<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Umbra on gift cards]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by sje333 http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/ Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:33:19 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/1 How about putting it on Craigslist?

If you sell the card on Craigslist or eBay, someone who would have otherwise handed cash to the store uses your gift card.  80 cents on the dollar is a typical price you can get for gift cards at the big-box retailers (so $40 for a $50 card).  I've done this several times.

The obvious downside is that the buyer is getting a 20% discount on a new 8-foot-tall PVC inflatable snowman/snow globe from Wal-Mart.

]]> How about putting it on Craigslist?

If you sell the card on Craigslist or eBay, someone who would have otherwise handed cash to the store uses your gift card.  80 cents on the dollar is a typical price you can get for gift cards at the big-box retailers (so $40 for a $50 card).  I've done this several times.

The obvious downside is that the buyer is getting a 20% discount on a new 8-foot-tall PVC inflatable snowman/snow globe from Wal-Mart.

]]> Comment #2 by topsymax13 http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/ Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:56:31 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/2 Find a gift card amnesty program

One of our local bookstores takes any and all gift cards, no matter where they came from.  Ask around at your local businesses to see if any of them have the same policy.

]]> Find a gift card amnesty program

One of our local bookstores takes any and all gift cards, no matter where they came from.  Ask around at your local businesses to see if any of them have the same policy.

]]> Comment #3 by Wrightsfd http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/ Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:11:58 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/3 Exchange it online

Well, there is another option that Umbra overlooked and that is a gift card exchange website.  It will not stop the money from going to the store you dislike (I'm the same as you in this respect as I avoid Wal-Mart's all around greed, and Macy's for what they did to Marshall Fields) as it has already been handed over to them.  It will however allow you to dollar-for-dollar trade for a gift card you will feel less guilty about using.  Try the following:

http://www.cardavenue.com/
http://www.giftcardrescue.com/
http://www.stargiftcardexchange.com/

I once got a gift card for a store that was 1500 miles from my house.  Duh.



]]> Exchange it online

Well, there is another option that Umbra overlooked and that is a gift card exchange website.  It will not stop the money from going to the store you dislike (I'm the same as you in this respect as I avoid Wal-Mart's all around greed, and Macy's for what they did to Marshall Fields) as it has already been handed over to them.  It will however allow you to dollar-for-dollar trade for a gift card you will feel less guilty about using.  Try the following:

http://www.cardavenue.com/
http://www.giftcardrescue.com/
http://www.stargiftcardexchange.com/

I once got a gift card for a store that was 1500 miles from my house.  Duh.



]]> Comment #4 by Corey McKrill http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/ Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:22:19 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/4 Assist the retailer in being socially progressive

since you know they won't do it on their own.  Buy something that you can donate to a good cause.  Canned goods for the food bank.  Clothing for a homeless shelter.

If you buy something that you can hand to people on the street, you'll get the personal satisfaction of watching their eyes light up when you give it to them.

]]> Assist the retailer in being socially progressive

since you know they won't do it on their own.  Buy something that you can donate to a good cause.  Canned goods for the food bank.  Clothing for a homeless shelter.

If you buy something that you can hand to people on the street, you'll get the personal satisfaction of watching their eyes light up when you give it to them.

]]> Comment #5 by redambrosia99 http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/ Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:04:12 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/5 "Other" bank

Check to see if there is an "other" bank (toilet paper, shampoo, soap, feminine supplies, etc) or a "baby" bank (diapers and formula) in your area and spend the gift-card on that.  There's plenty in need who would be grateful for your generosity.

]]> "Other" bank

Check to see if there is an "other" bank (toilet paper, shampoo, soap, feminine supplies, etc) or a "baby" bank (diapers and formula) in your area and spend the gift-card on that.  There's plenty in need who would be grateful for your generosity.

]]> Comment #6 by ten4leafclovers http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/ Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:44:31 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/6 On Unwanted Giftcards....givecards.org

I have recently found the website http://www.Givecards.org.  This organization takes your unwanted or unused gift cards and turns their remaining balance into cash, which is then donated to one of four selected charities.  Right now the charities are Blood:Water Mission, The American Red Cross, The American Heart Association, and The Salvation Army. An estimated $8 billion is lost a year due to small balances unused or forgotten on gift cards.  If you have a gift card with a remaining balance more than the cost of posting (which is free for you, paid by the organization), givecards.org is a great way to donate the remaining balance.    

]]> On Unwanted Giftcards....givecards.org

I have recently found the website http://www.Givecards.org.  This organization takes your unwanted or unused gift cards and turns their remaining balance into cash, which is then donated to one of four selected charities.  Right now the charities are Blood:Water Mission, The American Red Cross, The American Heart Association, and The Salvation Army. An estimated $8 billion is lost a year due to small balances unused or forgotten on gift cards.  If you have a gift card with a remaining balance more than the cost of posting (which is free for you, paid by the organization), givecards.org is a great way to donate the remaining balance.    

]]> Comment #7 by MeowAllieCat http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/ Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:16:16 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/7 The same thing happened to me...

I decided to use the gift card on soymilk, tofu, and organic veggies, to encourage Hel*Mart to stock these environmentally- and morally minded products. You have at least a year until it expires, so you can use it whenever you run out of those. I considered giving away the card, but figured that other people would just use it for planet/animal exploiting products.

]]> The same thing happened to me...

I decided to use the gift card on soymilk, tofu, and organic veggies, to encourage Hel*Mart to stock these environmentally- and morally minded products. You have at least a year until it expires, so you can use it whenever you run out of those. I considered giving away the card, but figured that other people would just use it for planet/animal exploiting products.

]]> Comment #8 by mtvyfan http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/ Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:46:15 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/8 I'm betting the card is to Mall-Wart

That sounds like the most likely suspect to me.

On the bright side, if you look really hard and are a diligent label reader, they do carry some organic products. Just be sure to check for the USDA organic label or some other organic certifier, because according to http://www.cornucopia.com they have been known to use their "organic" shelf tag on items that are natural, not organic. Caveat Emptor!

]]> I'm betting the card is to Mall-Wart

That sounds like the most likely suspect to me.

On the bright side, if you look really hard and are a diligent label reader, they do carry some organic products. Just be sure to check for the USDA organic label or some other organic certifier, because according to http://www.cornucopia.com they have been known to use their "organic" shelf tag on items that are natural, not organic. Caveat Emptor!

]]> Comment #9 by dandel http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/ Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:38:30 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/9 Givecards.org

Seems like a good idea, but their website is pretty sparse.  I wish they had a FAQ on how exactly they convert the cards they receive into cash (is it a 100% conversion of the card balance?) and whether donating cards to them counts as a charitable contribution.  Unless I missed it, I didn't even see a way to contact them with questions.  I like the idea, but some more transparency would be nice.

]]> Givecards.org

Seems like a good idea, but their website is pretty sparse.  I wish they had a FAQ on how exactly they convert the cards they receive into cash (is it a 100% conversion of the card balance?) and whether donating cards to them counts as a charitable contribution.  Unless I missed it, I didn't even see a way to contact them with questions.  I like the idea, but some more transparency would be nice.

]]> Comment #10 by cckid http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/ Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:35:37 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Gee-Thanks/10 How about this?

There's actually this web site called MonsterGiftCard.com and instead of using the card for something you don't want, you can trade it in for another card from a store you agree with or you can even sell it.

Everything is guaranteed and official.

]]> How about this?

There's actually this web site called MonsterGiftCard.com and instead of using the card for something you don't want, you can trade it in for another card from a store you agree with or you can even sell it.

Everything is guaranteed and official.

]]>