Gift Card Exchange: 5 Ways to Get Something Better

It happens. You receive a gift card during the holidays, on your birthday, or from an employer as a small "thank you." The only problem is you don't shop that store eat at that restaurant. Don't worry. You can trade up, or at least, trade it for something more useful. Some options are more useful, and you won't lose any of the card's value. If you don't mind taking a loss on the value of the gift card, you can sell the card for cash, through legitimate websites. And you can do it without ever going to eBay.

Gift Card Exchange: 5 Ways to Get Something Better

1. Swap With Friends

The best way to receive the full value of the gift card you don't want or need is to swap it with a friend. Maybe you have an Amazon.com gift card and they have one to Applebee's. Post your request on Facebook, tweet it. Look for an even exchange. Consider exchanging more than one card to make the swap as even as possible.

2. Restaurant Cards: Regift

Because they cannot be exchanged at the store or redeemed for cash, restaurant cards are the most difficult cards to trade. You can always regift a restaurant card if you know you'll never go there and know somebody who will. Save the card for an upcoming birthday or anniversary. Restaurant cards do not usually expire, but check the card just to be sure.

3. Retail Cards, Grocery Store Cards: Buy A Different Card

If you are lucky enough to have received a card for a large retail store or grocery store chain, and don't actually need anything at the store, you can buy another gift card for another store. Maybe you'd rather spend your $50 gift at BestBuy.com or the Nike store than at Walmart or Big Y.

4. Sell Your Card to PlasticJungle.com: Up to 92%

You can sell an unwanted gift card to a gift card to an online site. The big caveat here is that you will never receive the full amount of the card. PlasticJungle.com will pay you cash, via PayPal or Cashier's Check, up to 92 percent of the value on a gift card. The card needs to have a minimum of $25 and they pay for shipping.

Type in the gift card information and they post and offer. If you like it, you can proceed by typing in your information. The site generates a receipt and a shipping label including postage. You get paid after they verify the balance.

PlasticJungle.com gives you the option of exchanging your card for an Amazon.com or you can donate the card to a listed charity.

5. Get up to 90% of Value with GiftCardRescue.com

Another option is GiftCardRescue.com which may offer a lower amount than you can get on PlasticJungle.com. If yo you can't find the retailer on PlasticJungle,com, consider GiftCardRescue.com