If you’re like us, squirreled away in the back of your junk drawer are old gift cards. Maybe you got a Burger King gift card from the office secret Santa, but you’re a health food fanatic and that stuff is never crossing your lips. Or you’ve traded the gas-guzzler for a bicycle and have leftover ARCO or BP or other gas cards. Convert these unused ‘assets’ into hard cash on Giftah.
Never heard of Giftah? It’s a clever site, buying and selling unused gift cards. From Bloomingdale’s to Walmart, CVS to Walgreens, Nike to the NFL Store, Giftah trades cards across hundreds of product categories and services.
Say you’ve got a $25 dollar card to Petsmart, but your 18-year-old Chihuahua is now in pet heaven, Giftah will give you 82% (as of this writing) of the face value of the card. This translates into $20.50 cash money in your pocket. Wait. Before you get too excited, you’ll need to shell out some time and money to send the card to Giftah by registered mail. But, if it’s just sitting there gathering dust, be smart, grab the cash.
We think Giftah is a smart way to repurpose cards you’ll never use, but if you’ve got a card to a store or service that you will likely buy from don’t take the discount on the face value.
Now that you’ve dug all those old cards out –it’s the perfect time to use them! (Your welcome.)
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47 comments
Janet Frazao via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
LOVE EM!
Stephanie Foster via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I love it! It eliminates the need to make returns.
Sherri Mattson Soldavini via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
dislike!!!
Lindsey Mann via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I would much rather get a gift card than something I will never use!
Baughtem Flower via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I like gift cards so I can get what I really want.
Christian Mathis via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I don’t like them.. unless they can be used anywhere (like a prepaid visa) I feel obligated to go somewhere specific.. ie.. a restaurant gift card.
Cheryl O'Neill via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I think it depends in the gift cards but in theory I like the idea. 🙂 C x
Kahlisha Duhon via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
One of the best things came up wit lol.
Luisa Natalia Correia Winters via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
…I want to open a present and tear the paper to shreds…lol
Sarita Mcfarland-Gatlin via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
Me like
Evangelina Banderas via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
That means your friends are lazy and gave no thought to your creativity.
Aletra Johnson via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I LOVE them! Giving me the gift of shopping is the BEST gift ever!
Jess N Joe via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I used to think they were tacky, impersonal and a lazy gift. However, they have come so in handy! Think about it… what’s better… to receive a gift you really don’t need OR want. -or- a gift card that you can use when, where and how you need it!
The only thing is, with gift cards becoming more and more common, people need to find more creative ways to give them. If they’re just thrown inside of a card… boring!
Amanda Jergons via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
love them were buying our first home soon and our families are getting us home improvement gift cards it verry well could save us from breaking the bank
Kandice Knight Lins via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
Rather get a gift card than something that I’d shove into a closet or donate
Stacey Rush Thurber via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
Love them!!! But I agree with the comment saying putting them in a card is boring… Any creative ideas???
Cindy Brayshaw via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
It means I’m not the only one stumped as to what to get someone or have the time to shop! 😀
Jess N Joe via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
@Amanda Jergons I’ll hopefully be in the same boat as you by next Christmas, so I’ll be thankful for any Home Depot / Lowes gift cards I can get! Good luck on your home purchase.
Jess N Joe via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
@Stacey Rush … most of my ideas many might find juvenile, but I’m a very carefree person. I’ve done the layer of boxes, where it starts out with a huge box, a smaller box within that and so on and so on.
Also, I’ve gotten a box filled with styrofoam peanuts and taped the gift card to the bottom.
Baked goods inside a festive tin can with the card on top.
To name a few I’ve done.
Emily Miller via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
Keep this in mind with the elderly – when my MIL moved (she’s in her 80s), we found hundreds, if not thousands of dollars of gift cards because she “didn’t know how to use them”. Unreal, I know.
Donna Maria Evans via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
<3 gift cards…for any other occasion….BUT for CHRISTMAS/HANUKKAH/KWANZAA/WINTER SOLSTICE/etc, ya gotta have prezzies to open.
Kelly Campbell via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
Love them!
Donna Maria Evans via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
@ Emily Miller….yes I agree you should make sure elderly folks and any others who may or may not know how to utilize “new”.technologies (ie gift cards vs. gift certificates), know how they work. Hope your MIL gift cards weren’t totally wasted.
Gigi Ballester via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
Prefer gift cards! I can buy what I want, need and like. Nothing to return or exchange. Of course, diamonds, rubies and emeralds are always keepers.
The Frugallery via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I would much rather get a gift card than something I don’t want or need. But from the people close to you it is nice to get something personal. I give gift cards only for picky teenagers who are hard to buy for:)
Renee Small via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I like doing a little of each – some actual presents and some gift cards. I like receiving them as well. My friends know all the right stores to get them from! LOL
Donna Maria Evans via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
Gift cards kinda do suggest a lack of creativity, but as a grad student on a VERY LIMITED BUDGET…..the gift of a lil shopping spree, starbucks, etc., that I woulda otherwise been unable to afford is a blessing. And if you know what kind of stores/restaurants the person likes, the gift card isn’t such a lazy azz idea after allll.
Kendy Murphy via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I love them…I can get what I want.
Donna Maria Evans via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
And gift cards to spas, hair and nail salons are perfect for a lil end of the semester pampering for the students in your life of allll ages.
Eva Ramey Swontek via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I love gift cards… it’s like saying, “here go get exactly what YOU want and it’s on me.” I personally received 3 gift cards yesterday from students and I can’t wait to go on an outing with them.
Donna Maria Evans via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
Just DON’T on grocery store gift cards. If someone is truly in that type of need, just pick them up a bag of groceries, and don’t let them pay u back.ITS A PRIDE THING, TRUST ME….
Gretchen Robinson via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I hate them. I think if you know someone you should take to time to think of a nice gift and not just go well I am too busy heres a gift card.
Kenturah KatieKay Steward via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I actually dont mind gift cards…ppl do not know what to get some ppl because they are picky..give me a gift card for gas, beauty shop, favorite shoe or clothing store…but do not be cheap on the amount
Emily Miller via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
Donna and friends – the cards were totally wasted. Many had been there for years. We wanted to donate them, but they weren’t worth the plastic printed on.
Casey Worth via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I love them because I LOVE to shop and really can’t afford to go as often anymore. So allowing me to go shopping is a gift in its self. 🙂
Gretta Miller Sweeney via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I love it. I don’t get a lot of spending money so gift cards are a great way to treat myself.
Dianne Dickson via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I love it
Medusa ThirteenThirteen via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
love em!
Tatiana Wilson-Kuzminski via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I don’t like them! They get lost, thrown out in gift paper, forgotten, expired, fees charged until depleted. Enough said! Give the cash(not visa or amex cards either), at least then you know they got what they wanted, needed etc.
Judy Fitzgerald Rice via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
I love them when they’re from a store that I shop at frequently.
Jeannie Martin via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
Love it!!! Especially if it’s from my fav store bcuz then I know they care enough to know my fav store PLUS I get to go pick out exactly what I want!
Christina Freeman via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
Its what we prefer!!
Judy Graf via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
LOVE them!!
Laura Laing via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
Giving and receiving gift cards is a fantastic present, as long as the card is for something/someplace that the recipient will really like and be able to use easily.
Ayuni Nur via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
Lame
Sherri Hutson Beach via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
love them
Judy Fitzgerald Rice via Facebook says:
Dec 18, 2011
@Donna Marie Evans, I disagree about the grocery store gift cards. I’ve given and received them and they are always appreciated, especially with food prices the way they are.