Here’s how I’m working the Shaw’s gift card deal to score lots of goodies wicked cheap! Before I start, I want to let you know that this is the first time I do a gift card deal like this. And my awesome Shaw’s helped me learn the ropes! They are absolutely awesome in Sanford! And they don’t pay me to say that! lol
I know some of you shop at certain Shaw’s that are not a willing to show their love for couponers. If you have issues, do your survey that is on the bottom of your receipt and be honest! Not only can you win $100 by doing the survey, but Shaw’s will listen to what you have to say! It might help!
You can see the gift card deal is HERE and it’s going on through 11/28. You can use the MasterCard to purchase another MasterCard. You can’t use the $20 catalina to purchase a gift card, but you can use it toward the activation fee.
I know some are getting the full $2.00 value of the EE bogo coupon even when buying something less than $1.00. That never happened for me. And yes, I did lots of transactions! This was over two nights.
If your store is out of $100 mastercards, ask if they have more! Sanford says they have plenty!
I was going to break down every single transaction, but after a few attempts, I gave up. It would just take too long. Instead, I’ll show you how I did a few to give you an idea of how to do this.
The trick is to get as close to $120 after all other coupons. Then you use your $20 cat and $100 gift card to pay the bill!
I bought a $100 MasterCard and paid $5.95 activation fee
OOP (out of pocket) was $5.95
I’m not out that $100 because I now have it in the form of a mastercard
Got $20 catalina toward my next purchase.
I bought (1) package Sanford Town Trash Bags for $10
I bought (2) EE Food Storage Bags at $2.59 each
I bought (1) Bread in reduced for $1.20
I bought another $100 mastercard plus $5.95 activation fee
Total was $122.35 including tax
I used (1) EE bogo coupon, deducted $2.00
I used $20 cat and $100 gift card
OOP was $.35
I got another $20 catalina
I bought (2) gallons Milk at $3.80 each
I bought (8) Del Monte Canned Mixed Veggies on sale for $1.00 each
I bought (2) Ramen Noodles at $.25 each
I bought another $100 mastercard plus $5.95 activation fee
Total should have been $122.05 but it subtracted $.06 tax?, so $121.99
I used (2) $.50/4 Del Monte coupons (doubled to $1.00 off)
I used $20 cat and $100 gift card
OOP was ZERO (it left a penny on my card! lol)
I got another $20 catalina
I bought a Beef Roast at $17.96
I bought another $100 mastercard plus $5.95 activation fee
Total was $123.91
I used $3.00 off stickie coupon on the meat
I used the penny left on the previous card (yes, I did!)
I used $20 cat and $100 gift card
OOP was $.90
I got another $20 catalina
And I just kept going and going and going.
I got…
5 Sanford Trash Bags (those would normally cost $50 total!!!)
2 EE Nutty Nuggets cereal
2 Glad Cling Wrap
4 EE Ketchup
2 Cains Mayo
2 EE Canned Apricot
2 Beef Pot Roasts (one not in photo, in my belly)
2 EE Vegetable Oil
1 Argo Cornstarch
2 EE Brown Sugar
2 EE Raisin Canister
2 EE Sandwich Bags
2 EE Butter
8 EE Toilet Paper 1000 Sheets 4 Pack
8 Boxes Gelatin
2 McCormick Spices
2 Canola Oil
2 EE Storage Bags
1 Bread
2 Ramen Soup
8 Cans Del Monte Veggies
2 Gallons Milk
The total for the stuff I got (at sale price) is $205.39
After coupons and cats…
I paid $11.27 OOP
And that includes initial $5.95 activation fee, so everything in pic was only $5.32!
And I still have a $20.00 cat left over (and a $100 mastercard)
And guess where I’m going tomorrow!
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At my Shaws (Cambridge/Somerville off Mcgrath Hwy), there was a big sign posted above the gift card carousel. It read as follows:
FORMS OF PAYMENT FOR GIFT CARDS
Cash, check, credit, debit, PAC, and EBT cards are accepted for payment for Shaws gift cards and Gift Card Mall (that is what the carousel that holds the gift cards is called) purchases.
Some restrictions may apply:
– Shaws gift cards may be used to purchase Gift Card Mall gift cards up to $100
-Shaws gift cards may not be used to purchase Shaws gift cards
-Select loadable Visa cards require cash only payment. Loadable visa cards that are cash only payment with be indicated on the card carrier
-Non cash transactions of $300 or more will require manager review and approval
-A valid picture ID may be requested to complete the transaction.
There is a smaller sign posted next to it stating no refunds or exchanges on gift cards, all sales final.
