Gift cards work as gifts. But what if you receive gift cards that you know you won't use, or stick one in a drawer and find it months or years later?
I happen to think that gift cards are a decent choice for Christmastime giving. They're convenient and flexible. A well-chosen gift card can show that you know what the person really likes.
Once in a while, though, a gift card goes unused for a while. This can happen for a number of reasons:
- The timing wasn't appropriate for one reason or another. Even if a gym rat gets a gift card for some one-on-one training sessions at their gym, they could get in an accident and not be able to use the training sessions until they recover.
- The giver of the gift card missed a little bit. Gift cards usually match the interest of the person receiving it, but not always.
- The person is disorganized. Being disorganized can cost big money. In one of my fits of trying to get my head above water on getting things organized, I found over $100 of unused gift cards! No joke. I was thankful they hadn't expired.
You likely have options for your unused gift cards
Here are a few things you can do with an unused gift card:
Always check the balance on the gift card
If you run across a gift card you haven't seen in a while, be sure to check the balance before you use it or give it away.
You can likely find the instructions for checking the balance right on the card itself. It will usually involve calling a phone number or checking on the company's website.
You can use the gift card
Obvious, right?
This is a great time to plan to use the gift card if it still makes sense. Time may not be on your side; some gift cards have monthly maintenance fees that eat away at the balance if they go unused for an extended period of time. So enjoy them!
You can re-gift the gift card
If the card would be a good match for someone on your Christmas list, then congratulations: you've already bought their gift! Unless the card itself looks like it's been through the war, then it should be just fine. Just be sure that (a) it wasn't this particular person that gave you the card in the first place, and (b) it still has the full amount on it. A $50 iTunes cards with $31.77 left on it is a dead giveaway for a re-gift.
Please, be absolutely sure that the card is still good before you re-gift it! I've been on the receiving end of gift cards that had expired, and it's awkward in a couple of ways:
- First, imagine having dinner at a restaurant and expecting to pay with a gift card, and then finding out that it doesn't work. Hopefully, you have another means to pay.
- Then, how do you bring it up to the person who gave you the card? Do you even bring it up at all? What if the person asks if you enjoyed the meal? You either have to lie, avoid the topic, or in effect call the person out, and they'll probably be embarrassed if they find out. It's super uncomfortable!
You can sell the gift card
Unused gift card balances are worth money — as long as the particular store is in business, of course. You're not likely to get a dollar for dollar match for your gift card, because it's not the same as cash. The money is good only at one store. But, something is better than nothing!
The amount you'll get depends on how many different kinds of things can be purchased with the card, the balance, and the demand for that particular merchant's gift cards. Unused gift cards from big-box stores like Walmart or Target tend to command a higher percentage of face value than smaller retailers.
Sites like Raise offer an audience of willing buyers for your gift cards.
Any creative things you've done with unused gift cards?
Visit Mighty Bargain Hunter for more articles on recognizing life's good deals!
from Mighty Bargain Hunter https://ift.tt/2ZEHMIV
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