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Statistics |
| Unique Visitors: 801 |
| Total Unique Visitors: 209645 |
| Visitors Out: 180 |
| Total Visitors Out: 180 |
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| New Look for Giftcardblogger.com |
| 2008-05-10 15:12:32 |
As you may recall, I announced several weeks ago that i am working on a redesign of Giftcardblogger.com. The goal is to make the site more user friendly and also incorporate some new and exciting features. Well, the wait is almost over. The new and improved Giftcardblogger.com will be launched sometime next week.
To celebrate the new and improved site, I will start a 4 part series on gift card scams and fraud. The series will highlight the major types of gift card scams and fraud ideas out there and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim.
I am really excited about the new site and look forward to showing it to you soon. Stay tuned!...
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| Circuit City puts itself up for sale |
| 2008-05-09 10:11:33 |
According to a story on Bloomberg News this morning, struggling retailer Circuit City has decided to put itself up for sale. The company is opening its books to Blockbuster and other investors interested in an acquisition. If you recall, i posted a story last week about rumors of the company being on the verge of bankruptcy, which turn out to be untrue.
What does this mean for gift card holders? This is a bit of good news since any effort to keep the company alive means gifts cards will continue to be redeemed. However, as I have mentioned before, if you have a Circuit City gift card, now is the time to use it. Also, I do not recommend buying a Circuit City gift card until the company’s future is clear....
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| Gift Card Question: Where to buy an iTunes gift cards (in-person) |
| 2008-05-09 08:08:07 |
This is a popular question online, especially on Yahoo Answers, so I did some research and here is what I found:
You can buy an iTunes gift card at the apple store. To do this, you need a valid credit card with a U.S. billing address. You can also buy them at many national retailers, supermarkets, and drug stores, including the following:...
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| Free $25 gift card from Giftcards.com |
| 2008-05-08 21:24:18 |
Giftcards.com is offering a free gift card worth $25 if you purchase a $100 Visa gift card or more and pay through eBillme. The eBillme service offered by Giftcards.com allows you to pay for purchases from the site through your checking account without a need for a credit card. The $25 will come in form of an instant rebate on your transaction total when you checkout through eBillme. Offer is for new users of eBillme only. For more on this offer, click here.
I think this is a great offer since you get $25 off while purchasing a Visa gift card, which will make a great graduation, birthday, or wedding gift.
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| Gift Card Alert: Linens and Things to honor Gift Cards during Bankruptcy |
| 2008-05-08 21:00:50 |
Here is some good news for Linens n’ Things gift card holders. The company will continue to honor gift cards despite the recent bankruptcy filing.
According to a story on Promo Magazine’s website, Linens n’ Things has received approval from the bankruptcy court to allow customers to continue redemption of gift cards and coupons. As you may recall, i posted a story a few days ago about the company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
This is also good news for Linens n’ Things since I believe it will enable the company retain some of its current customers, prevent the competition from exploiting its misfortune (as Brookstone tried to do with The Sharper Image recently), project some sense of business as usual, and also attract new customers since their gift cards are popular....
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| Free gift card from Sam’s Club for recycled electronics |
| 2008-05-07 09:47:55 |
N.E.W. Customer Service Companies, Inc. has partnered with Sam’s Club to launch a new online electronics recycling service that helps Sam’s club members nationwide get rid of their older, unwanted, electronics through an easy-to-use online recycling program called ecoNEW®.
According to a story by Businesswire, Sam’s Club Members may trade in their older electronics for a free gift card which is determined by a recycle trade-in value generated through the program website. Electronics accepted through the program include LCD monitors, digital cameras, PC desktops and laptops, gaming systems, MP3 players, camcorders, and printers. The program provides a pre-paid shipping label for you to use to mail in the item. Click here to go to the program website....
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| Gift Cards: Use them now or lose them |
| 2008-05-06 21:39:53 |
During the last two weeks, I have talked a lot about why consumers should redeem their gift cards soon due to the recession and the possibility of more retailers going under. One area i have not mentioned is what happens when local businesses that issue gift cards change hands.
This video from NBC affiliate station WWLP in Springfield, MA talks about how customers of a local beauty salon got stuck with gift cards when the salon ownership changed hands. See the video below.
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| Gift Card Question: What is Naked Gift Card™ and Lonely Gift Card™? |
| 2008-05-05 01:45:48 |
If you’ve read the “About Us” page on this site, you’ve probably come across the terms “Naked Gift Card” and “Lonely Gift Card” and may be wondering that these are. This post explains what these terms mean and provides tips on how to avoid these situations.
