This is a sponsored post in partnership with Coinstar Exchange. All opinions are my own.
Gift cards. We all love getting them right? But what about when you get a gift card to a place you may not shop at or a restaurant you don’t like? Usually these would collect dust in a drawer in your kitchen or end up at the bottom of your purse. But now there is a solution! So you are probably wondering what to do with gift cards you don’t want? Easy. Trade them for cash with Coinstar Exchange!
So recently I had the chance to go to a Coinstar Exchange gift card machine which was amazing. I had no idea they existed and I am so glad we have one so close to our house. Andrew and I had some gift cards from the holiday season we really didn’t have a use for, so we went to try it out. Keep a few things in mind though. You are not going to get the exact value of your gift card in cash. But you won’t have an unused gift card sitting around either. So you have to take that into consideration.
The process is super simple and doesn’t take long. You walk through the prompts of the machine. First you scan your card with either the barcode or with the magnetic strip.
Then you scan your drivers license to verify your identity. You also type in info like your zip code, phone number, and email. Don’t worry you do not get tons of emails after! Trust me.
Next, you will be promted to see if you would like to add more gift cards or if you are done.
After that you cash out and get your receipt. Then you take it to customer service (the kiosks are at grocery stores like Tom Thumb).
DONE! I got my cash and was on my way. The entire process took less than 5 minutes. There was no need to hassle with an online issue like selling a gift card on eBay or using an online gift card exchange.
I really love this idea because I hate to be wasteful with gift cards and so many times I have ended up with cards I will never use and they either sit in a drawer or I just give them to someone else who may use them. This way you get some cash and you can put it towards something you would actually want to use! The Coinstar Exchange Kiosk is just as simple as the Coinstar Exchange coin machines. Remember that payout rates vary by retailer and this means that offers are different for each gift card. You can see on the website which retailers they take as well. There are TONS of options!
Interesting option! I’ve always just been one to re-gift if they’re to a store I won’t shop at. Shhh! Regifting is what everyone does and no one admits to, ha!
Hmm! Definitely interesting. I tend to hold onto gift cards, because I find I always need them at SOME point (even if it’s just to buy someone else a gift). I also make it well known which stores I love to shop at, so most of the time I get good gift cards 😉
Interesting service! I’ve never noticed these machines before. What’s the “exchange rate” between the value of the card and the cash? Or is it different for every retailer? I haven’t gotten a gift card in ages but it’s good to know this is out there!
Ooooh my goodness! I didn’t know these existed! So excited – my teenagers got a couple gift cards that they aren’t going to use and were pretty disappointed. I’m off to the website to see where they are located around me. Thanks for the post!! 🙂
I have never heard of this! I know someone once told me that you could sell them back on a website but this is really neat! I don’t have any gift cards that I have received that I didn’t like but I will keep this in mind for the future!
I had no idea! I have seen the Coinstar machines but I will be on the lookout for the GC machines. That’s really cool! I have been pretty lucky with gift cards in the past but now I’ll know what to do if I get one I won’t use.
Happy New Year!
🙂
Traci
That is a really great option for people that could use some cash rather than some gift card to a restaurant or boutique. I personally use most of the gift cards I receive, but I can see how they would be useful. Thanks for sharing!
What? This is brilliant! I’ve never heard of it before! I just searched on the website and they’re in all the Giant Eagles around me. I’ll have to head to one soon!
This is awesome!! I need to see if I can find one near me!
I recently found a website that buys gift cards but its a long process so this would be so much easier!
This is wonderful!! I always end up with random gift cards that I have no idea what to do with. I had no idea this existed and I’m excited to try it out. Thanks for sharing!
Oh my gosh! This is the most brilliant thing I’ve ever seen! Where has this been my entire life?!
Interesting option! I’ve always just been one to re-gift if they’re to a store I won’t shop at. Shhh! Regifting is what everyone does and no one admits to, ha!
This is great! I receive so many gift cards and rarely use them.
Mikayla | A Seersucker State of Mind.
This is so cool! My sister has a ton of gift cards (people send them to her because she is a poor college student) and I know she’d love this!
wow, I don’t even know if we have those machines here, I’ve certainly never heard of them!
wow, I don’t even now if we have those, I’ve never heard of them!
Hmm! Definitely interesting. I tend to hold onto gift cards, because I find I always need them at SOME point (even if it’s just to buy someone else a gift). I also make it well known which stores I love to shop at, so most of the time I get good gift cards 😉
xo, Laura
I did not know this was a thing! I wonder how much less they give you for each gift card though -but it is a nice option to have. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Interesting service! I’ve never noticed these machines before. What’s the “exchange rate” between the value of the card and the cash? Or is it different for every retailer? I haven’t gotten a gift card in ages but it’s good to know this is out there!
Ooooh my goodness! I didn’t know these existed! So excited – my teenagers got a couple gift cards that they aren’t going to use and were pretty disappointed. I’m off to the website to see where they are located around me. Thanks for the post!! 🙂
This is definitely a service I would use. I usually re-gift a gift card if I’m not going to use it loll but I like this idea too!
I have never heard of this! I know someone once told me that you could sell them back on a website but this is really neat! I don’t have any gift cards that I have received that I didn’t like but I will keep this in mind for the future!
WHAT. This is amazing!! I had no idea CoinStar offered this service!! WAY COOL!
Never heard of it but that’s super cool!
I had no idea! I have seen the Coinstar machines but I will be on the lookout for the GC machines. That’s really cool! I have been pretty lucky with gift cards in the past but now I’ll know what to do if I get one I won’t use.
Happy New Year!
🙂
Traci
Interesting to know. I haven’t seen any of these though. I need to keep my eye out.
That is a really great option for people that could use some cash rather than some gift card to a restaurant or boutique. I personally use most of the gift cards I receive, but I can see how they would be useful. Thanks for sharing!
What? This is brilliant! I’ve never heard of it before! I just searched on the website and they’re in all the Giant Eagles around me. I’ll have to head to one soon!
I never knew this existed or was possible! I like the thought of VISA gift cards and then folks can use them where they want
This is awesome!! I need to see if I can find one near me!
I recently found a website that buys gift cards but its a long process so this would be so much easier!
This is wonderful!! I always end up with random gift cards that I have no idea what to do with. I had no idea this existed and I’m excited to try it out. Thanks for sharing!
http://livinglearningdreaming.com/
I’ve only seen these services online – never in a store. Good to know about! I think I have a few gift cards that I won’t really use.
Veryyy interesting. I don’t ever get gift cards but this is a good convenience to keep in my for the future
Joua To The Rescue
I’ve never even heard about this! This is so cool! Thank you for sharing 🙂
I had no idea that this was a thing!
That’s awesome.
xoxo, Jenny
Wow! I’ve never heard of this. I’m going to have to check and see if we have one near us. Thanks!
Wow that is awesome! I’ve never heard of this before but I’m going to be on the lookout for it now!
This is awesome! I wonder how much I would get for my two $25 apple gift cards. They are not iTunes, which sucks.
We don’t have any in the state of Alabama – ugh! I was excited.
Pretty sweet! I had no idea this existed!
Yes where would I go to do this
Yes,it all sounds great. I don’t have any idea where a Coinstar exchange machine is located in my area in Virginia.