Unwanted gift cards for Christmas? Target, GameStop, online sites exchange shopping cards
By Leada Gore | lgore@al.com
If Christmas 2015 left you with gift cards you don't want or can't use, you do have some options. Target, Gamestop and several online sites allow you to exchange unwanted gift cards.
Here are the details:
Target - The mega retailer is offering a new gift card buyback program this year. The program allows you to bring your unused or unwanted third-party gift cards to a mobile kiosk in the store and exchange it for a Target Gift Card. Based on the type of gift card you bring, you will receive an offer that you can accept or decline.
Gamestop – The gaming store has an easy way to exchange your unwanted gift cards. Just go here and fill out the information and see your balance and the offer for your card. If you accept the offer, you will receive a GameStop gift card via email. You can then dispose of your old card.
Online gift card exchanges
Cardpool.com – Buy and sell cards with fellow members. Cards are sold for a little less than overall value and Cardpool takes a percentage based on the demand for the gift cards.
Raise – Buy and sell gift cards directly from your iPhone. You set the price on cards you're selling and Raise takes 15 percent of the sale price.
Gift Card Granny - The website allows users to search gift cards to see what the going rate is for those wanting to sell them. You can buy discounted cards at the site, too.
Card Cash - The website lets you enter your card name and amount at the top and receive an instant offer based on what it's worth. You can also see different payment options based on if it's a hard copy of the card or an electronic one.
Keep in mind
As with other exchange programs, customers won't receive the full value of the unwanted card and some stores are worth more than others. Kiplinger recently ranked cards on resale value, with Target having the best at 96.5 percent exchange rate.
Other store exchange rates are:
Walmart (96.5%)
Home Depot (95%)
Costco (95%)
Ikea (94%)
Best Buy (93%)
McDonald's (93%)
Amazon.com (92%)
Macy's (92%)
Starbucks (92%)