Naked Gift Card and Lonely Gift Card are two terms I coined to explain two important factors to consider when giving someone a gift card.
Naked Gift CardTM
A Naked Gift Card is when you give someone a gift card with little or no effort in packaging the gift card, thereby ruining the element of surprise for the receiver. How do you know you’ve given someone a Naked Gift Card? The answer is simple:...
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| Gift Card Alert: Linens and Things Files for Bankruptcy |
| 2008-05-03 10:52:22 |
Yes, it’s true - Linens ‘n Things filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection yesterday. I am sure the question on the minds of gift card holders is whether the company will continue to honor gift cards.
According to this story from Marketwatch, the company is trying to get permission from the bankruptcy court to continue to honor gift cards. The company plans to close about 120 under performing stores but it plans to operate the remaining stores without interruption.
I placed a call today...
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| Mother’s Day Gift – 5 Mother’s Day Gift Card Ideas That Stand Out |
| 2008-05-01 19:58:04 |
Getting a mother’s day gift can sometimes be challenging. Many times, you are not sure what to get. The usual suspects - flowers, dining out, chocolates, cards, and chore tickets are probably overused. This year, you can try something new by giving a gift card. Yes, a gift card!
Your immediate reaction probably is: “gift cards are impersonal.” Well, they are impersonal if you make them. With some preparation and creative packaging, gift cards can be presented with the usual element of surprise. They also make a perfect mother’s day gift because they take the guesswork out of giving and provide the recipient a chance to get what they want.
Before you pick a gift card...
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| Gift Card Alert: Circuit City filing for bankruptcy? |
| 2008-05-01 16:54:23 |
Over the last week or so, there have been lots of questions regarding gift card redemption from Circuit City. The questions are based on rumors of the company being on the verge of bankruptcy.
Even though the company was on a recent list of retailers at risk of going under during the recession, i do not believe the company is going to file for bankruptcy soon unless the current offer from Blockbuster to buy Circuit City falls through. If the deal falls through, Circuit City will be under a lot of pressure to do something dramatic to turn itself around. In the absence of a plan, and if the company continues to burn cash, they will have no choice but to file for bankruptcy protection.
As I have recommended before, if you currently hold a Circuit City gift card, now is the time to use it or risk loosing it should the company go under. I would also not recommend buying a Circuit City gift card until the dust clears.
Readers, what are your thoughts about Circuit City and rumors a...
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| List of Retailers Offering Stimulus Checks for Gift Card Promotion |
| 2008-04-29 05:57:12 |
The following is an updated list of companies offering an additional free 10% gift card if you turn your entire stimulus check into a gift card. This means if you turn in a $300 stimulus check, you will get back a gift card worth $330.
Kroger
Sears (valid from May 14 to July 19)
Kmart (valid from May 14 to July 19)
Lands’ End (valid from May 14 to July 19)
Fry’s (valid from May 2 to July 31)
Pick ‘n Save
Copps
Rainbow
All SuperValu Stores (Cub Foods, Acme, Albertsons, Bigg’s , Fresh Farm, Hornbacher’s, Jewel-Osco, Lucky, Shaw’s/Star Market, Shop ‘N Save, and Shoppers Food & Pharmacy. Offer valid from May 2 through July 31. Stimulus checks or tax refunds can be use to buy gift cards in $300 increments and the store will add an extra $30, for a $330 total)....
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| How to use an iTunes Gift Card to set up an iTunes account |
| 2008-04-29 04:55:32 |
I have seen a fair number of people run into problems trying to use their iTunes gift card to either set up an iTunes account or buy music on the iTunes store. I therefore decided to do some research about this problem.
Yes, you can use an iTunes gift card to set up an iTunes account or buy music on the iTunes store (if you do not have a credit card or do not want to use a credit card). Below is a step-by-step instruction from apple.com on how to do that....
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| Gift Card Question - Where to buy a Visa Gift Card (Online) |
| 2008-04-28 05:10:42 |
As a follow-up to the previous post on where to buy a visa gift card in-person, the following institutions sell visa gift cards online. Please note that some of the banks listed only sell visa gift cards to their customers or members.
Where to Buy Visa Gift Cards Online
SunTrust
Phone: (800) 318-0210
DeluxeCard
iCARD
Phone: (636) 536-6897
IDT Gift2go
Phone: (800) 995-3065
GiftCards.com
Phone: (877) 944-3822
Gift Card Lab...
