eBay updated their terms to stop allowing the purchase of third-party gift cards with eBay gift cards. The new terms are already being enforced.
The eBay gift card terms were updated today, August 22, 2016. Here are the new terms (bolding mine):
9. The Gift Card may not be used to pay eBay or PayPal service fees. The Gift Card also may not be used to buy eBay Gift Cards, third party gift cards, gift certificates, coupons, coins, paper money, virtual currency, or items generally considered to be “bullion” (for example, gold, silver, and other precious metals in the form of coins, bars, or ingots).
Previously, the terms stated as follows:
9. The Gift Card may not be used to pay eBay or PayPal service fees. The Gift Card also may not be used to buy other eBay Gift Cards or items generally considered to be “bullion” (for example, gold, silver, and other precious metals in the form of coins, bars, or ingots).
Not long ago, on July 15, they enacted a huge limitation to the quantity of eBay gift cards which can be used – just $2,000 per 60 days – and also excluded coins and bullion from being purchased with eBay gift cards. Now, they’ve added the entire coupon category to the exclusion, including third-party gift cards.
eBay gift card deals are getting less and less profitable. Using up an eBay gift cards was always added to the profitability of these deals.
Hat tip to reader MJ and to cataphoresis on Flyertalk
Last week I used a gift card to purchase some American Eagle gold coins as well as a retail gift card. The gift cards applied just fine and went through. So will I be charged back for those? The items have already shipped and are marked as paid with the sellers. The gift card amount was depleted. At what point in the buying process does the mechanism stopping us from buying cards or bullion kick in? When we go to apply the code at checkout? Also, I got an email from paypal saying my account was flagged for high risk activity. Possibly for buying gold bullion. Is this normal? Has anyone else had this happen to them??
Yeah, if it goes thru at the point of sale, you should be fine.
Someone please sue eBay! They can’t just change the terms of conditions like this!
You will get the full face value of your eBay GC’s if you go yourself and file a small claims lawsuit. No one is going to do it for you. Class Action cases are only good for the lawyers on both sides. The “injured class” will get a coupon at best.
Ebay gets away with this, because they expect the victims to type and whine, but not lift a finger to help themselves.
Thank you. I will do this.
The reason they changed the rules is because of me lol …. First I killed it buying silver bullion since the changed the rules in March then when that was shut down last month I used the cards to buy money … Hahahaha they too mad and it won’t stop me .. Fuck you eBay … Unless you shut the cards down I will continue to rape you ..
I have $2271 in ebay gc, including $764 left from buying $1k at BB using the Amex offer for only 10% off. Really upset about the $764 because I was trying to buy Sears GC with it each time they had a sale and bucks offer at the same time. Trying to save up to buy a new refrigerator and dishwasher.
Man, there goes my Kroger fuel points gravy train grinding to a halt. I was making/saving $200/mo with little effort that way(all underpants money). :`-( Reselling is all that is left now. That’s a little harder to do casually though. I am fortunate though compared to others as I unloaded most of my gc’s earlier this month. I think have like $300 or so left.
Interestingly, this no doubt coincides with the decoupling of paypal/ebay. Ebay is treating their own currency the way most retail outlets do. What’s BS is how they retroactively without warning changed the terms, but I supposed that’s not unprecedented. It’s the risk of the game. People got stuck when Serve suddenly shutdown VGC’s loads too. Speculating on this stuff is just too risky.
I will be curious to see just how big of a hit the supply/demand pool of GC’s take once this settles. This has to be seriously disruptive. I think we’ll see some huge discounts for anyone willing to do normal spend.
Class action lawsuit! Class action lawsuit! Class action lawsuit!
Just noticed this when I went to buy the gas cards. If someone is looking to unload some gc’s email my username at gmail.
same for me
If someone is looking to unload some gc’s [email protected]
thx
In California (which has a law that gift cards under $10 can be redeemed for cash), is it easy to cash out an ebay gift card?
For gift cards over $10, any easy way to split them up into smaller cards under $10?
I have always wondered how ebay and amazon gift card is being handled under California law that stipulates gift card less than $10 be redeemed for cash. Anyone know?
Does that mean I cant buy egift cards to retailers using my ebay egiftcard? 🙁
I purchased a store gift card from a seller last evening and was unable to pay with ebay gift cards. I did not realize the what was going on and contacted the seller as I thought it might be something on their end.
When I went under contact seller, payment and checkout, one of the questions is
Can I pay with an ebay gift card or gift certificate? and the answer was:
Yes, you can pay for this item with an ebay gift card or gift certificate.
I took a screenshot of this and contacted ebay as this is conflicting information. I spent over an hour on the phone with them but they still would not allow me to use the ebay gift card even though they clearly said that I could.
I hate to dispute it with the store I purchased them at, but as it clearly states that I can use an ebay gift card I should be allowed to do so.