Gift cards are great, if you get the one that you want–or at least one you know you can use. But if you know immediately that this is one you are not likely to use (ever), then do something about it right now! Don’t stick it in your wallet for months hoping to feel differently, trade it in for another card or for cash.

Exchange Unwanted Gift Cards

There are many ways to turn a gift card into cash. You won’t get the full value of the card, but getting a high percentage of cash back is better than holding the card indefinitely and getting nothing. Below are two gift card swap sites I’ve used personally:

• Plastic Jungle: Sell your gift cards for cash! Get up to 92% of the balance. You can opt to get paid by check, PayPal, exchange for an Amazon.com gift card.
• Cardpool.com: Sell Your Gift Cards For Cash at Cardpool.com! You only receive payment by check, but you can actually sell the gift card electronically–meaning you can cash it in without sending the physical card.

Sneaky Alternative

If you received a gift card to a store that has a kiosk, then go to the store and use your gift card to buy a new one. For example, if you received a Michael’s Craft Store coupon and you’re crafted out from the holidays, go to Michael’s anyway. But a new gift card from their kiosk and pay for it with the Michael’s gift card. Totally works. Totally legit. More legwork than using a swap website, but you get full value for the card.

And don’t forget to check out my other advice: Eight Ways to Use Your Gift Cards.

My brother lost a gift card and wants to know if I have any tricks for replacing it. The key to the mystery here is to know what he did BEFORE he lost the gift card. It’s not good.

1. He hadn’t put the gift card directly in his wallet for safe keeping.
2. He hadn’t recorded the gift card number and PIN anywhere or registered it on my favorite iPHone app: Tango Card.
3. He didn’t have the purchase receipt because he’d received it as a gift. (By the way, I always give the receipt along with the gift card. There’s no charade here. We both know how much money I spent.)
4. And he didn’t want to tell the giver that he’d lost the card in case they still have the receipt. I get that one. I wouldn’t want to tell anyone either. Unless it came from my mom. I’d tell her.

My Answer Is…

So he’s stuck. I even did a little research and found this great article on CreditCards.com about how to Replace a Lost or Stolen Gift Card. But the advice only works if you did the pre-work mentioned above.

So sorry brother. But next time, follow my advice and put the gift card in your wallet immediately and enter the gift card number and PIN in Tango Card. Then even if you lose the physical card, you still have all the information needed to make an online purchase. And if somebody else got a hold of your gift card and is using it instead of you–you’ll see the balance drain via Tango Card and can then decide if it’s worth reporting.

Wish I had better news.

Do you shop JC Penney or Kohl’s? If so, click over to GiftCardRescue.com and buy gift cards for personal shopping.

3 Reasons to Buy Gift Cards for Youself?

If you shop these stores anyway, might as well get 16% savings before you even head into the store. Here are 3 reasons to buy gift cards now for future purchases:

• Back to School Shopping – Ease the budget crunch that happens at the start of each school year. Both stores have great Back to School sales. So buy the gift card now and combine the 16% savings with in-store offers and you can save a bundle.
• Cheap summer clothes – We just went through the kids drawers and all are in need of shorts and t-shirts for the summer. With a 16% savings at either store, I can get what we need for less.
• Graduation or Wedding gift – Give the gift card as the gift or use the 16% savings to buy a traditional gift at either of these stores. They have everything from clothes to furnishings.

Break it up!

Wanna know a trick? You can buy a gift card with a gift card–which allows you to get a gift card that looks like new or break up the dollar amount into smaller gift card denominations. For example, get a $100 gift card at GiftCardRescue.com for $84. When the used gift card arrives in the mail, go to JC Penney and buy two $50 gift cards that look new and are ready to gift. (Plus, that’s an easy way to ensure the gift card is valid.

Fun Valentine Gift idea from Michaels

Michaels posted this video on their Facebook page and I wanted to share it with you. Several little gifts are tied together with a ribbon, all stuffed neatly into a shipping tube. As the recipient pulls the ribbon, the presents are revealed, leading up to a big gift at the end. Jo’s finale is a crafty Valentine t-shirt, but I suggest topping things off with a gift card instead.

My Version

I love what Jo has done, but for my taste (and time constraints), I’d probably get a smaller tube and tie just two or three items en route to the gift card. You’d get the same effect without the added expense and effort.

Fun Themes

You could adapt this idea to any occasion–a baby shower, bridal gift, teacher appreciation, or birthday. I see a theme tube as well–maybe a group gift of several gift cards tied to the ribbon. Or a movie gift card tube including snacks and movie tickets with theater wrapping paper on the tube itself. A baseball themed tube with sports page wrapping and baseball cards, sunflower seeds, cracker jacks, and an MLB gift card inside. Oh, a tennis ball canister would work great here as well. Uh-oh, I’m starting to trip over myself with gift card ideas! Seriously, who doesn’t want to open a string of goodies to get to a gift card??! So many possibilities.

Speaking of Michaels

Speaking of Michaels, don’t forget to answer the Valentine’s Day poll to be entered in the $25 Michaels Gift Card drawing. You just might win and then you can march yourself down to Michaels to make your own Valentine’s Day tube! Good stuff!

Thanks to all who voted in last week’s poll. As this press release shows, people waste time and money buying gifts that are ultimately returned or stuffed in a closet. I don’t want to sound greedy here because I truly appreciate the effort made by thoughtful gift-givers. It’s just that in this economy, when people are stretched for both time and money, I hate to see either resource go to waste.

What a Waste

We waste time and money several ways, such as:
- Time spent shopping for gifts that are ultimately returned
- Time spent standing in return lines
- Time spent looking for replacement items that may or may not cost the same amount
- Time spent online calling or cybershopping to find the given item in a better size or style
- Money spent but never recouped when a gift is returned without a receipt
- Money put on store credit that may never get used
- Money spent on shipping that isn’t refunded when an online purchase is returned

And the BIGGEST sin of all (in my opinion)

- Time and Money spent on gifts that are kept but will knowingly never be used.

I’m guilty of all of these crimes. Gift cards aren’t the perfect solution because a poorly selected gift card can be just as wasteful. But if you follow my 5 Steps to Better Gift Card Giving, you’re sure to save yourself time and money on the giving end and I’m betting that the recipient will do the same.

A Toast

So, here’s to gift cards, my friends. May we give them. May we receive them. May they afford us the chance to buy the things we really want or need without wasting so much time and money.

Jamba Juice is doing it right this holiday season. At participating locations, you can buy a $25 gift card and get a free smoothie. If you’re a Jamba Juice regular, buy the gift card for yourself and start slurping! If you’re going to give a Jamba Juice gift card, then this next offer is even better.

Gift with Purchase

As Kevin B at the San Ramon Jamba Juice explains, for $15, you get a 22 oz. Tumbler and a $5 Jamba Juice gift card. I love ths promotion because it follows my 5 Steps to Better Gift Card Giving. The gift card can be used at a variety of locations, is in a usable amount ($5 is plenty for Jamba Juice), and the recipient gets to “open something.” This would make a great gift for teachers, office staff, and others you want to give a small token to this holiday season.

Add a Personal Scoop

Make it even more personal by putting a list of your favorite smoothies or the “secret Jamba Juice menu” inside the tumbler. Have fun with it.