Comments on: Best Buy Gift Card Into Cash

Question: Best Buy Gift Card Into Cash

JamesMessick — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 07:38:34 -0800

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.

By: Jairus

Jairus — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 07:40:48 -0800

eBay.

By: Atreides

Atreides — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 07:42:14 -0800

Find a friend who loves Best Buy and offer a straight up trade.

By: charmston

charmston — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:03:44 -0800

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.

By: grouse

grouse — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:06:28 -0800

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

By: robbie01

robbie01 — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:16:47 -0800

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

By: birdherder

birdherder — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:19:26 -0800

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.

By: Otis

Otis — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:24:02 -0800

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.

By: bibbit

bibbit — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:50:02 -0800

Another site like CertificateSwap is CardAvenue - you can put the card up for an auction. Or maybe a trade for somewhere else.

By: carter

carter — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 09:25:19 -0800

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.

By: mdevore

mdevore — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 10:39:19 -0800

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.

By: JamesMessick

JamesMessick — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:48:52 -0800

The gift card was not a gift, but a reward for cashing in 10,000 credit card points.

By: mdevore

mdevore — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:52:09 -0800

Even better. Removes any iota of restraint for resale.

By: peep

peep — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 13:16:54 -0800

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.