I've been shopping Lowes and Home Depot discounted gift cards on several of the exchange sites. It seems most of these sites have their fair share of negative reviews, but I suppose some of this just comes with the territory. Anybody have firsthand experience with ABC Giftcards?
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Gift Card Exchange Sites
- Thread starter LG63
- Start date
ybnormal70
Well-known member
Cardpool dot com. They have been great. Spent thousands with them. Had 1 card show up with money, but then had none when I tried to spend it a few weeks later. They quickly refunded me the total purchase amount and then gave me a gift card for my troubles. They have been great to work with.
Just checked my account:
You've saved $647.46 by buying $7,057.58 worth of gift cards for only $6,410.12 by shopping at Cardpool!
Kevin
Just checked my account:
You've saved $647.46 by buying $7,057.58 worth of gift cards for only $6,410.12 by shopping at Cardpool!
Kevin
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Super Sport
Well-known member
I've used CardCash on more than one occasion, and I haven't had any trouble yet. I think they're now affiliated with ABC Giftcards, since my last batch had that stamped on the envelope.
I bought a few cards for various places until I had a problem with a Dunkin Donuts card I bought from raise.com. They emailed me a code (no physical card) and I loaded it onto the Dunkin app so it could be drawn down whenever I went in to buy a coffee. The first time it worked, but after that it failed to scan so I called Dunkin and they said the code was bought with a stolen credit card. Therefore they invalidated the remainder of the card and since I didn't buy the card from them it was not their problem. After a week of phone calls and emails I did eventually end up getting the rest of my cash back from raise.com but it certainly soured me on the whole process.
I think if you plan to use the balance all in one shot then you are probably OK but just be aware there are a lot of scammers out there that are phishing around for codes that they can sell to these 3rd party sites for pennies on the dollar who then flip them to us. And understand that if there is a problem you will be dealing with the card exchange company (which may be a small, understaffed and inexperienced internet business) and not the professional customer service reps from the store. Not to mention your account could be blacklisted if you use a card the store deems to be suspect.
It's kind of like shopping with Sears online - it seems like you are getting a great deal but if there is any kind of problem that arises and you have to deal with the customer service folks the frustration and time put into fixing things just isn't worth the few bucks you save.
I think if you plan to use the balance all in one shot then you are probably OK but just be aware there are a lot of scammers out there that are phishing around for codes that they can sell to these 3rd party sites for pennies on the dollar who then flip them to us. And understand that if there is a problem you will be dealing with the card exchange company (which may be a small, understaffed and inexperienced internet business) and not the professional customer service reps from the store. Not to mention your account could be blacklisted if you use a card the store deems to be suspect.
It's kind of like shopping with Sears online - it seems like you are getting a great deal but if there is any kind of problem that arises and you have to deal with the customer service folks the frustration and time put into fixing things just isn't worth the few bucks you save.
cagullett1
Well-known member
I've had great experiences with Giftcardzen.com. I had one issue with ABC Giftcards but they made it right pretty quickly.
Cardpool dot com. They have been great. Spent thousands with them. Had 1 card show up with money, but then had none when I tried to spend it a few weeks later. They quickly refunded me the total purchase amount and then gave me a gift card for my troubles. They have been great to work with.
Just checked my account:
You've saved $647.46 by buying $7,057.58 worth of gift cards for only $6,410.12 by shopping at Cardpool!
Kevin
Wow, you are out pacing me. Below are my stats. I would have thought I had spent more:
You've saved $175.26 by buying $2,166.89 worth of gift cards for only $1,991.63 by shopping at Cardpool!
Cardpool is owned by Blackhawk Networks which is the company that provides the enabling network that allows retailers to sell gift cards for other retailers. So their systems are integrated with almost every big retailer. Anything can happen but they are not a scam and probably won't go under.
It is worth subscribing to their emails. They took Home Depot gift cards up to 13% about a week ago and they went fast.
For me and ybnormal70, if a card turned up bad that saving so far would cover that loss. Not much risk. I usually try to have $100 or so in cards from retailers I visit regularly and I only go higher if I have a major purchase.
