Selling a gift card...worth it? Rude? - Page 2

[beansmama]

Originally Posted by rhiandmoi

I think it is rude to sell a gift card. What about non-baby specific things like shampoo, laundry soap, etc?

Because i either don't need those things or can get them elsewhere for cheaper (dollar store, grocery outlet). We are on a very limited budget. If i can get something for cheaper, i'm going to do it.

Funny thing is DP's dad doesn't even like target (or any other big chain store)...i think he just got us the card because we registered for our wedding there (DP's idea...).

[beansmama]

Originally Posted by traceface

Also, I don't think gift cards on those sites sell for 1-2 dollars less than their value. That's what people list them for maybe, but in the end I think you take a 10% loss on a gift card. I know I wouldn't go through the trouble of buying a strangers gift card online, having it mailed, etc, to save $1.

Actually, I checked out numerous auctions on ebay yesterday and the auctions were all started at 99cents, but were only a few bucks from the original amount of the card...not sure that's every instance, but that's what i saw anyway

[filiadeluna]

You could always trade for CDs on DiaperSwappers! I did tgat with a couple of cards.

[~Megan~]

Use it for your normal Target purchases or things you can get at Target but normally buy elsewhere then use that money to buy your diapers and dresser.

[Poddi]

Why not return the card? I'm sure your dad still has the receipt. I would not sell it to a stranger. Trade with a friend or co-worker maybe.

[ChristyMarie]

Target has been running, for a while now, buy 2 of this...get a $5 gift card. It is always stuff you can store and use and the items are on sale on top of the extra gift card. Why not watch out for that sort of thing? I've bought diet coke (my husband is an addict), toilet paper and paper towels and earned quite a bit in gift cards - which I've used when I needed something - just used a couple for a birthday gift.

[xmysticprincessx]

Originally Posted by Cheshire

I agree that you'll lose at least 10% on the gift card if you sell it online, not to mention the cost of posting the sale on Ebay (their fees are expensive IMHO).

The biggest reason I wouldn't do it would be fraud through Ebay - if the seller tries to stiff you for the $$$ in the end by saying they never got the card (this is if you use PayPal). Sure, if you have insurance and tracking on the shipment you can prove they got it but who wants that hassle.

Do you have any friends that are big Target shoppers? Would they want to buy it from you?

Otherwise, I'd keep it and stock up on things you'll need for your baby once past the baby stage. I love their underwear and socks.

ITA with Cheshire. Even if you got $95 for it, Ebay is going to take out a ridiculous amount in fees. (About $5 just for listing and the final value fees.) Not to mention those greedy #%$@#& at Ebay now *require* you to accept Paypal (with an upgraded account, no less) only, so that's another $3 or so in fees. Shipping with Delivery Confirmation would be another $1.50-$2. So that's about $15 you'd be losing by Ebaying it.

And, I don't trust Paypal. A buyer could file a claim with Paypal and say that the gift card didn't have any money on it when he/she received it. I don't think there would really be any way to prove that it had $100 on it when the buyer received it. (They could always claim that you copied the number and used it online.) So the buyer would end up with your $100 gift card, plus you'd be out the out the money from the auction. Paypal seems to *always* side with the buyer in cases like this. (I've read horror stories on other sites.)

I'd save the gc for emergencies or for groceries or things you can't get elsewhere.

[beansmama]

Thanks everyone...

I'm thinking I'll just save it for household things - like razors, which we go through like crazy and aren't cheap anywhere really (okay, dollar store ones are...but i don't dig the cuts!) and toilet paper.

Once our car gets fixed i'll have to go over to target and check it out!

I forgot ebay fees would be so high for the little card because it's worth that much...and yeah, i've had issues with paypal on more than one occasion (costing me more than $200 total!!!!) so I'd rather not get ripped off by them again. Gr.

[Purple*Lotus]

I got a ton of Target gift cards from my students at Christmas. What I did was to use them for the things I needed like laundry detergent, shampoo, stuff like that. Then I took the money from the household items budget and used it for what I really wanted.

But no, I don't think it is rude, your DPs family would never really know.