Some retailers allow us to exchange an unwanted gift card for a more desired card. It’s usually not the best value, and you can likely do better selling the unwanted gift card for cash, but it’s interesting to see the possibilities.
- CVS has a partnership with Cardcash to allow swapping unwanted gift cards for a CVS e-gift card. (Link)
- Dell has a partnership with Cardcash to allow swapping unwanted gift cards for a Dell e-gift card. (Link)
- Hotels.com has a partnership with Cardcash to allow swapping unwanted gift cards for a Hotels e-gift card. (Link)
- Amazon has a partnership with Cardcash to allow swapping unwanted gift cards for an Amazon e-gift card. (Link)
- eBay has a partnership with Cardcash to allow swapping unwanted gift cards for an eBay e-gift card. (Link)
- Walmart had a partnership with Cardcash last year, but it stopped after the holiday season.
- Cardcash now partners with Toys R Us, Sears/Kmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, GiftofCollege, and Speedy. Full list here.
Interestingly, although Amazon, Dell, CVS, Hotels, and eBay are all run by Cardcash on the same platform, the payout rates differ. Generally, CVS is 1% higher than Dell and 2% higher than eBay. Hotels is usually 3% or 4% higher than CVS, and Amazon is usually 3% or 4% lower than CVS. For example, when exchanging a $100 Target gift card, you can get $86 using the Amazon system, $89 using the eBay system, $90 using the Dell system, $91 using the CVS system, and $95 using the Hotels system.
- Gamestop has a partnership with Cardpool to allow swapping unwanted gift cards for a Gamestop gift card. You can do this online or exchange in-store.
- Guitar Center has a partnership with Cardpool to allow swapping unwanted gift cards for a Guitar Center gift card. You can do this online.
- Cardpool offers to exchange your gift card for an Amazon gift card. They’ll pay you slightly more with an Amazon gift card than they do cash – a 6% bonus.
- Target just rolled out a service to swap an unwanted gift card with a Target gift card, in partnership with Cardpool. The payout rates are said to be subpar.
- You can also exchange a gift card for United Airline miles. (Link) You’ll get 2,660 per $100 gift card from any brand they accept. See a review on this option from Moneymetagame.
Did we miss any gift card exchange options? Let us know in the comments.
Cash is King
Of course, you can just sell an unwanted gift card for cash, and this will often give you the best value. Either use an exchange who will buy it from you – the major exchanges are Cardpool, Cashcash, Saveya, and Giftcardzen – or sell it yourself on eBay or Raise.
Want more information on selling gift cards? See The Complete Guide to Selling your Unwanted Gift Cards for Cash.
