How to Buy, Sell, and Swap Gift Cards

You’ve received a gift card as a present that you can’t use and can’t return, or maybe there’s a specific gift card you want to buy but can’t find. Either way, you can turn to the web. Certain websites allow you to buy, sell, and swap gift cards. You can even purchase specific gift cards at a discount. Here’s how to get started.

First off, make sure you read the FAQ for any gift card site you use. Because the cards you purchase are pre-owned by other people, you could potentially find that a card doesn’t contain the promised balance. Most gift card sites offer a money-back guarantee if you run into this problem, but that guarantee may have a certain expiration date. For that reason, try to use any purchased gift card as soon as possible after receiving it to ensure that the money you paid is refunded in the event of an improper balance.

Further, check the Better Business Bureau ratings and reviews for any gift card site you want to use. A few have received several consumer complaints, so you’ll want to stick with those that have garnered more positive feedback from users.

Buy a Gift Card on Raise

At Raise(Opens in a new window), you can buy a gift card by browsing the available stock and sorting through your options. The site allows you to choose between receiving a card by mail and getting it electronically.

Select the card and amount you want to purchase. At the shopping cart, click the Proceed to Checkout button. You’re asked to create an account at the site, which you confirm via email. You then pay by credit card. 

Sell a Gift Card on Raise

To sell a gift card on Raise, click the Sell link at the top of the homepage. Enter the name of the retailer and click the Get Started button. At the next page, type the number and PIN for the card along with the amount. The site tells you how much money your card will fetch.

Click the Continue Listing button to list the card for sale. If it sells, you receive your money through direct deposit into a bank account, through a check, or through PayPal.

Buy a Gift Card on ClipKard

To buy a card at ClipKard(Opens in a new window), click Buy Gift Cards. Browse from the website’s database or search for a specific card and click the card you wish to buy.

After registering for an account with the website, click the Buy button next to the card you want. Proceed to the checkout page, enter your credit card information, and then click the Submit Order button to buy the card.

Sell a Gift Card on ClipKard

To sell a gift card, click the Sell Gift Cards link at the top of the website. Enter the gift card you want to sell, the amount, and the quantity. Click the Add Gift Card button, choose if you want to be paid by mailed check or PayPal, then click the button to Submit Order.

Buy a Gift Card on Gift Card Granny

Gift Card Granny(Opens in a new window) works differently than other gift card sites. You can buy cards but not sell them. That’s because the site no longer supports or lists businesses that buy them. And rather than accepting and offering cards for sale from other individuals, the site provides gift cards from retailers at their full price but often with cashback rewards.

Buying cards at Gift Card Granny also offers a few unique options. You can actually build your own Visa or Mastercard gift card with a customized photo or image to give someone as a gift. Business owners can create reward cards with their own logos and buy gift cards in bulk to give to employees and other people.

To buy a gift card, click the Buy now button under eGift cards. You can browse among the available gift cards by vendor, choose a specific category, or search by name. After finding the right type of card, enter the amount, add it to your shopping cart, and then pay for your purchase.

Buy a Gift Card on GiftDeals

GiftDeals(Opens in a new window) is another site that lets you buy gift cards, though it hasn’t yet completed its process to allow people to sell cards. To buy a card, browse among the ones on display or search for a specific card at the top of the homepage. Choose the type of card and the amount you want.

You can either add the card to your shopping cart or choose Buy It Now to check out. When ready, check out to pay for the card. You’ll be asked to create an account if you don’t already have one.

Buy a Gift Card on eBay

EBay is another option for buying and selling gift cards. The bonus here is that buyers and sellers are protected by eBay’s policies just in case something goes wrong with the transaction. To buy a gift card on eBay, browse to the page for Gift Cards & Coupons(Opens in a new window). You can now browse for gift cards by category or search for specific cards by brand or retailer.

As with other items on eBay, the gift cards up for sale may be Buy it Now listings or auctions. The sellers might also be listing the cards for a firm price or allow for offers. When you find a card you want to buy, click the appropriate button to purchase it.

Sell a Gift Card on eBay

To sell a gift card on eBay, create a new listing. Fill out the usual information with the description, photos, and other details. Decide whether you want to set it up as a Buy it Now listing or as an auction and whether you wish to accept offers. When done, click the button to list the card.