Unused Giftcards? a Solution

Giftcards seem like such a great idea in so many ways. At least from the giver's point of view. They save you time trying to figure out exactly what to buy, they're easy to wrap, and they're practical. Christmas shopping is so hectic and so fraught with uncertainty that it's easy to see why the market for giftcards grows every year. They are an easy way to make sure that certain someone gets the perfect Christmas gift.

At least that's what retailers would like you to believe during the rush toward Christmas. Because giftcards that are purchased, which then go unused are a huge source of profit. Of the 80 billion dollars worth of giftcards bought in 2006, it is estimated that about 8 billion dollars worth were never used. Best Buy reported 43 million in profits last year from unused giftcards and Limited Brands reported 30 million in giftcard profits, while larger retailers like Walmart and Target have yet to share figures on unused giftcards. These numbers would seem to indicate that a lot of Christmas shoppers who buy cards as gifts aren't putting much thought into their purchases.

Retailers who are raking in big money on this phenomenon may not be pleased to learn of an enterprising new solution to the giftcard problem, though. With Christmas just around the corner you may soon find yourself paying a visit to one of several websites like Cardavenue.com where you can trade in an unwanted giftcard- one which might otherwise end up expiring in your desk drawer.

Here's how it works. You get a giftcard from aunt Hazel for Talbot's under the Christmas tree. Aunt Hazel thinks Talbot's is the bomb, but you would rather spend that 100 dollars at REI. So, you click on over to one of the sites like Cardavenue.com, unusedgiftcard.com, or certificatswap.com, fill out a free registration and list your giftcard for trade or for sale. Then someone who wants your giftcard can either place a cash bid on it or offer a card from a different retailer in trade. It's basically E-Bay exclusively for giftcards.

In fact if you already have an E-Bay account you could list your card there. They have a category, "gift certificates," where people list their giftcards for resale.

Keep in mind this Christmas season that many giftcards have a limited shelf life. Read the back of any that you receive, because some expire or begin to depreciate if not used within a certain amount of time. So, don't just put a card you have no use for in your wallet and forget about it because you may end up making a charitable donation to the retailer where it was purchased and that's just silly.

Through the magic of the internet you can do a bit of Christmas cyber-recycling and turn that unwanted giftcard into something you really do want. Whether you turn it into ever-useful cash, or swap it for a card from a place you normally shop, it doesn't have to go to waste. It's a shame to have the money aunt Hazel spent on a Christmas gift go to waste, after all.