Wise Bread recently posted an article called “What can I do with the gift cards I don’t want?” Sounds like a flawed premise, right? Who wouldn’t want a gift card?
Not so, according to writer Holly Johnson.
“You might end up with a gift card to a store or restaurant you unquestionably dislike,” she says.
“Even worse, you might get an inexpensive gift card to a place where nothing is cheap — like a $10 gift card to a restaurant where entrees start at $19.”
She suggested half a dozen ways to deal. I’ll see her those six, and raise her another seven.
Johnson’s ideas:
1. Sell the card for cash. Go to GiftCardGranny.com and see which secondary market will give you the most for your unwanted plastic. You can expect up to 94 percent, but some will bring a lot less.
2. Trade the card. Sites like GiftCardZen.com and Cardpool.com let you trade vs. sell.
3. Regift! Not everyone believes in the practice, but in the case of a gift card who’s gonna know?
4. Use it elsewhere. A card may be usable at a different store owned by the same company. For example, the parent company of Gap also owns Banana Republic, Old Navy and Piperline.
5. Stack it with a sale. Stretch that scrip by watching for low prices online or in-store. “Getting as much value as possible is a great way to honor the gift you received,” Johnson says.
6. Give it away. A shelter, a foster home program, a senior center – whoever you think can use it.
From unwanted to useful
My first suggestion is an echo of Johnson’s initial idea about selling the gift cards. But do it on Dec. 26, aka Gift Card Exchange Day. Prices seem to be highest then.
Additional ideas:
7. Workplace incentive. Make it a prize for a great business suggestion, or stage a random drawing during a staff meeting.
8. Young person incentive. Hang on to the card until the next report card is handed out. If your son, daughter, niece, nephew or grandkid surprises you (in a good way), you can surprise him or her with a reward. (That is, if this is a card a child would covet. Don’t expect excitement if you hand over $25 worth of Lane Bryant purchasing power.)
9. Teacher present. No, it’s not required to give a holiday or end-of-year gift to your child’s teacher. But it’s a nice gesture. (Hint: Teachers have enough mugs and “Hug a teacher today!” plaques.)
10. Door prize. Belong to a service group, the PTA, a neighborhood watch organization? People might be more likely to show up to a meeting if there’s a chance to win something.
11. Graduation gift. Anybody in your family de-matriculating in the spring? A general-interest card, or one specific to the grad’s needs, would likely be welcomed.
12. Help somebody. Got a relative or a friend who’s having tough times? Offer the gift card or maybe just drop it off anonymously.
13. Blog prize. If you’re trying to build readership, have giveaways. I can personally attest that response to gift card giveaways is pretty epic.
I hope you don’t end up with unusable scrip this Christmas. If that happens, don’t throw it in a desk drawer. Unwanted gift cards don’t get more lovable over time. They simply go to waste.
Related reading:
- Why gift cards work
- 21 uses for a dead gift card
- How I saved more than $100 last night
- Selling unwanted gift cards
I could see how gift cards could be a great prize for a blog giveaway. I haven’t had any giveaways so I will keep this in mind. Thanks for sharing.
I like the idea of giving away an unwanted gift card, especially to a charitable organization or a family experiencing tough times. A friend who used to live in New York kept a supply of $5 GC’s to McDonald’s in her pocket so she could give them to panhandlers. They got a meal (of sorts) and she felt good knowing that she wasn’t giving them money that would just get spent on drugs or booze.
There is a machine in grocery stores here that will “buy” gift cards. It is right by the coinstar machine.
I thought it was a good idea when I saw it, even though I have never gotten a gift card that I didn’t like (and use with great enthusiasm).
I told my close relatives the gift cards I like to use. They were generally delighted that they were getting me something useful. I was able to buy a good pair of winter shoes with a gift card my sister bought me last year. Another gift card got me a new bicycle lock. I love the idea of using unwanted ones to help someone in need.
I think the cards are quite useful. My dad just sent me one to Home Depot as a Christmas present; it will come in handy this spring when we’re working on the greenhouse.
Ah, the gift card… Another piece of plastic to keep track of.
At our business group, we end up exchanging a lot of these during the annual Christmas gift switcharoo. I ended up with a card to Olive Garden — pasta is off my diet, and I’m not supposed to be consuming a lot of salt, either. On my way out of the restaurant where our group meets, I gave the thing to our server, who’s been wrangling us for years.
She was delighted. 🙂
I wouldn’t substitute it for a tip — but it’s a nice way to express appreciation for extra-special service.
Good idea. I expect a lot of babysitters, yard guys and others would like a little plastic.