The pricing on Cardpool really intrigues me from an econmics standpoint. Two things go into the pricing... the supply & demand of the people selling cards and the supply & demand of those selling them. Why are Hone Depot cards worth less than Lowe's cards? Why is Kmart discounted so much less than Home Depot or Lowe's? Someone could do an interesting economics thesis on the data.
rice rocket
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2011
- Messages
- 3,175
It's not really a transparent market, HD (or any other retailer) is probably injecting marketing dollars to boost their desirability for a variety of reasons. They could be trying get a leg up over their competition, or because it's cheaper to do business through gift cards than through credit cards. Or maybe they're trying to clear out a whole line of products to reduce inventory, and know all the cheapasses who buy cards second hand probably will pick up their clearance items. etc etc.
cagullett1
Well-known member
It's not really a transparent market, HD (or any other retailer) is probably injecting marketing dollars to boost their desirability for a variety of reasons. They could be trying get a leg up over their competition, or because it's cheaper to do business through gift cards than through credit cards. Or maybe they're trying to clear out a whole line of products to reduce inventory, and know all the cheapasses who buy cards second hand probably will pick up their clearance items. etc etc.
Spot on: HD has to play a role in it. There are fees associated with credit cards that they don't have to take a hit on, and by giving a small discount, they are guaranteeing you come in their store, rather than the other. HD's marketing dept is one of the more savvy dept's in the retail industry.
purplezr2
Well-known member
Another note, gift cards a free money until they are spent, they don't cost HD but a few cents in the actual card. I'm sure Gift cards are similar to Rebates, a large percent of them don't get used. I know that I have three gift cards works about 200 dollars that haven't spent to various store I don't shop at much(clothing and books, gifts from my mom and sister).
frugalscotty
Well-known member
Here is a similar thread from a couple weeks ago
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=260233
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=260233
frugalscotty
Well-known member
Had a good experience with Cardpool so I went back to the well this morning only to find that the Home Depot cards are selling at a 6% discount vs. 10% from a couple weeks ago.
Hopefully just a seasonal thing and not a trend.
Prices on cards fluctuate constantly based on demand and inventory. Usually if there is too much inventory they will put them "on sale" (higher discount). If demand is high then the discount will be lower. I often see popular cards with only a 1 or 2% discount. This happens on all of the gift card resellers.
rslaback
Well-known member
tel0004
Active member
Another note, gift cards a free money until they are spent, they don't cost HD but a few cents in the actual card. I'm sure Gift cards are similar to Rebates, a large percent of them don't get used. I know that I have three gift cards works about 200 dollars that haven't spent to various store I don't shop at much(clothing and books, gifts from my mom and sister).
My aunt owns a hair salon. She says 20% of gift cards go unused.
Another idea if you are buying things online is to go to a website like fatwallet, then go to lowes, sears, HD etc from there. They get a refferal commision and pay you 2-3% (sometimes 6 for sears). I have an american express credit card that gives me 6% back at grocery stores, so I usually avoid card cash etc, and buy gift cards at Kroger if Im making a large purchase. Then combine that with fatwallet and a possible 10% off coupon and Im saving close to 20%.
Renchi
Well-known member
It's kind of like shopping with Sears online - it seems like you are getting a great deal but if there is any kind of problem that arises and you have to deal with the customer service folks the frustration and time put into fixing things just isn't worth the few bucks you save.
This made me laugh.
darganslayer
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2013
- Messages
- 30
So I just tried Cardpool, used their bulk purchasing feature (insert total and they combine separate cards). 24 hours went buy and no email with the online codes. So I sent cardpool an email and they refunded my purchase that day. Their responses seem to be computer generated, so I doubt I dealt with an actual person.
I need the giftcards so I am attempting round 2 right now to purchase them.
I need the giftcards so I am attempting round 2 right now to purchase them.
Tdubyac
Well-known member
I've used Raise before with no problems.
nafterclifen
Well-known member
cardpool.com is great, no issues with Lowes (physical) or Home Depot (electronic).
You've saved $202.41 by buying $2,094.86 worth of gift cards for only $1,892.45 by shopping at Cardpool!
You've saved $202.41 by buying $2,094.86 worth of gift cards for only $1,892.45 by shopping at Cardpool!
Im also weary of these sites and have until this point avoided using them despite the temptation to save money.
Is there anything stopping you from buying one of these cards and immediately going in an d buying another gift card unaffiliated with earlier purchase? Is there anything to stop the retailer from saying since this gift card was purchased with another gift card that was purchased with a stolen credit card that the new balance is void?
I would like to buy a few and keep on hand for when the projects come up and I need to go spend several hundred dollars, but Im unwilling to keep a gift card for several weeks/months that other people have the code to.