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| Gift Card Alert: Linens ‘n Things going out of business? |
| 2008-04-25 06:46:23 |
According to this story, Linens ‘n Things may be going under soon. There is speculation that the company may file for bankruptcy if it does not find a buyer soon. If you currently have a Linens ‘n Things gift card, now is the time to use it or loose it. Actually, if you have a gift card you’ve been holding on to for a while, you might want to use it soon.
Considering that we are already in a recession (i don’t know why the government won’t just come out and admit what majority of consumers already know and feel) and don’t know how long it will last, many struggling retailers may have no option but to file for bankruptcy protection.
As you may know, gift cards issued by companies that declare bankruptcy become almost worthless (click here to see why). To show you how serious this can get, AOL recently asked its users to predict which national retailer may be next to go under. While this is just user opinion, it is not hard to spot trouble with a retai...
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| Gift cards coming to an ATM near you |
| 2008-04-23 07:15:37 |
Stopping at the ATM to get cash? Why not pick up a gift card to your favorite store while you are at it? If you think gift cards have become ubiquitous, it about to get even better (or worse depending on who you ask).
According to this story, Better ATM Services, a Mesa, Arizona-based company, has developed technology that would enable ATMs to dispense prepaid gift cards like currency. So, instead of getting cash, you can choose to buy a gift card and the ATM will dispense the gift card via the ATM’s cash tray.
The new technology was showcased last week at the KioskCom Las Vegas Expo and is generating a buzz. The largest of ATMs would be able to hold about 1,000 credit-card sized gift cards. According Better ATM Services, banks, shopping malls, grocery stores and restaurants can now offer prepaid gift cards through ATMs without a need to reconfigure the ATM’s hardware. This means ATM owners can offer this at zero additional cost.
If you needed any more proof that gift c...
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| More retailers offering free 10% gift cards for your Stimulus Check |
| 2008-04-21 21:54:58 |
Since announcing this free gift card deal from Kroger regarding the stimulus checks from the IRS, more supermarkets and retailers have jumped on the bag wagon with their own plans offering an additional free 10% gift card if you turn your entire stimulus check into a gift card.
As you are probably aware, Uncle Sam will begin mailing checks of $600 and $1,200 respectively for individuals and couples with another $300 per child beginning next month. This means you get an extra $60 if you turn your $600 check into that retailer or supermarket’s gift card or $120 if you turn your $1200 into a gift card. Below is the current list of companies that have this promotion. I expect this list to grow as the IRS begins to mail the checks. An updated list will be posted here so check back for more. You may find a deal that interest you.
Current List of Retailers Offering Stimulus Checks for Gift Card Promotion
Kroger
Sears (valid from May 14 to July 19)
Kmart (valid from May 14 to July 19)
La...
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| Gift Card Question - Where to buy a Visa Gift Card (In-Person) |
| 2008-04-20 22:25:39 |
A couple of weeks ago, I posted a piece on the Top 10 most popular gift cards. On top of that list was the Visa Gift Card, which claimed the price as the most popular gift card. In case you are wondering about where one can buy a Visa gift card, look no further. Below are drug stores and supermarkets that carry the Visa gift card.
Drug Stores
Eckerd’s
Duane Reade
Longs Drugs
Rite Aid
Walgreens
CVS
Bartells
Grocery Stores/Supermarkets...
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| Free $120 gift card from Kroger for Tax Rebate Check |
| 2008-04-17 23:52:58 |
According to this story, supermarket chain Kroger is offering a free gift card up to 10% of the value of your tax rebate check if you turn the full value of your rebate check into a Kroger gift card. As you are probably aware, Uncle Sam will begin mailing checks of $600 and $1,200 respectively for individuals and couples with another $300 per child beginning next month.
If you are a Kroger shopper, this may not be a bad deal since what this does is give you an extra $60 if you turn your $600 into a Kroger gift card or $120 if you turn your $1200 into a Kroger gift card. That could be your entire grocery shopping for six months to a year covered, assuming you do not already have plans for your check. ...
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| Gift Card Fees - The gift that keeps on taking |
| 2008-04-13 17:55:33 |
As you may know, I am very much against gift card fees and expiration of all forms. That is one of the reasons why i created the Gift Card Guide to help keep you informed before purchasing a gift card. Below is a YouTube video from ABC affiliate station WISN in Milwaukee,WI about how gift card issuers are raping consumers with gift card fees and expiration. The report is from last november but the message is still relevant. Take a look.
