Top 3 Popular Gift Cards that Can Be Returned

In the US, people are intrigued by the convenience and flexibility of gift cards. People often buy gift cards for gifting but later change their minds. Sometimes people purchase gift cards accidentally. Do you ever wonder of returning a gift card? 

Gift cards can be returned, it depends on the type of gift card you are using and the retailer from which you purchased it. Most of the gift cards on the market are non-refundable. Some gift cards become refundable in certain states of the US, like California and Massachusetts by law.  

This article will give you an understanding about: 

• Why would someone return a gift card? 

• What return policy do companies follow and popular gift cards that are refundable. 

• What other possibilities can be explored while returning a gift card? 

If this interests you, scroll down to learn how gift card refunds work. 

Most Common Reasons for Returning a Gift Card 

Some of the most common reasons for customers for returning gift cards are: 

• Late arrival of the product. 

• The customer purchased it on impulse. 

• They bought the card as a gift and changed their mind. 

• The customer felt the gift card was different from advertised. 

• The customer found a better offer someplace else. 

• The purchase was fraudulent with the intent to launder money. 

It is important for the merchant to understand the customer’s concerns and take appropriate steps to rectify issues. Now, most merchants providing gift cards have a no-refund policy.  

Policy for Returning Gift Cards 

Most of the vendors who provide gift cards follow a no-refund policy. This means once a customer buys a gift card, they cannot return it to the merchant.

Companies like Apple, Walmart, Visa, and Mastercard follow the no refund policy. Some of these companies rarely provide refunds on their gift cards. 

Conversely, Amazon has a dedicated return center from where you can connect with customer service. You also follow the steps on return a gift page to understand this in-depth.

To return a gift you must have the order number to start the process. Follow the subsequent steps to complete the return request. 

3 Popular Gift Cards that you Can get Refunded 

There are few gift cards in the market that you can return. Here are some of the vendors that allow you to return your gift cards. 

1. Amazon Gift Cards 

Refunds on Amazon gift cards can be claimed through the “Amazon Refunds section” on Amazon website.

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Here you can find all the essential things you need to know before you apply for a refund. It also states the required receipts and information to process the return request. 

For an Amazon gift card, it usually takes some additional time on your financial institution’s end to verify the transaction. The gift card takes 2 to 3 hours of additional time to process after the refund has been approved by Amazon. 

2. Target Gift Cards 

Target is one of the largest retail brands in the USA. Its dedicated returns page specifies its Target policy regarding all refunds. Any gift card bought from Target cannot be refunded or redeemed for cash or credit.

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But there is an exception: if the court of law asks Target to sanction the refund of any gift card they must proceed according to the court order. So, the only way possible to get a refund on gift cards bought through Target is by using the legal system. 

3. Starbucks eGift Cards 

Starbucks eGift card is popular among coffee lovers. It makes your coffee shop trip much more convenient, and using the card earns you promotional rewards and offers which is an added benefit.

The Starbucks eGift card policy states that the card must not be used if the customer wants a refund. You will also require the original purchase receipt of the order.  For further queries you can visit the Starbucks online portal or send an email to get your issue sorted.  

Gift Cards having Law-Specific Refunds 

There are many gift cards out there which do not offer refunds on their gift cards. Several big companies such as Apple, Google, Visa, MasterCard, etc., follow the no-refund policy. There is a benefit for the people living in California and Massachusetts.  

The laws of these states allow customers to get refunds on their gift cards. In California, a gift card that has a balance of less than 10 dollars is redeemable in cash. Similarly, if the value of the gift card is less than 5 dollars the holder can get a refund for the remaining amount or use the amount through the gift card in Massachusetts. 

Can you Sell Unwanted Gift Cards for Cash? 

Yes, there are a lot of third-party websites you can use to exchange cash cards. Let’s understand how this exchange takes place.  

How to Sell Gift Cards for Cash? 

Raise is a renowned marketplace that helps you sell your gift cards. Here’s how: 

1. You can choose the discount you want to put on the gift card.  

2. You can decide your discount based on similar gift cards other sellers offer.  

3. The Raise platform charges a 15% fee on the sale of gift cards. 

4. Once sold the amount on card is transferred to your account after deducting the platform fees.  

Cashcard is another platform that offers the same services. The difference here is that as soon as your card is verified, Cashcard pays you and takes care of reselling themselves.  The platform claims to give you 92% cash value on your gift cards. 

Alternatives to Returning an Unwanted Gift Card 

Besides selling the card for hard cash, there are other alternatives on the market. Let’s explore them: 

1. Exchange for Another Gift Card 

If you cannot return an unwanted gift card, you can always exchange a gift card for another one. You need to find a person who has a gift card you are interested in. You can find this person on social media and third-party websites. 

2. Regifting the Card to a Friend 

Unwanted gift cards can be used for regifting. This alternative helps you address two things at once. Enabling you to give your friend a gift that gives them the autonomy to decide what to buy on their own terms. 

This solves another problem of getting rid of unwanted cards. For example, if you have a steam gift card you do not want to use, you must identify a friend who is a gaming enthusiast and will have an actual use of this card. 

3. Donate the Gift Card to Charity 

If you have no use for a gift card, the best thing to do is to donate it to charity. The charity may be able to use the gift card in a better way. Instead of selling unwanted gift cards, you can donate them to a charity. 

Donating gift cards can give you tax benefits as well. The income tax rate is 35% of both federal and state income. For example, if you donate a gift card worth 100 dollars, you will receive a tax benefit of 35 dollars. 

Wrapping It Up 

In a nutshell, there are many common reasons why people return their gift cards. Once that is done, the policy for returning a gift card is significant. A proper analysis of the terms and conditions must be done to determine whether the gift card offers refunds.  

Amazon, Target, and Starbucks gift cards offer refund options. Two states in the US, California and Massachusetts, have laws that allow citizens to get refunds on a certain balance left in the gift cards. 

If you are not in these states of the US, there is no need to worry; there are alternative ways to get rid of unwanted gift cards. You can sell the gift cards for cash, exchange them for other gift cards, use them as a gift to a friend or donate the gift cards to charity.  

Implementing these methods might take time, but all these things are possible. So, you just need to sit back and utilize any of the following ways to either get a refund or get rid of the gift card. If you are in the market to purchase gift cards, you can get the best value through Send Credit Platform.