Receiving gift cards as presents can be a mixed blessing. While it's thoughtful of the giver, sometimes the cards are for stores or services you don't use. Instead of letting those gift cards sit unused in a drawer, you may be wondering—is there a way I can exchange them for cash?
The good news is that there are gift card exchange kiosks located in many retail stores that allow you to do just that. In this blog post, I'll show you where you can find these kiosks, how they work, and what to expect when using them to turn your unwanted gift cards into cold, hard cash.
What are Gift Card Exchange Kiosks?
Gift card exchange kiosks are self-service machines, similar to ATMs, that let you insert your unwanted gift cards and receive cash in return. These kiosks are typically found in the lobbies or checkout areas of major retail stores, grocery chains, and drugstores.
The process is fairly straightforward - you simply insert your gift card into the machine, it scans and evaluates the card, and then it provides you with a cash offer based on the remaining balance. If you accept the offer, the kiosk will dispense the cash amount to you.
How Do Gift Card Exchange Kiosks Work?
- Insert Your Gift Card: Begin by inserting your gift card into the kiosk.
- Check Balance: The kiosk will check the balance on your card.
- Receive Offer: You'll receive an offer for your card, which is usually less than the full value.
- Accept or Decline: You can choose to accept the offer and receive cash or another gift card, or decline if you’re not satisfied with the offer.
Where Can I Find Gift Card Exchange Kiosks?
Gift card exchange kiosks can be found in many large retail chains across the United States. Some of the most common locations include:
- Grocery stores (e.g. Walmart, Target, Kroger, Safeway)
- Drug stores (e.g. CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid)
- Mass merchandisers (e.g. Kohl's, Macy's, Best Buy)
To find the nearest gift card exchange kiosk, you can do a quick online search for "gift card kiosk near me" or check the store locator on the kiosk provider's website, such as CardCash, 1minutepay, or Giftcard Zen.
Top Gift Card Exchange Kiosks Near You
Since the popular gift card exchange kiosk, Coinstar, no longer exchange gift cards for cash, you only have online options to rely on.
Here are the top platforms that should exchange your gift cards for cash.
1. Raise
Raise is one of the most established platforms for buying and selling secondhand gift cards. They charge a 15% commission, but you can typically expect to receive 60-80% of the card's value.
2. Gameflip
Gameflip is a good option for selling game-related gift cards like those from Nintendo, Xbox, Roblox, Spotify, Google Play, GameStop, and Steam. They suggest listing cards at a 2-15% discount to find quick buyers, and they charge an 8% commission plus a 2% digital fee.
3. ClipKard
ClipKard has a tool where you can enter your gift card details and get a quote. If you accept the quote, they'll provide a prepaid shipping label for you to send the card.
4. Gift Card Outlets
This website allows you to send a quote for your gift card to their team, who will review it and help you proceed with the sale.
5. GiftCash
GiftCash features a gift card quote tool similar to ClipKard, but it only accepts gift cards from a select few retailers.
How Much Cash Can I Get for My Gift Cards?
The amount of cash you'll receive for your gift cards can vary depending on a few factors:
- The brand/retailer of the gift card
- The remaining balance on the card
- The current market demand for that type of gift card
Generally, you can expect to receive between 70-90% of the card's face value in cash. Cards from popular retailers like Amazon, Visa, or Mastercard tend to have the highest resale value. Less common or niche brand cards may only get you 50-60% of the value.
The kiosk will provide you with an offer amount before you complete the transaction, so you can decide if you want to accept it or not.
Pros and Cons of Using Gift Card Exchange Kiosks
Pros:
- Convenient way to turn unwanted gift cards into cash
- Faster and easier than trying to sell the cards online or in person
- Kiosks are widely available in many retail locations
Cons:
- You won't get the full face value of the card, usually 70-90%
- Limited to certain gift card brands that the kiosk accepts
- Some kiosks only provide store credit or gift cards from other retailers instead of cash
Conclusion
If you have a stash of unwanted gift cards taking up space, gift card exchange kiosks provide a quick and easy way to convert them into cash. Using a gift card exchange kiosk is easy—you simply insert your card, accept the offer, and walk away with money in hand.
While you may not get the full value of the card, it's still better than letting it go unused. Just be sure to shop around and compare offers to get the best deal. With gift card exchange kiosks becoming more prevalent, it's a convenient option to turn your unwanted gifts into something you can actually use.