What has been your experience with Gift Card fees? Share your thoughts in the comments section below....
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| Gift Card Question: Using Visa or American Express Gift Cards to Shop Online |
| 2008-04-12 06:59:50 |
One of the most asked gift card questions, particularly on Yahoo Answers is whether you can use a Visa or any other bank issued gift card (American Express, Discover, or MasterCard) to shop online. The answer is yes.
However, there are additional steps you have to take to prevent your card from being rejected by the merchant. The problem with using Visa (or any other bank issued) gift card online is that there is no verifiable name and address associated with the card. When buying things online, most merchants want your name and billing address to match the name and address you have on file with your card (credit, debit, or bank gift card) issuer.
Therefore, before you use your Visa or other bank issued gift card, call the merchant/financial institution that issued the card or go to their website and add your name and address to the card. This will ensure that when you use the card online, the name and address you provide to the merchant for billing will match the name and address on f...
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| Gift Card Question: How to split payment between a gift card and another form of payment. |
| 2008-04-11 07:06:59 |
As I mentioned last week, one of the new features I am introducing on this blog is to answer reader questions about gift cards. In addition, I will also provide answers to the most frequently asked gift card questions. I am fairly active online and regularly visit gift card related blogs and forums. One of the most commonly asked gift card questions is how to combine two forms of payment to make a purchase if the item you are trying to purchase costs more than the balance on your gift card. This transaction is known as “split tender” or “split payment”.
Whether you can do this or not depends on the merchant. Assuming that the merchant allows you to split payment between...
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| Giftcardblogger.com News |
| 2008-04-08 22:18:53 |
Giftcardblogger.com will be undergoing a redesign beginning April 10th to make the site more user friendly and incorporate some new and exciting features. As a result, I will not be posting regularly for the next three weeks. However, you can expect at least 2 posts a week. I look forward to showing you the new and improved giftcardblogger.com soon. Thanks for your patience and support....
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| How important is Gift Card Packaging to you? |
| 2008-04-07 02:55:20 |
A March 2008 survey released by Seastone, a leading manufacturer of gift card packaging found that 84% of consumers would purchase a gift card if it came with free packaging. The survey also found that 62% of consumers were more likely to purchase a gift card if multiple packaging options were available.
According to the survey, the most popular form of gift card packaging is a tin box, followed by paper pouches, greeting cards, and stuffed animal designs. Those surveyed also indicated that they are most likely to purchase gift card packaging for birthdays, followed by the holiday season.What gift card packaging do you use? Which one is your favorite? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. ...
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| iTunes Gift Card Questions & Answers |
| 2008-04-03 22:31:35 |
Can I use a prepaid Visa gift card to open an iTunes account or pay for music on iTunes?
No, you cannot use any bank issued gift card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) to open an iTunes account or pay for music on the iTunes store. To open an iTunes account, you need one of the following: an iTunes gift card, a valid credit card, or a PayPal account. You can however use your prepaid Visa gift card or other bank issued gift card to buy an iTunes gift card from a retail store and use that to purchase music on the iTunes store.
Is a credit card required to purchase music on iTunes?
No, you do not need a credit card to purchase music on iTunes. You can use an iTunes gift card or a PayPal account connected to your bank account.
Can I redeem a US iTunes gift certificate or gift card if I live outside the US?
No, iTunes gift certificates and gift cards are valid for use only in the country in which they were purchased.
Source: Apple.com and Apple Customer Service...
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| GiftCardBlogger™ on Yahoo Answers |
| 2008-03-31 22:48:01 |
During the past week or so, I have been on Yahoo Answers responding to user questions about gift cards. I must say that it has been an exciting and interesting experience. It has also given me a good sense of what questions are on people’s minds when it comes to gift cards. I am seeing some questions asked over and over again and as a result, I have started to compile a list of the most frequently asked gift card questions which I will be featuring on this blog.
I have not yet figured out how this will be presented but I should be posting the first question and answer in the next couple of days so stay tuned. If you have your own gift card questions, you can email them to me at editor@giftcardblogger.com and I will respond directly to you in 24 hours and also post your question on the blog if it has not already been asked.
To see my Yahoo Answers profile, click here ...
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| Featured Gift Card: Forever 21 |
| 2008-03-30 22:24:29 |
Card Details
No Fee
No Expiration Date
Redeemable Online & In-store
Accepted by Multiple Merchants
Not Replaceable When Lost
Note: Forever 21 gift cards can also be redeemed online at Heritage1981 and TwelveByTwelve.
