I'm safe from retailer hacks
