Best Buy Gift Card Into Cash

March 13, 2006 7:38 AM

How to convert $100 Best Buy gift card to cash?

I can get A at best buy for $100, or B, used, for $100 (or less). I'd like B, but can't justify paying for it when I can get A without having to reach into my very thin wallet.

posted by JamesMessick to shopping (13 comments total)

eBay.
posted by Jairus at 7:40 AM on March 13, 2006

Find a friend who loves Best Buy and offer a straight up trade.
posted by Atreides at 7:42 AM on March 13, 2006

You should be able to sell it on a website like CertificateSwap. Usually you lose a few bucks for the provided liquidity, but it sounds like it would be worth it.
posted by charmston at 8:03 AM on March 13, 2006

You could have an eBay auction for the card with this description: "YOU ARE BIDDING ON ONE BEST BUY GIFT CARD WITH A GUARANTEED MYSTERY VALUE OF $100....to...$1000!! THERE IS A STRONG CHANCE OF RECIEVING A $900 OR $1000 GIFT CARD!" Then you might make more than $100!

except that it would be unethical and we would hunt you down and turn you into the police
posted by grouse at 8:06 AM on March 13, 2006

Buy something at Best Buy with it, then return it for a refund?
posted by robbie01 at 8:16 AM on March 13, 2006

Buy something at Best Buy with it, then return it for a refund?

That doesn't work. They will give you a gift card for the refunded amount.
posted by birdherder at 8:19 AM on March 13, 2006

Buy something at Best Buy with it, then return it for a refund?

That doesn't work. They will give you a gift card for the refunded amount.
posted by birdherder at 11:19 AM EST on March 13 [!]

Actually, they make it sound like you even have to have the original gift card to put the money back on:

What is your return policy on purchases made using Gift Cards?

You may return items for which you used Gift Cards in accordance with our regular Return Policy. After making a purchase, we recommend that you keep your Gift Card until you receive the item and are sure it's what you want. The Gift Card amount applied to the item being returned will be credited back to your Gift Card.

I would say e-bay is your best bet. If you do a little research on what is selling well, you might be able to turn a slight profit.
posted by Otis at 8:24 AM on March 13, 2006

Another site like CertificateSwap is CardAvenue - you can put the card up for an auction. Or maybe a trade for somewhere else.
posted by bibbit at 8:50 AM on March 13, 2006

I take it the gift card was a gift - if so, it wasn't your money to start with. Spend it! - and use the money in your very thin wallet to get C.
posted by carter at 9:25 AM on March 13, 2006

Friends and family, surely, someone you know shops at Best Buy and wants an instant discount. A poor relation of mine used to regularly sell Christmas gift cards to friends at a mutually appealing rate. It shouldn't be difficult to find someone you reasonably trust who wants to save a little money, and as long as they are not a total blabbermouth to an overly sensitive gifter, there's no foul.

Many people would jump at an instant $5, $10 or $20 cut off of full price, particularly for a highly popular store like Best Buy. Best Buy may be considered Evil by a lot of people on MetaFilter, but they are also one of the most heavily trafficked store brands around. Unless you're completely isolated, I don't think eBay would be necessary for this one.
posted by mdevore at 10:39 AM on March 13, 2006

The gift card was not a gift, but a reward for cashing in 10,000 credit card points.
posted by JamesMessick at 12:48 PM on March 13, 2006

Even better. Removes any iota of restraint for resale.
posted by mdevore at 12:52 PM on March 13, 2006

eBay. I sold $100 worth of gift certificates from Outback Steakhouse, with someone's name already printed on the "To:" line, for $96 and free shipping. Why people will spend 7 days bidding on this crap to save $4, I will never know.
posted by peep at 1:16 PM on March 13, 2006