How to use remaining LOW balance on gift cards?

joshh · Post by **joshh** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 8:18 pm

So, I have around 20 gift cards with under $2 on them left. They are the regular visa or MC gift cards. Anyone know of a way to spend them?

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 8:45 pm

Can you use them anywhere? If so, maybe fill the gas tank.
BPR

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:06 pm

joshh wrote:So, I have around 20 gift cards with under $2 on them left. They are the regular visa or MC gift cards. Anyone know of a way to spend them?

I'm not real sure about Visa and MC gift cards, but I regularly use credit card "rewards points" to buy HD gift cards. When I go through the HD automated checkout line, I shove any low-balance cards into the machine first, just to get rid of them. Works swell -- the machine sucks each card dry, and then gives you a new (lower) balance due.

I have a hunch that it would do the same with your CC-company gift cards.

joedw00 · Post by **joedw00** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 10:49 pm

BuckeyeDennis wrote:I'm not real sure about Visa and MC gift cards, but I regularly use credit card "rewards points" to buy HD gift cards. When I go through the HD automated checkout line, I shove any low-balance cards into the machine first, just to get rid of them. Works swell -- the machine sucks each card dry, and then gives you a new (lower) balance due.

I have a hunch that it would do the same with your CC-company gift cards.

That's the way I have always done it.

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 12:37 am

BuckeyeDennis wrote:I'm not real sure about Visa and MC gift cards, but I regularly use credit card "rewards points" to buy HD gift cards. When I go through the HD automated checkout line, I shove any low-balance cards into the machine first, just to get rid of them. Works swell -- the machine sucks each card dry, and then gives you a new (lower) balance due.

I have a hunch that it would do the same with your CC-company gift cards.

Yes, this should work like a charm - I'm not sure about using them for an online purchase but it should work...just might be a bunch more work as you'd have to enter all the CC info for each one. As a result, somewhere like the HD self-checkout would be the easiest. BTW, there should be an 800# and/or website address on each card that will allow you to check the balance on each if necessary - I usually do this and write the remaining balance on each card with a Sharpie so I know what each has when I go to use them.

joshh · Post by **joshh** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 12:51 am

I'm sure it's a gimmick on the part if the card issuer(s) but the cards decline if its over the remaining balance. The will not take out the remaining balance. I called the gift card company asking if they could be merged..."NO, I'm sorry." the guy in India says...

They fail at the gas station pump. I assume because of the reason above and the authorization tap is above the available balance. I guess I could have the cashier ring up exactly the remaining balance but I think that's cumbersome at best.

Sorry, I should have put all that in the original post as it drastically alters the suggestions

My boss offered me a batch of these and now I'm guessing she wasn't able to find an easy way either. Worst case I may just give them to waiters as tips

I'm kidding...mostly...

freedomlives · Post by **freedomlives** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:05 am

I don't know why people have to give the durned things. Aside from occasionally getting gifts of ones that are "good only for the U.S." (I live in Slovakia), they cost the giver something like $5 or so. I'd rather have $55 in cash instead of a $50 gift Visa card. Cash is accepted everywhere, and remaining balances are easy to deal with. :-)

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:57 am

freedomlives wrote:I don't know why people have to give the durned things. Aside from occasionally getting gifts of ones that are "good only for the U.S." (I live in Slovakia), they cost the giver something like $5 or so. I'd rather have $55 in cash instead of a $50 gift Visa card. Cash is accepted everywhere, and remaining balances are easy to deal with. :-)

And the credit card companies love them, as they often get lost or otherwise go partially or fully unused...resulting in a substantial "interest rate" for them. Same deal with gift certificates - I've always hated those in most cases - always for some place I don't frequent and then it feels like an obligation to go use it, which I often end up not doing. I guess this eventually gets to my peeve about the state of holidays and gift giving these days - commercial interests have all but destroyed the meaning of every holiday (other than perhaps Thanksgiving - I still love that one as just a opportunity for a family reunion and a big communal meal). I can't stand running around trying to dream up an obligatory gift and I equally hate it when my b-day or X-Mas comes around and I get a bunch of stuff I don't need just because folks felt obligated. Of course this is where the gift cards come in - folks feel it's the best way to let me get what I want, which I suppose is true, but the whole true meaning of gift giving is ultimately lost in this whole scenario. In reality the best gift I can get for my birthday etc. is a day to be free to spend some time with my kids and otherwise perhaps a handful of hours of alone time in my shop.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 11:29 am

joshh wrote:I'm sure it's a gimmick on the part if the card issuer(s) but the cards decline if its over the remaining balance. The will not take out the remaining balance. I called the gift card company asking if they could be merged..."NO, I'm sorry." the guy in India says...

They fail at the gas station pump. I assume because of the reason above and the authorization tap is above the available balance. I guess I could have the cashier ring up exactly the remaining balance but I think that's cumbersome at best.

Sorry, I should have put all that in the original post as it drastically alters the suggestions

My boss offered me a batch of these and now I'm guessing she wasn't able to find an easy way either. Worst case I may just give them to waiters as tips
I'm kidding...mostly...

I have never seen a card where they won't let you spend what the card is worth and make up the difference with cash or another card.
I think someone is playing games with you. I would take them to the merchant that issued them from and have them explain to you how you are to spend them.
If that failed I would have the cashier in that merchant's store ring up the exact amount of on each card and get rid of them that way.

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 11:39 am

Ed in Tampa wrote:...I would have the cashier in that merchant's store ring up the exact amount of on each card and get rid of them that way.

That's the way I do it. If ya just swipe the card, it gets rejected because there's knot enough on the card to cover the rung up sale.