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If you are looking for the closest gift card exchange kiosk near you, this post will show you the best places to turn your gift cards to cash, both in-store and online.
What is a Gift Card Exchange Kiosk?
A gift card exchange kiosk is a self-service place, usually in a grocery or big box store, where you can exchange your unused gift cards for cash.
There is usually a fee you must pay to exchange your gift card, which can be between 10 and 40%.
It depends on where and what company you use to exchange your gift card.
This article will tell you all you need to know about exchanging your gift cards for cash, including where you can exchange them, the costs of exchanging, and how the exchanges work.
How Do I Use a Gift Card Exchange Kiosk?
This section explains how a gift card exchange kiosk works.
Most gift card exchange kiosks require the gift card balance to be a minimum of $20.
When you use a gift card exchange kiosk, there will be five steps involved:
- Scan or swipe gift card – on the large screen, the balance will pop up as well as the fee
- Press “accept offer” – the fee will be deducted from the gift card’s available balance, and you will receive the remainder after the fee is taken out.
- The amount of the fee can vary depending on your location and the company running the kiosk. You don’t have to accept the offer, and you can take back your gift card with its original balance if the fee is too high
- Verify your identity (usually by entering your driver’s license info and email address)
- Insert gift card
- Voucher then prints, which you redeem for cash at customer service
Can You Exchange Gift Cards for Cash at Coinstar?
You can exchange gift cards for cash at Coinstar Exchange kiosks, but not at the standard Coinstar machines that accept coins.
Coinstar Exchange kiosks are usually yellow with large screens and are cashless, differing from the green Coinstar machines without screens.
Coinstar Exchange kiosks also include the options to exchange your gift cards for an e-gift card from a list of vendors or a charity donation.
Are There Any Gift Card Exchange Kiosks Near Me?
The best way to find a gift card exchange kiosk is to type in your zip code and see if there are any located in a store near you.
Use this link to find the nearest gift card exchange kiosk near you.
You can exchange your gift cards for cash at online sites or gift card exchange kiosks at stores, but availability may differ depending on your location:
- Walmart Gift Card Exchange Kiosk – Walmart doesn’t usually have Coinstar Exchange machines, but they have different gift card exchange kiosks where you can exchange your unused gift cards for a Walmart e-gift card
- Coinstar – While the standard green Coinstar kiosks that accept coins don’t accept gift cards, the yellow Coinstar Exchange ones do.
- Walgreens – they have gift card exchange kiosks
- Target – the most likely store to have a gift card exchange kiosk
- CVS – this pharmacy chain usually has gift card exchange kiosks
- Giftcard Bin – if you are located in a region that has Giftcard Bin, you can use them to exchange your gift cards for cash
- Kroger/Smith’s – often has Coinstar Exchange kiosks
- Albertson’s – has gift card exchange kiosks
- Safeway – these stores carry Coinstar Exchange kiosks
- Giant – has Alula gift card exchange kiosks, which are run by the makers of Coinstar and Redbox
Important note: the availability of gift card exchange kiosks vary by location, so call ahead or look online to make sure the store near you has one
Which Gift Cards Does Coinstar Exchange Accept?
Coinstar Exchange kiosks accept gift cards from over 150 retailers, including Home Depot, Amazon, Starbucks, etc.
As mentioned above, Coinstar Exchange requires the gift card to have at least a balance of $20 in order to exchange it.
How Does Coinstar Work?
The standard green Coinstar kiosks only accept coins while the yellow Coinstar Exchange kiosks are cashless and only accept gift cards.
How to find a Coinstar gift card exchange kiosk near me?
If you want to find a Coinstar gift card exchange kiosk near you, use the link below to add your street address or Zip code to find one that’s closest to you.
Use this link to find a Coinstar Exhange Kiosk near you.
Can I Exchange Gift Cards Online for Cash?
Most gift card exchanges have moved to online systems, especially in malls, given the costs and labor of maintaining physical kiosks.
The good news is that online gift card exchange programs give you more options to sell your gift card for cash, and aren’t controlled by a singular company like Coinstar Exchange.
