I want to share a new favorite Canadian website of mine that can help you to make and save money on unwanted gift cards.
Have you ever received a gift card from a place that you know you will never use and wished you could just trade it in for cash? Have you ever hoped that gift cards would go on sale?
CardSwap is a place where you can cash in any unwanted gift cards as well as pick up gift cards at a fraction of the original value and the best part? The company and gift cards are all Canadian.
The site is really easy to use and navigate. If you are interested in buying or selling, you first register. During your registration you are asked to pick 5 merchants that you would be interested in receiving gift cards from. If a gift card comes across that matches one of your choices, you will be notified by email that it is up for grabs. When I registered, one of my choices was The Children’s Place. A gift card came available and I was sent an email and I checked it out.
The site tells you what the real value of the gift card is, what you will pay for it, the condition of the card, the theme (holiday, baby shower, birthday pic on card, etc), and if there is an expiry on it. It is first come first served and you don’t ‘bid’ on the cards. If you are the first person willing to pay what they are asking, you get it!
So for The Children’s Place, it was a $40 gift card that I paid $32 for. As a buyer, I don’t pay any shipping, and it had a holiday theme. Doesn’t matter to me as I was buying it for myself because I want to get Baby Bird a nice jacket after the holidays that she can use next year. So right there, I saved 20% on my next purchase at The Children’s Place.
I received email confirmations that my payment was received. The buyer will also receive a confirmation that payment is waiting for them and the address of where to send the card to (me), and my card arrived a few days ago by registered mail (the turn around was 1 week).
Only available to Canadians, this site is great for picking up gift cards for friends and family at a fraction of the real price. Perfect for holidays, birthdays or any other time you want to give the gift of a gift card.
This site is also great to use on yourself. I picked stores I always shop at for my self and my family. Now when they come up, I will pick them up and hold on to them.
With this gift card I just received, I saved 20% on the face value of the card. Now I just wait for a sale and I will save even more in store. Maybe in addition to the new coat, I can also get her a new sweater or pajamas.
So, check them out and start buying, or selling, those unwanted gift cards today.
What a great idea! Thanks for the info Sheri:)