Comments on: Gift card clutter

By: Hak

Hak — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:22:30 +0000

Since I’m a minimalist at heart (or, more accurately, a junk collector in rehab!), I don’t like to carry a gazillion cards in my wallet. Yet every time I stop at a store where I can use a gift card, or frequent shopper rewards card, that card is in my “storage wallet” at home.

Doh!

To get around that, I’ve duct-taped an index card into an envelope that fits all of my gifts cards. That envelope sits in the glove box of my car so I will always have relatively easy access to the cards when I need them.

By: Paula Johnson

Paula Johnson — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 22:23:13 +0000

A few years ago, I held a pre-holiday party and asked guests to donate gift cards in any amount to be passed on to a local charity for abused children and families in crisis.

The response was great! Some people purchased cards from Target, toy stores, or grocery stores, while others unloaded partially-used cards that had been gathering dust. Everyone got a tax write-off.

You might consider donating your unwanted gift cards to a charity that serves kids. They can use the cards to buy birthday gifts, sporting goods, games, classroom rewards, etc.

By: Eric Hague

Eric Hague — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:07:09 +0000

Gift cards are profitable for stores whether they’re fully used or not. Often times when consumers use a gift card for it’s full balance, they end up having to pay a difference between the card’s value and the price of their purchase. So a $25 gift card might actually represent $25+ in actual sales for a store if nothing they sell can come out to exactly $25.00. Lame.

By: karen

karen — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:43:37 +0000

@CP: gift cards also serve to get new shoppers in a store. i.e., i might never have been to a walmart, but if i get a $100 gift card, i’ll go to spend it, and might become a new customer.

By: Amie Ragan

Amie Ragan — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:38:21 +0000

…and then there is always the “re-gift.” Gift cards with about a $25 value make a great last minute birthday present. I always check to make sure there are no fees and hold on to smaller cards just for this reason. They are always gone by June.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:02:37 +0000

Even though this advice is obvious [in hindsight after reading it], it served as a needed set of reminders for me. I’ve been sitting on a pair of $100 store credits to Apple that I got as iPhone refunds and this motivated me to put them on our bulletin board at work. Getting rid of them will give me some cash for something I actually want and make me stop wondering what I should buy just to have it.

By: Jeri Dansky

Jeri Dansky — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 16:19:56 +0000

You can also use Gift Card Buy Back (http://www.giftcardbuyback.com/).

By: CP

CP — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:38:53 +0000

Glenn H, I guess it would depend on which states Wal-Mart operates in based on what they can claim as profit from the gift cards. My understanding is that it's up to state law on how gift card are reported financially. The only quick, real gain I see for companies is the interest they can be making on the money they've got for unused gift cards. cp | knoxify.com

By: Avlor

Avlor — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:06:47 +0000

I saw an article somewhere about putting gift cards and store “rewards”/club cards on a ring. Works well for me, I have them with me in one place. Just have to punch a hole in them and then they are not strewn about who knows where.

By: Glenn H

Glenn H — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:43:13 +0000

For political reasons I refuse to shop at Walmart, yet this year my children each got gift certificates there. I certainly didn’t want to support the company, nor did I want Walmart to reap even more profit from not using the cards. I had not though of selling them on eBay. That’s a great idea.

By: CP

CP — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:39:45 +0000

Hey Matt,

Here is another great idea, http://www.swapagift.com/, where they buy certain gift cards. Just another addition to your 3 great tips above. Thanks.

cp | knoxify.com