We all go through this every year.
You get a few gift cards on Christmas for places that you’ll never set foot in.
A gift card can be a great Christmas present, unless it’s for a store that you don’t shop at or a brand you don’t care for.
Then, it just sits in a drawer gathering dust.
If you’ve received a gift card this Christmas that you won’t use, you’re not alone.
Reports indicate that $750 million in gift cards went unused in 2014!
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And each year, $1 billion in cards are unexpected to go unused.
But instead of scratching your head trying to figure out how the heck your boyfriend arrived at the conclusion that you’d enjoy a gift card for Hooters, sell it for cash and use that cash to treat yourself to something you really want.
Or you can put the money into your savings account if you prefer.
What will I learn?
Selling unwanted Christmas gift cards online
Online, there are websites that you can use to sell your unwanted gift cards.
Whether you’re selling Amazon gift cards or GCs for other popular retailers like Walmart, or GCs for smaller, less-known places, there are sites that let you buy, sell and even trade and exchange your gift cards.
With some sites, you get a quote and sell directly to them.
With other websites, you set your own price and list your gift card for sale. Then you wait for a customer to buy it.
According to statistics from Gift Card Granny, the most resold gift cards are:
- iTunes
- Amazon
- Best Buy
- Walmart
- Target
- Starbucks
- Apple
- Macy’s
- Nordstrom
- Kohl’s
Online, you can sell gift cards for pretty much any store though. So don’t worry if the card you have isn’t for one of the brands above.
Best sites to sell holiday gift cards you don’t want
To save you the time of hunting down sites yourself, we’ve compiled a list of the best ones for selling unwanted Christmas gift cards.
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So take a look, and consider trading your unused plastic or e-card for some cold hard cash!
1. Gift Card Granny
- Official website: https://www.giftcardgranny.com/sell-a-gift-card/
One of the most well-known and reputable platforms out there is Gift Card Granny. With this website, there are a few different ways that you can sell your gift card:
- Sell it Now: With this option, you can sell your card to one of Gift Card Granny’s partner websites. Just choose the best offer, and then get paid within days. With this option, you can earn up to 92% cashback.
- Name your price: If you’d prefer to set your own price, then choose this option. You can list your card for sale, and choose how much money you want for the card. Once the card is sold and delivered you get paid.
- Trade in: With this option, you can trade your gift card for another one that you’ll actually use. Generally, you’ll receive a higher payout when trading.
To start selling on the platform, just visit the website, enter the gift card brand and the amount on it, and then click on “Get Offers Now.”
Gift Card Granny is very well-reviewed online, with great ratings on platforms like Trust Pilot. So it’s definitely one to check out.
2. Cardpool
Update: Unfortunately the pandemic has forced the company to shut down!
- Official Website:
https://www.cardpool.com/sell-gift-cards
Another super reputable platform is Cardpool.
This company has an impressive A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and it has received praise from numerous media outlets, like:
- CNN
- NBC
- ABC
- CBS
- FOX
- NPR
- The New York Times.
With the website, you can get up to 92% of the card’s value back!
That’s one of the best rates around.
Selling to Cardpool is simple.
Here’s how to do it:
- Step 1: Visit the site.
- Step 2: Select the gift card you want to sell.
- Step 3: Review the offers.
- Step 4: If you accept an offer, send your card to Cardpool.
What’s great about this company is how quickly it sends payment.
You get paid within 1 business day.
Cardpool offers 2 methods of payment, your choice of an Amazon eGift card delivered to your email, or a paper check.
But, remember if you do choose to get paid by check, they state that it can take 5-10 business days.
Her’s how to sell gift cards you don’t want in person
Another great aspect of Cardpool that makes it one of the best gift card exchange websites out there is that it allows you to sell gift cards in person.
Cardpool now owns Coinstar Exchange kiosks.
With these kiosks you can enter your gift card, get a quote and then get paid on the spot.
So, if you’re wondering where to sell gift cards in person, check out this page on the Cardpool website. Just enter your city and zip code to find a kiosk near you.
You can also read our “gift card exchange kiosk near me” post for details and how to get the most cash for your unused gift cards.
3. Raise
- Official Website: https://www.raise.com
The final website in our list is Raise.
With Raise, you don’t sell your card directly to the website.
Instead, you list it for sale.
Doing this gives you the freedom to set your own price, within reason of course.
Once you’ve listed your card, you just have to wait for someone to buy it.
Listing a card for sale, rather than selling it to a site directly, can be more time-consuming.
However, the payout you get tends to be higher.
Listing a card for sale on Raise is totally free.
But, the website does take 12% commission. So do keep that in mind when setting your price.
What’s great about Raise is that it offers a few different payment options.
You can choose to receive payment via one of the following options:
- PayPal
- Direct Deposit
- Check
Raise is another well-known, trustworthy platform that’s been featured by well-known media outlets, like:
- NBC News
- ABC News
- Today
- USA Today
- Time Magazine
It’s also well-rated online, like with the Better Business Bureau, where it has a B rating, and on Trust Pilot, where it has a four star rating.
Closing thoughts
There you go, now you don’t have to keep a stack of unused gift cards just so you can come across it once in a while and remind yourself “Oh I should use these before they expire!”
Use one of these sites to sell all those gift cards you got for Christmas that you don’t really want.
Feel free to comment below and let us know what other sites you use to sell unused holiday gift cards.
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