This had me more than a little scared/confused/nervous to try and roll the deal. It seems like, based on the wording of the sign, that the Mastercard gift card should be ok to buy with credit/another gift card. It’s not Visa, and I couldn’t find any wording on the outside or inside of the gift card packaging stating that the card could not be purchased with credit/debit/gift card, etc. But I examined all the gift cards on the rack, both visa and mastercard, and I couldn’t find a single “select visa card” that prohibited paying with a non-cash method. Which leads me to believe that perhaps the store is putting up that vague wording in order to provide them with a “reason” when they deny someone trying to roll the gift card deal. And then they made a big point of putting up the second sign regarding no exchanges/returns/all sales final on gift cards. I was worried that if I tested the deal and tried to roll the card, they would deny me and then use the rule about no returns/sale final to make me pay for the card with cash. I don’t know, I haven’t had the best luck with my store understanding coupons and deals, so I chickened out and just bought one gift card, with cash, and got my 20.00 catalina netting me a 14.00 profit. It’s better than nothing. Has anyone else tried rolling the deal at this store, or a store with the same sign and terms?
Sanford Shaw’s gave me copies of all that and I think the wording is probably exactly what you just said. And here’s the thing… a debit card is a valid form of payment. And that mastercard is a debit card! And on the receipt, it prints out a payment by mastercard. It does not show that payment was a gift card. If they didn’t want us to use it to pay for another, they should have excluded debit gift cards. But they didn’t. They say debit is okay and that’s what it is, a debit card. I know they probably didn’t intend for us to roll it, but intentions don’t cut it in the coupon world.
Hillsborough Shaws wouldn’t let me do second one. I had manager come over and he had a printed e-mail that said you couldn’t use a card mall gift card on another.
I think some stores got that email after the fact. Sanford still has the original wording up that states you can pay with a debit card. But now Sanford is saying if they see someone rolling it over, they will have to say no. If they don’t ask how we are paying, we can go ahead and swipe it. Just can’t go up to the register and open it in front of them… lol However, I know cashiers will probably ask and I don’t want the hassle. I’m moving on to plan 2 which I’ll post a bit later! lol
This didn’t work in Dover. They said you can’t purchase a giftcard with a giftcard. They wanted to know how I was planning to pay for the card before they even scanned it.
Tell them you are paying with your mastercard. That’s exactly how it prints out on the receipt.
They have a note typed up about it at all cashier stations.
They are “catching” people that are trying to do the deal. And there were a lot of women there picking up the $100 Mastercards, so I’m interested to see what others experience was there. I knew I should have gone to Sanford! 🙂
Random question: Do you think you can buy the gift card at the auto checkout station instead of dealing with a live cashier? Some of my cashiers are kind of grumpy and get really defensive when dealing with any kind of “deal”, especially if they think you are getting a “payout” so to speak. I find it easier to deal with the auto checkout machine. It doesn’t care what I do as long as the coupons are legit and scan properly!
I don’t know if the self scan would know how to activate it. Also, I bet someone would have to come over to enter the $20 cat. I expect it would be a hassle. If you try it, let me know!
Hi Darlene. The Paypal MC at CVS is HORRIBLE. They at first refused to activate it- “couldn’t find me”. Then they wanted my SS card, utility statement faxed to them. I brought the card back to CVS to return, and the manager called them. They agreed to activate IF I answered 3 questions- get 1 wrong they would not activate. City was I born, what state did I live in as a child, and who do you know out of these 3 names (2 made up, but they were ethnic): Nassar Belize, Armando Cruz, and my married daughter, under her married name! Seriously!!!!
$4.95 act. fee and it took off the 1st month fee of $4.95 immediately, so it cost $9.90. OK, rant over LOL!
Some are for sure having a hard time with that CVS gc. Others are saying it’s a breeze! Personally, I would not touch it… lol! Just too many issues.
How long is this gift card deal?
Through 12/5
How long is the cat good for?
One week. And you can only used one at a time.
Also where do they keep the gift cards? At each register, service desk or on one of those gift card displays???
In the gift card displays.
Thank you for explaining this!!! I live in Waterboro and love the Sanford shaws!! I’m going to give it a try tomorrow. My only hope is that my 20month old and 3 month old let me squeeze in 4 or 5 transactions before having meltdowns 😉
I always leave the store and put my groceries in my car after each transaction. My question is, do u do the same or do they let u do multiple transactions at the register? Just curious as I will have my little peanuts with me!
I did every single transaction separate except my very last one. But I do one, tie the bag then walk around and do another. After 2 I went to the car to put those away and to cool off (sanford shaw’s keeps it soooo hot!!!). And cool off I did, ’cause it was freezing out! lol On my last trip, I did one with a few items then I had one with just the roast. I did those back to back on the belt because there was no one at all behind me and my cashier was super quick and it was like the grand finale! lol
I did 5 transactions this morning and all 5 were a sucess! Thank you sooo much again for the heads up on this one!!! I hope the Sanford shaws has tons of master cards because as I was finishing up my last transaction there were 3 other ladies just starting there’s! Would have done more but my pre-teen toddler was starting to act up 😉
Looking forward to going to do a few more once we all have lunch and naps 😀
I guess I’m confused because it sounds as if you still bought $100 gift cards. So the only items that were free was from the $20 cat cards ever time you bought a $100 gift card is that right? Or did the $100 gift card get refilled with out you paying out of pocket?
