Amazon gift cards are a popular gift, allowing recipients to choose from a vast array of products available on the Amazon platform. But what some people might not know is that you can use an Amazon gift card for more than just shopping on Amazon’s website.
This article discusses what Amazon gift cards are and lists several ways to use Amazon gift cards besides Amazon.
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What are Amazon gift cards?
Amazon gift cards are essentially preloaded cards provided by Amazon, which act like money you can use to pay for things on Amazon’s website or related platforms. You can get them in different amounts and buy them online or in certain stores. People often choose these cards as gifts because they give the person getting the gift the freedom to pick out whatever they want from Amazon’s huge selection of stuff, like gadgets, books, clothes, and groceries.
Where can you use Amazon gift cards besides Amazon?
Sell Amazon gift card for cash
Platforms like Gameflip, Raise, Gift Card Granny, and others offer you the option to sell your unwanted Amazon gift cards directly for cash. Typically, these sites list Amazon gift cards at a discount ranging from 2% to 15% off their face value. For instance, if you possess a $100 gift card, you might receive around $90 in cash.
These platforms prioritise security and reliability by manually verifying each user registration. For example, Gameflip requires users to provide a government ID alongwith a selfie, and it may take 2 to 3 days for Gameflip staff to verify all the details.
Once the buyer redeems your gift card code and completes the transaction by leaving a rating, the money is deposited into your account, which you can withdraw at any time. Additionally, these platforms may deduct a small commission from the sale proceeds.
Purchase Bitcoin
Using your Amazon Gift Card can be a clever entry point into investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. For individuals accustomed to dealing in digital currencies, converting Amazon Gift cards into Bitcoin presents an enticing opportunity to use these cards effectively and potentially earn profits over time.
Popular platforms like Purse, Paxful, CoinCola, and LocalBitcoins facilitate cryptocurrency exchange using Amazon Gift Cards. While buying Bitcoin with an Amazon Gift Card typically incurs no direct fees, sellers may charge an additional fee for each transaction.
Once you’ve acquired cryptocurrency, you can transfer your Bitcoins to a wallet of your choice through peer-to-peer transfers, such as Binance, Coinbase, or Robinhood. Furthermore, you can convert your Bitcoin into traditional currency or use it for purchases, as numerous websites now accept Bitcoin as a form of payment.
Sell it on eBay
eBay stands out from Craigslist, Letgo, and Oodle due to its widespread popularity and extensive reach. If you’re familiar with selling on eBay, you can leverage your skills by purchasing high-demand products, especially electronics, from Amazon using your gift card and reselling them on eBay for cash. In some cases, you may even fetch a higher price for items that are typically difficult to obtain.
Buy a Google Play Store or Apple Store gift card on Amazon
Both the Play Store and the App Store offer a wide range of apps for purchase. So, if you happen to have an Amazon gift card lying around, you can easily use it to buy either an App Store or a Google Play Store gift card. Once you have the gift card of your choice, you can then use it to buy the apps you’ve been eyeing for a while.
Buy an online subscription
Just like using Google Play credits, you can also purchase gift cards for entertainment services such as Netflix and Hulu. These gift cards can then be used to cover your subscription costs.
So, instead of reaching for your credit or debit card next time, consider using your Amazon gift cards to buy Netflix gift cards. With those gift cards, you can cover your subscription fees. You can apply the same method to other services like Hulu, Spotify, Disney+, and more. However, it’s worth noting that Amazon Prime Video is an exception to this rule.
Sell it on Reddit or Facebook Marketplace
Social media platforms like Reddit and Facebook offer great opportunities for selling your Amazon gift cards. Reddit even hosts a dedicated subreddit called r/giftcardexchange that is specifically for trading gift cards. Create a post with all the necessary details, and interested users will reach out to purchase the gift card from you.
Similarly, Facebook Marketplace is a hub for connecting buyers and sellers in one convenient location. You can either share your offer on your timeline or join groups dedicated to buying and selling gift cards in your area.
However, it’s important to note that this method can carry some risks, as the buyer may not always be reliable, and there’s a chance they might not follow through with payment. To mitigate this risk, sharing your Facebook Marketplace listing on your timeline with your friends is safer. This way, you’re dealing directly with people you know or with someone they can vouch for, making the transaction more secure.
Use them on stores/websites that accept Amazon gift cards
Until recently, Amazon didn’t permit purchasing gift cards from other stores using Amazon Gift Cards. However, today, there are numerous online platforms where you can use your Amazon Gift Card to buy gift cards for various retailers. These retailers include Airbnb, Forever 21, Gap, Uber for rides, Uber Eats, DoorDash, and many others.
Shop for yourself
If you’ve got a gift card, you can put it towards your grocery shopping or use it to buy whatever catches your eye. Add the items to your cart as usual, then select the option to enter your gift card details when you’re ready to pay. Once you’ve added the code, proceed to checkout and wait for your products to be delivered.
What you cannot do with gift cards?
Here are things that you cannot do with an Amazon gift card:
- You can’t transfer a gift card linked to your account to someone else.
- Gift cards don’t expire, so you don’t have to worry about losing the value over time.
- Remember that gift cards can only be used on the Amazon store from the region where they were bought. For instance, a gift card purchased in the US will only work on the US Amazon website.
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