If you're someone used to receiving gifts every year, there's a big possibility that you've received free gift cards as a gesture from an old pal or a family member, with a good number of them classified as "unwanted."
The unfortunate thing about unwanted gift cards is that most of them often go unused each year, as an estimated $3 billion in gift cards remain unused annually, because people often lack the correct means to cash them out.
So, if you have a locker full of unwanted gift cards that you don't know how to get the cash value from, I'll show you the best nearby gift card exchange kiosks where you typically can exchange your gift cards for cash.
How to Find a Gift Card Exchange Kiosk Near Me
Gift card exchange kiosks have been an excellent way to cash gift cards over the years. The type of gift card you have doesn't really matter—all that matters is whether the gift card holds a balance.
Since I can't really determine your exact location, I'll show you an easy way to find one nearby using Google Maps, regardless of your country.
To find a gift card exchange kiosk near you:
- Open your Google Maps app on your phone.
- Now, search for "gift card exchange kiosk" to see what you can get as results.
- You should see many locations come up, and if you're located in the U.S., you'll notice that most of these kiosks are located beside places we frequently visit, like grocery stores, gas stations, or even drug stores.
- Just tap a nearby location to get directions to the kiosk.
As earlier mentioned, you'll typically find gift card exchange kiosks at places like grocery or convenience stores, gas stations, department stores, and even at drugstores.
They are very easy to spot and use, especially for someone who is used to ATM machines (which I think we all are), with the only difference that their primary function is to give you cash after your gift card has been inserted or approved by the machine.
After you've located the gift card exchange kiosk, you can use it as follows:
- Insert your gift card into the card reader and wait for the machine to scan and identify your card.
- Next, you'll have to choose whether to receive a discounted value of what you hold on your gift card or swap for a gift card from another retailer (not all machines do this, but some actually do).
- Depending on the cash-out method you choose, you'll have to collect your cash or the gift card from the other retailer you selected.
In case you come across a gift card exchange kiosk that offers the possibility to collect a gift card from another retailer, I recommend you take this option because the value of the gift card is typically the same (in most cases) and this time, you'll actually be receiving a gift card from a retailer that you choose rather than receiving from a random retailer—which I believe makes all the difference.
Nevertheless, you are always free to collect your cash because I know that's our main aim at the end, but you should not forget that you'll receive an amount way much little than what your gift card holds, and the cut isn't fixed, as it varies per machine.
Where Else Can I Exchange My Gift Card for Cash Besides a Kiosk?
Believe it or not, there are way more convenient options for cashing out gift cards other than getting to a kiosk. And if you aren't located in an area where kiosks still operate, you'll definitely find these options not only lifesaving, but also convenient because with them, you don't need to get out of the comfort of your home, as everything can be done through your phone.
More to that, these options can be very convenient for anyone who has an unbranded gift card that isn't accepted by kiosks.
That said, places where you can exchange your gift card for cash besides kiosks include:
1. Online Marketplaces
We've spoken about kiosks so much that we almost left out the best way you delegate the actual amount you want on your gift card.
Yes, online marketplaces let you list your gift cards and mention how much you want as the value on the gift card.
An ideal marketplace for this type of listing is eBay Marketplace.
On eBay, you can basically list, buy, and sell anything you no longer need, just like unwanted gift cards. If you search for gift cards on eBay, you'll find out that many have already listed their gift cards for sale at the amount they want from their sale.
The good thing is that you can sell even unbranded gift cards on eBay, as it is one of the most popular filters for gift cards on the marketplace.
eBay Marketplace isn't the only option on the market—you can also go for Facebook Marketplace, which is also populated and ideal for those who aren't located in the US.
Don't be too demanding on your listing. I mean, don't list a price that is way beyond the rate that should normally be listed, because it's no longer being sold by the retailer itself even if you have never used the card. It's already secondhand, and buyers consider it as so.
To set all the chances by your side, go for a rate of at most 90% of the total amount or balance you have on the gift card if it's a branded gift card like one from Amazon or even Google Play.
If, on the other hand, it is an unbranded gift card, consider listing rates at most 80% of the total value. After all, what will you have to lose if you receive the gift card for free without completing any offer?
2. Gift Card Exchange Websites or Apps
Gift card exchange websites are equally ideal places to visit besides a kiosk, and even though their rates are way higher than local kiosks, they can be really great options for someone looking to sell non-branded gift cards.
There are just many gift card exchange websites out there, with the most popular and legit options being Raise and CardCash. Gift Card Granny no longer works as a gift card exchange website.
Yeah, I know they are all marketplaces, but the reason I separated them from the online marketplaces in the first option is that, unlike the others, they typically have a cut on the amount received and don't give you complete control over your listing.
3. A Friend or Relative in Need of a Gift Card
Sometimes, we just need to look around the neighborhood to see if there's someone in need of a gift card at a relatively discounted price. It can turn out that there's a pal or relative in need of the gift card we refer to as "unwanted." It is no surprise.
For sure, the amount you'll be receiving is way too low than what you had expected, but if you look at things the other way, you still got cash from that "unwanted" gift card, didn't you?
Coinstar Gift Card Exchange Kiosk Near Me
Coinstar machines used to be the biggest gift card exchange kiosks in the market, and even a simple Google search for kiosks could lead you to any of their nearby machines posted in basically the whole of the US.
However, Coinstar still operates these machines, but they've lost their core function to exchange gift cards for cash since 2022. Instead, they prioritize the sale of gift cards at a service fee.
So if you thought of Coinstar as an option, I recommend diverting your interest to other options you have.
Walmart Gift Card Exchange Kiosk Near Me
Walmart does not operate gift card exchange kiosks at any of its locations, and even if you're looking to sell their own store gift card, they won't accept it.
In fact, Walmart terms are clear when it comes to returns and refunds—their gift cards are not returnable or refundable.
They typically disown their own store gift cards as soon as they sell them—a retail-typically restriction that applies even to someone who just bought a gift card from them, which is very bizarre, but they are not the only ones doing this.
If you need to sell your Walmart gift card for cash, many gift card exchanges will proudly accept your Walmart gift card.
Target Gift Card Exchange Kiosk Near Me
Just like Walmart, Target does not operate gift card exchange kiosks.
Why Are Most Gift Card Exchange Kiosks No Longer Existing?
Gift card exchange kiosks used to be very common back then, until 2020, during the Pandemic. The Covid-19 Pandemic brought a big shift from local or traditional infrastructures to digital infrastructures, and since there was a complete lockdown in 2020, gift card exchange kiosks actually lost their value since no was could access them, which resulted in most of their shutdown as well.
Final Thoughts
Gift card exchange kiosks have been an excellent way to get the cash value from unwanted gift cards over the years. However, there has been a great change for these kiosks as most of them typically vanished with the 2020 Pandemic.
If you're looking to exchange your unwanted gift card for cash, this guide compiles all the methods you need, from using Google Maps to listing your gift cards on Marketplaces.