I bought a $100 card each time and used the one from before to pay for it. I have one $100 left so I’m not out $100. I still have my original $100, just in the form of a gift card which I can use on whatever I want. When I’m done rolling it, I’ll use it for gas instead of using my credit card. The free groceries comes from using the catalina, one per trip. And you want to stick as close to $20 (including the activation fee) after all other coupons to keep your out of pocket down.
I meant that you want to stick s close to $120, not $20. Then you use your cat and your gift card to pay. I had several transactions that were zero!
How long are the catalina’s good for?
Do you know if there is a limit on each transaction? – for instance if I purchase 3 cards in the same transaction, will I get 3 catalina’s?
The cats are good for only 1 week. And I didn’t ask, but I think you only get 1 $20 cat at a time, so only buy $100 at a time. I’m not positive, but I would not chance it. And you can only use 1 $20 per transaction, so even if you got 3, you’d have to do 3 separate transactions to use them.
I’d really love a more in depth post on the actual gift card that is being rolled. My main concern are hidden fees. CVS is having a huge nightmare right now with a 150 dollar prepaid mastercard that gives out a 50 dollar ECB reward. The catch is that the card has a monthly fee that is incurred once it’s activated, and it will keep incuring a fee, even if the card is zero balance. You have to call and cancel the actual card to avoid all the fees acruing and it’s a real bitch to cancel. AND they want your SS# to activate the card in the first place! What are the terms and fees for the mastercard you have been rolling?
This mastercard gift card is like your normal gift card. As soon as you use it, you toss it. It does say that if you let it go a year without any activity, they deduct $2 off the balance per month until it’s empty. How can that CVS card charge you after it’s empty? I can see how they have the capability to deduct from the balance, but once it’s empty, what are they going to do, send you a bill?
its linked to your paypal account so they take the fee from there as long as the account is open.
In order to active the card for use, you have to also call or go online and fill out a bunch of info….name, address, ss#….some people have even reported being told they had to provide a copy of their DL, Utility bill, etc since they were a new customer. It’s really bizarre. You can read all about it on the massive thread in the CVS forum at afullcup.com
I would totally stay away from that CVS card! It sounds more like a bank card, not a gift card. I don’t think you get that CVS one then give it as a gift to someone, right? The mastercard at shaw’s is a gift card that you can give to someone. There is nothing involved to get it or to use it and no way to track it back to you. Just an ordinary card.
I just read about the CVS card on A Full Cup and I don’t think it’s that scary. I think a lot of people are just saying stuff, thinking out loud, and not really sure what the deal it. So, I don’t want to say that the CVS deal is one to stay away from. I’d have to see the deal to know more.
so out of pocket was 100 for gift card and you could use that to buy another and then you would get cat?
I don’t consider that $100 as out of pocket because it never left my pocket. I just moved $100 from my credit card to a gift card. When you buy one, you get a $20 catalina. Then when you do the next transaction, you buy another $100 card and use the previous card to pay. You want to keep the next transaction as close to $120 as you can after all other coupons including the activation fee. Then you use your cat and gift card to pay. I know it’s confusing.
This is how I understand the deal:
Step 1: Go to the store with $105 cash in your pocket
Buy a $100 gift card and pony up for the 4.95 activation fee. Give nice Cashier lady all your moolah. Receive a 20 dollar Catalina.
Step 2: Buy one 100 dollar gift card and 15.00 of additional merchandise. Pony up for the 4.95 activation fee for the new gift card. Hand the nice cashier lady the 100 dollar gift card purchased in Step 1 as well as the 20 dollar Catalina received from Step 1. Depending on how close to $15.00 your merchandise was, you may have to hand the nice cashier lady a couple pennies.
Step 3: Leave the store with $100 gift card and $20.00 Catalina in your pocket. Plus a bag full of $15.00 worth of merchandise. The only thing you have “lost between Step 1 and Step 3 is the 5 bucks you ponied up for the 1st gift card. But in exchange for that 5 bucks you have gotten 15 bucks in merchandise and 20 bucks in store credit (catalina) for next time. And you still have $100 dollars in the form of the gift card that can be spent the same as you would have the original cash you walked in with.
Rachel, you are hired! lol That’s about the best way to describe it. But the activation fee is $5.95, so you try to pick up $14.05 worth of stuff, and that is after coupons. I know some are mentioning a $4.95 fee, so maybe it’s different in different states? Different towns? Not sure. But that is such a good way to explain it!!!