Gift Cards

Ten of the best sites for gift cards. Know of another site that should be listed here? Leave your suggestion at the bottom of this page. (Related searches: Gifts, Credit Cards, Department Store Credit Cards)

1. GiftCertificates.com - Yes, no one says gift certificate anymore, but they still exist, and this site lets you buy both gift certificates and gift cards from many major retailers and bank card companies, including SuperCertificates which can be used at multiple retailers, Wal-Mart gift cards, restaurant gift cards, Target, MasterCard gift cards, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Old Navy, Express, Gap, Shell and Chevron gas gift cards, Blockbuster, iTunes, Starbucks, and more. (giftcards.giftcertificates.com)

2. Visa Gift Card Providers - Complete list of locations where you can buy Visa gift cards, including purchasing cards in person at stores or banks, buying online, or ordering by phone. You can also get more information on how Visa’s prepaid gift cards work and where you can go to check the balance on a card you have. (usa.visa.com)

3. American Express Gift Cards - Buy American Express gift cards online and your giftee can use them anywhere Amex credit cards are accepted. (www10.americanexpress.com)

4. Free (Sort Of) Gift Cards at YourGiftCards.com - One of the many “free gift card” come-on sites that give you a $50 gift card to Sears or Kmart or Exxon or other retailers, provided you sign up for a credit card or pay for other offers. The cards may be free, but you’re not getting something for nothing here. (www.yourgiftcards.com)

5. iTunes Gift Cards - Get gift cards of $25 and $50 values from The Apple Store and give an iTune or two. (store.apple.com)

6. Web Sites Offering More Options for Gift-Card Holders - January 13, 2008 article on Web sites that allow gift card recipients to trade or sell their gift cards. Among the sites mentioned: Cardavenue, Plastic Jungle, Leverage Card and Swapagift. (www.thestate.com)

7. Gift Cards: 5% Growth Projected Through 2012 - January 16, 2008 marketing industry article on projected growth in the gift card market. (publications.mediapost.com)

8. The Gift-Card Giveaway - January 13, 2008 article on the phenomenon of gift cards going unredeemed or only partially redeemed, essentially giving retailers free money. Also mentions a California law that requires retailers to cash out store gift cards (but not bank gift cards) that have less than a $10 balance. (www.mercurynews.com)

9. GiftCards.com - While the name might make you think they have all the different gift cards from all the different stores here, that is not the case. What you can get is GiftCards.com prepaid Visa gift cards, including both personal gift cards and corporate gift cards that can be branded with your company’s name. (www.giftcards.com)

10. When Gift Cards Go Bad - Buying gift cards at your local Safeway or other supermarket? This January 11, 2008 article says if the cards come back as invalid, you may have to work very hard to get your money back. (www.mercurynews.com)