Is there anything stopping you from buying one of these cards and immediately going in an d buying another gift card unaffiliated with earlier purchase? Is there anything to stop the retailer from saying since this gift card was purchased with another gift card that was purchased with a stolen credit card that the new balance is void?
I would like to buy a few and keep on hand for when the projects come up and I need to go spend several hundred dollars, but Im unwilling to keep a gift card for several weeks/months that other people have the code to.
reader2580
Well-known member
What I have done with any gift cards I have purchased is to immediately use the card to buy something for the full amount. I then return the item and get a fresh store credit that nobody else should know the number for.
raise 3 cards so for ok
save ya 1st card bad
I got a $50 card, and used a little over half of it
went to use the other half and the balance was GONE!!!!
I have given them about two weeks and they are working on it, So thems say
I am going to call my credit card in a couple of more days and do a fraud claim
save ya 1st card bad
I got a $50 card, and used a little over half of it
went to use the other half and the balance was GONE!!!!
I have given them about two weeks and they are working on it, So thems say
I am going to call my credit card in a couple of more days and do a fraud claim
Double G Construction
Well-known member
As a contractor I would get a deposit from my clients for materials and buy from cardpool. Then shop for materials if I had enough time between deposits and work start date. Did this about 3 times till I ran into a snag on a job with 2k of materials. They sent me the first 1k in cards and the second 1k went a week and a half with out receiving them. They did issue a refund thought after I questioned where the other order went.
This just didnt fit into my business trying to keep up or stock cards for materials.
This just didnt fit into my business trying to keep up or stock cards for materials.
ybnormal70
Well-known member
I'm still loving cardpool:
You've saved $826.08 by buying $8,606.42 worth of gift cards for only $7,780.34 by shopping at Cardpool!
Also love ebates too:
Cash Back Summary
$59.34 Pending Cash Back
Recently Added
$1.32 Lowe's
$3.91 Lowe's
$7.84 Lowe's
$858.60 Big Fat Payments
05/15/2015 Next Big Fat Payment
$917.94Total Cash Back
That's a total savings of $1744.02 just for a few clicks of a mouse basically. This doesn't count all the combining with credit card % back either. Really doesn't take much to coordinate these things together to save pretty big $$$.
Kevin
You've saved $826.08 by buying $8,606.42 worth of gift cards for only $7,780.34 by shopping at Cardpool!
Also love ebates too:
Cash Back Summary
$59.34 Pending Cash Back
Recently Added
$1.32 Lowe's
$3.91 Lowe's
$7.84 Lowe's
$858.60 Big Fat Payments
05/15/2015 Next Big Fat Payment
$917.94Total Cash Back
That's a total savings of $1744.02 just for a few clicks of a mouse basically. This doesn't count all the combining with credit card % back either. Really doesn't take much to coordinate these things together to save pretty big $$$.
Kevin
I'm North of $10,000 of Home Depot cards at Cardpool and have not had a single problem yet. Now I just buy "printable" gift cards so I don't have wait for physical cards to arrive in the mail.
In this day and age when your checking, savings, ssn, age, credit cards, address, ***, health care info, etc., etc. is littered all over the Net, gift cards are no less safe than any other form of payment, in my opinion.
In this day and age when your checking, savings, ssn, age, credit cards, address, ***, health care info, etc., etc. is littered all over the Net, gift cards are no less safe than any other form of payment, in my opinion.
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rslaback
Well-known member
For those of you who are worried about the length of the guarantee. I have had two instances where the balance of the card was zapped after the guarantee time frame had passed. After a nice email informing the company of what happened, explaining that I knew I was out of the guarantee window and I thought they might want to know for their records (to ding the seller) both companies refunded me the card even though it was out of the guarantee window.
For those of you who are worried about the length of the guarantee. I have had two instances where the balance of the card was zapped after the guarantee time frame had passed. After a nice email informing the company of what happened, explaining that I knew I was out of the guarantee window and I thought they might want to know for their records (to ding the seller) both companies refunded me the card even though it was out of the guarantee window.
Were these cases where you found the balance zapped on your first attempt to use the card or after you had made a purchase and later found the balance gone? I always check the cards with a small purchase right away and assume all is well if the balance checks out. The post about other people having the code to the card has me concerned about some of my aging cards.
rslaback
Well-known member
Were these cases where you found the balance zapped on your first attempt to use the card or after you had made a purchase and later found the balance gone? I always check the cards with a small purchase right away and assume all is well if the balance checks out. The post about other people having the code to the card has me concerned about some of my aging cards.
1 of each.