NEW YORK (AP) — Gift cards are easily forgotten.
All too often they're placed in drawers or stuffed into wallets, never to be
seen again. Some $1.7 billion of the $110 billion gift cards bought in 2012
will go unused, according to estimates from research company CEB TowerGroup.
If you're not happy about the store your gift card is from, don't let the
money go to waste. You have options, such as trading it in for cash or airline
miles.
But the first step to take when you get a gift is to register it on the
company's website, says Scott Gamm, founder of HelpSaveMyDollars.com.
Registration creates a record of how much money is on the card and will protect
you in case you lose the card. Many companies, including coffee chain
Starbucks, offer gift card registration. Just check the card provider's website
to see if it's offered.
Mobile apps can also help you keep track of your cards. The Gyft app will
even alert you if you are near a store that you have a card for. It stores both
electronic and plastic gift cards.
Here are six ways to put a gift card to use:
1. TURN IT INTO CASH: If you have an unwanted gift card, websites like PlasticJungle.com,
GiftCards.com and CardPool.com will pay you up to 92 percent of the card's
value, depending on how easy it is to resell. For a $100 Target gift card, all
three are paying $92. Depending on the store the gift card is for, you may have
to mail the plastic card in, but in many cases just typing in the card number
works. You're then paid through PayPal or by check. You need to have at least a
$25 balance on the card to sell it on PlasticJungle.com and CardPool.com and
$20 to sell it on GiftCards.com.
Anyone living near Phoenix, Chicago or Columbus, Ohio, can get hard cash
quickly by trying Alula, a new supermarket kiosk that's being tested by
Coinstar Inc., the company behind the RedBox DVD rental machines. Alula pays 65
percent to 85 percent of a card's value, depending on demand. The kiosk only
accepts plastic cards that are inserted into the machine. They must be worth at
least $20. The kiosk will print out a receipt that you can exchange for cash at
the register.
2. THINK OUTSIDE THE CARD: Even though a card has a specific store name on the front, you might be able
to use it in the parent company's other stores. For example, an Old Navy gift
card can be used at Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta stores and on Piperlime, the
company's online store. Similarly, TJX Cos. Inc. gift cards can be used at TJ
Maxx, Marshalls or at Home Goods stores.
3. TRADE FOR MILES: A lingering gift card balance can bring you closer to a dream vacation.
United Airlines customers enrolled in their MileagePlus program can exchange
gift cards for award miles through the airline's website. A $25 gift card is
currently worth 1,000 award miles. United Airlines accepts gift cards from more
than 100 stores. The gift card must have at least $15 on it for the airline to
accept it.
4. GIVE TO THOSE IN NEED: Many charities, such as Goodwill, will take your gift card and distribute it
to those who can put it to use. Call your favorite and charity and see if it
has a gift card program.
5. SWAP FOR ANOTHER CARD: Cards can also be flipped for another retailer. On PlasticJungle.com, you
can quickly convert your card into an electronic gift card for Amazon.com.
PlasticJungle.com also charges less if you want to make the switch. Even
though the website will pay $92 for a $100 Target gift card, it will give you
$94.50 if you choose to turn it into an Amazon card.
6. RE-GIFT IT: You can always re-gift a card to someone who would appreciate it more.
You'll get rid of the card and you won't have to buy a gift.
The Gyft app, which stores gift cards on smartphones, also enables you to
re-gift the cards. The recipient doesn't need to have the Gyft app downloaded.
The gift card can be emailed as an electronic gift card or it can be posted on
a Facebook account.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 page ZF2
Carl Thorne
Expert Computer Consulting