To see more Clothing Store gift cards, including reviews and ratings, click here ...
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| Exactly How Mad is Your Wife/Girlfriend? |
| 2008-03-28 15:54:52 |
If you are reading this, you are either in trouble with your wife/girlfriend, plan to get in trouble, or are prone to getting in trouble and want to see what this article is about. Well, it’s about great gift card ideas that will help you smooth things over with that special lady.
On my way to work yesterday, I saw a billboard for a local florist with a big caption: “Exactly how mad is she?” Below the caption were three flower vases of different sizes filled with red roses. The vases were arranged from left to right from the smallest to the biggest. I guess the message is: the madder your wife/girlfriend is, the bigger your flower size should be. I thought the message was creative and effective. Then it got me thinking, we men always gravitate to buying flowers when we are in trouble. How about switching things up a bit with gift cards?...
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| Featured Gift Card: The Gap |
| 2008-03-26 21:37:32 |
Card Details
No Fee
No Expiration Date
Redeemable Online & In-store
Accepted by Multiple Merchants
Not Replaceable When Lost
Note: One of my favorite cards due to the flexibility it offers. Gap gift cards can be redeemed online and in-store. They can also be redeemed online at oldnavy.com, bananarepublic.com, and piperlime.com.
To see more clothing store gift cards, including reviews and ratings, click here...
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| Top 10 most popular gift cards |
| 2008-03-23 22:12:51 |
Curiosity got the best of me today so I decided to find out what the 10 most popular gift cards are. I figured the best way to do this was to see which gift cards feature the most on searches. Since I am biased towards Google and Yahoo, i decided to use a keyword research tool to find out which gift cards are popular on these two sites. It turns out the 10 most popular gift cards according to Google and Yahoo Search results are:
Visa
Walmart
Target
Home Depot
American Express
Lowe’s
iTunes
Best Buy
MasterCard
Simon Gift Card (Visa)
The result was surprising to me. I was expecting to see more department store and clothing store gift cards. I am not sure why i had that thought. It is interesting that the bank issued gift cards (Visa, American Express, and MasterCard) feature prominently in searches because these cards are laden with fees and have expiration dates. Does this mean people want the convenience of being able to use these cards everywhere and don’t care about th...
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| Free $20 Gift Card from Best Buy |
| 2008-03-21 15:31:48 |
For a limited time, Best Buy is giving away a $20 gift card when you buy 5 select DVDs priced at $9.99 each. This means you get $20 back for spending $50. That’s 40% of your money back. Sounds like a good deal to me. Click here for details....
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| Free $50 Gift Card from Best Buy to Customers Who Purchased HD-DVD Players |
| 2008-03-20 11:29:05 |
Now that the high definition movie format war is over and Sony’s Blu-ray won, Best Buy is trying to appease customers who bought the HD-DVD players, the format that lost. To do this, the company is offering a $50 dollar gift card to customers who purchased an HD-DVD player or HD-DVD attachment from its U.S. stores before February 23, 2008. The company estimates that it will distribute more than $10 million in gift cards through this offer.
Most Best Buy customers won’t have to do anything to receive their gift card. The company will begin mailing cards to all customers they can identify as having purchased an HD-DVD player. You can also call 1-888 BEST BUY to get your gift card if you qualify or visit the company’s website for details. You will have to show proof of purchase through a credit card or a Best Buy receipt.
In case you are wondering if you have to give up your HD-DVD player? The answer is no. However, in case you decide to get the Blu-ray player, Best Buy is g...
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| Gift Card Alert: Borders going Bankrupt? Gift Card Holders Beware |
| 2008-03-20 06:37:06 |
According to this story on Bloomberg, Bookseller Borders is in trouble and may be on its way to bankruptcy. If you hold a Borders gift card, you may want to redeem it now before you become a victim to what happened recently to gift card holders of The Sharper Image or Bombay Company after both declared bankruptcy and suspended redemption of all gift cards....
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| Gift Card Scam – 5 Tips Everyone Should Know |
| 2008-03-19 06:37:42 |
Gift cards are more popular than ever, and with their increased acceptance comes a surge in gift card fraud. Over the last few years, a secondary market has sprung up targeted at unused gift cards, providing several options for customers to unlock the value in their gift card. These sites allow customers to swap gift cards, sell them for cash, or donate them to charity. Before you buy a gift card from one of these sites, here are five (5) tips you should know.
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