You’ve received a gift card as a present that you can’t use and can’t return, or maybe there’s a specific gift card you want to buy but can’t find. Either way, you can turn to websites that allow you to buy, sell, and swap gift cards. You can even purchase specific gift cards at a discount. Here's how to get started.
First off, make sure you read the FAQ for any gift card site you use. Because the cards you purchase are pre-owned by other people, you could potentially find that a card doesn’t contain the promised balance. Most gift card sites offer a money-back guarantee if you run into this problem, but that guarantee may have a certain expiration date. For that reason, try to use any purchased gift card as soon as possible after receiving it to ensure that the money you paid is refunded in the event of an improper balance.
Some gift card sites start off legitimately and reliably but then go downhill. For that reason, you’ll want to perform due diligence before you try to use a particular site. Run a web search for customer reviews for the gift card site you want to use. These can highlight any problems that other people have had with that site.
Next, check the Better Business Bureau ratings for the gift card site. Pay attention not just to the comments from consumers but to any responses from the vendor to those comments. Several sites have received a variety of consumer complaints. Based on these responses, some of the vendors have tried to resolve those complaints, while others seem lackadaisical. You’ll want to stick with those that have garnered more positive feedback from users.
Further, you may want to test the waters on a specific site by starting out with a small gift card purchase, maybe $10 or $20, to see if the process runs without any hitches. If all goes smoothly, then you can try for a larger purchase or attempt to sell one of your own gift cards.
Buy a Gift Card on Raise
At Raise, you can buy a gift card by browsing the available stock and sorting through your options. The site allows you to choose between receiving a card by mail and getting it electronically.
(Credit: Lance Whitney)Select the card and amount you want to purchase. At the shopping cart, click the Proceed to Checkout button. You’re asked to create an account at the site, which you confirm via email. You then pay by credit card.
(Lance Whitney)Sell a Gift Card on Raise
To sell a gift card on Raise, click the Sell link at the top of the homepage. Enter the name of the retailer and click the Get Started button.
(Credit: Lance Whitney)At the next page, type the number and PIN for the card along with the amount. The site tells you how much money your card will fetch. Click the Continue Listing button to list the card for sale. If it sells, you receive your money through direct deposit into a bank account, through a check, or through PayPal.
(Credit: Lance Whitney)Buy a Gift Card on ClipKard
To buy a card at ClipKard, click Buy Gift Cards. Browse the website’s database or search for a specific card and click the one you wish to buy.
(Credit: Lance Whitney)After registering for an account with the website, click the Buy button next to the card you want. Proceed to the checkout page, enter your credit card information, and then click the Submit Order button to buy the card.
(Credit: Lance Whitney)Sell a Gift Card on ClipKard
To sell a gift card, click the Sell Gift Cards link at the top of the website. Enter the gift card you want to sell, the amount, and the quantity. Click the Add Gift Card button, choose if you want to be paid by mailed check or PayPal, then click the button to Submit Order.
(Credit: Lance Whitney)Use CardSwap
CardSwap is another site that lets you buy and sell gift cards. Since CardSwap is based in Canada, some of the cards for sale are for Canadian companies, but you’ll still find a lot of vendors that operate in the US and globally. For each card you purchase, you receive a certain number of swap points that you can then redeem to help pay for additional cards.
(Credit: Lance Whitney)Buy a Card on CardSwap
To buy a card, click the Buy link at the top. You can browse all available cards or search for one by name. Click the card you wish to buy and add it to the cart. You’ll then need to sign up for an account to make the purchase.
(Credit: Lance Whitney)Sell a Card on CardSwap
To sell a card, click the Sell link at the top. Enter the name and amount for the card you wish to sell, followed by your email address. You’ll receive an offer in cash and in the form of another gift card. Choose the offer you prefer and then follow the steps to sell your card.
(Credit: Lance Whitney)Buy a Card on Zealcards
To buy a gift card at Zealcards, click the Buy Gift Card button. Browse all the available cards or search for specific ones by name. Select the card you want and then add that card and your desired amount to your cart. To pay for the card, you’ll then need to register with a free account.
(Credit: Lance Whitney)Sell a Card on Zealcards
To sell a card at Zealcards, click the Sell Gift Card button. Type the name of the card, enter the amount, and add the card. You can then either redeem the card via a mail-in transaction or online. Choose the method you want to use and follow the prompts to redeem your card.
(Credit: Lance Whitney)Buy a Gift Card on eBay
EBay is another option for buying and selling gift cards. The bonus here is that buyers and sellers are protected by eBay’s policies just in case something goes wrong with the transaction. To buy a gift card on eBay, browse to the page for Gift Cards & Coupons. You can now browse for gift cards by category or search for specific cards by brand or retailer.
As with other items on eBay, the gift cards up for sale may be Buy it Now listings or auctions. The sellers might also be listing the cards for a firm price or allow for offers. When you find a card you want to buy, click the appropriate button to purchase it.
(Credit: Lance Whitney)Sell a Card on eBay
To sell a gift card on eBay, create a new listing. Fill out the usual information with the description, photos, and other details. Decide whether you want to set it up as a Buy it Now listing or as an auction and whether you wish to accept offers. When done, click the button to list the card.
(Credit: Lance Whitney)
