Trade or Sell Your Gift Card
Got a Gift Card You Don't Want? Swap It Online!
How to exchange a gift card for a different store or sell it for cash! Also learn where you can get a bargain buying gift cards.
Say you have two Barnes and Noble gift cards worth 25 dollars each. But what you really want is a $50 pitcher at Pottery Barn. You can exchange books for tableware without ever leaving your house, by trading your gift cards online.
How to Make the Most out of Online Gift Card Trading Sites:
- Decide whether you want to sell or trade your gift card. If paying the water bill is more important than sipping a latte, you might want to get the most cash you can out of that Starbucks gift card. First visit each of the most popular trading sites, Card Avenue, Plastic Jungle and Swap A Gift. At Card Avenue you can set up an auction and see how much your Starbucks card will go for. Swap A Gift will buy your card from you directly. But you may only get 65 or 70 percent of the face value.
- Pay attention to the fees. Each site has a different fee structure, usually around three percent. So be patient. You don’t want to sell your card for too little. And if you don’t really need the cash, you’re probably better off doing an even trade for a card you could use. After all, even grocery stores offer gift cards.
How to Get a Great Deal Buying Gift Cards:
If you know your brother-in-law would love a Circuit City gift card, make a low bid at Card Avenue and see what happens. You might get the card at 70 percent of its face value. Much cheaper and more convenient than waiting in line at the store.
Ways to Get Free Gift Cards:
- Open a credit card that pays you back in the form of gift cards. Often you can earn three percent or more on all your purchases. Don’t like the cards your credit card company offers? Simply trade them online.
- Take advantage of rebates. Sometimes companies will offer a free gift card if you mail in the UPC code on a particular item. That doesn’t mean you should start buying things you don’t need. But if you’re going to purchase the merchandise anyway, the gift card is an added benefit.
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for a gift card. If your mother can’t figure out what to get you, tell her you’d love a gift card. It’s not like giving someone cash. You’re still putting thought into the present. Only now the recipient gets to buy what he/she really wants.