This gives you the power to go elsewhere if you don’t agree with the fee, as many sites are competitive.
You are likely to find a low fee and get the maximum amount back for exchanging your gift cards. The following websites are specifically designed for you to exchange your unused, unwanted gift cards for cash.
1. CardCash
This site buys unused gift cards and resells them at a discounted price.
When you sell your gift card, you can either exchange it for a different gift card, or be paid by check, PayPal, or direct deposit into your bank account.
2. GiftCash
Gift Cash charges a fee of between 12 – 13 %, though this depends on the popularity of your gift card.
Similar to Coinstar Exchange, you can choose to either accept the rate or cancel the sale.
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- GiftCash either requires you to submit your gift cards electronically or mail them in. They pay you through either PayPal or a check.
- If you buy gift cards regularly from their site, you build up points with which to use for free gift cards.
3. Raise
With Raise, you can sell your gift cards by listing them for sale, and you set the price.
The higher the savings for the potential buyer, the higher on the list your gift cards will appear.
Once someone buys your gift card, the funds are delivered via PayPal or direct deposit. There is no option to receive a mailed check.
4. Prepaid2Cash
This site works as a mobile app, where you can instantly scan your gift card and it uploads it onto the app.
You are paid via direct deposit, their website stating you can receive the money in as little as 15 minutes, making it one of the faster sites from which you can get paid.
5. GameFlip
This site differs from the other online gift card buyers, in that they buy and sell other digital goods such as NFTs, in-game items, video games, movies, collectibles, and gaming accessories.
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- You list your selling price, and depending on the popularity of your gift card, you have to adjust the percentage to attract potential buyers.
- GameFlip isn’t as versatile as the other websites when it comes to payment options. When someone buys your gift card, the money is transferred into your GameFlip wallet, from which you transfer your funds to either one of the following accounts, from which there is a $1 – 2 withdrawal fee:
- Payoneer
- Wise
- Skrill
- Bitcoin
6. CardSell
A mobile-friendly site where you can sell your gift cards for cash.
Once the card is verified and the transaction is approved, funds are deposited into your PayPal account within 48 hours.
7. ClipKard
This site buys and sells unused gift cards and has a rate that you can either accept or decline, cancelling the transaction.
If you accept the rate, you can choose to be paid either through PayPal or having a check mailed to you.
Important note: when selling your gift card online, payment isn’t instant, as any sale requires verification before payment is released. If receiving payment in check form, it can take between a few days to a few weeks to receive it. You’ll usually receive a PayPal between 24 – 48 hours.
Are There Other Ways to Sell My Gift Cards for Cash?
There are popular options such as Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace where you can sell your gift cards for cash.
Unlike the online sites dedicated to buying and selling gift unused gift cards, you can set your own rates on these sites and competition and demand can heavily fluctuate.
eBay has a secure online platform through which to make and receive payment, but Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist usually require you to meet the prospective buyer in person or, if you both have PayPal or similar accounts, you can transfer funds that way.
Important note: when selling gift cards privately (via Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, for example), it’s important to verify the gift card’s balance. This can be done by meeting the prospective buyer at the store where the gift card is for where the cashier can check the balance of the card.
FAQs on Cash for Gift Cards Near me
What is the Fee for Gift Card Exchange?
The fee Coinstar Exchange charges for buying your gift cards varies greatly depending on the location and the gift card. Usually it is between 40 – 15%.
Where Can I Sell Gift Cards for Instant Payment?
Using a Coinstar Exchange kiosk is faster than online sources, since you receive the voucher which you can immediately redeem at customer service in whichever store the kiosk is located.
When selling your gift card online, payments usually take between 24 – 48 hours if using PayPal or direct deposit, and longer if you choose to receive a check in the mail.
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One online site – Prepaid2Cash – claims that you can receive payment for your gift card in as little as 15 minutes, but this can vary greatly depending on the card, the balance, and the verification process.
You can also sell gift cards on eBay and Facebook Marketplace for instant payment, depending on how quickly your card sells.
These platforms have secure payment methods to ensure safety and security for both the buyer and the seller.
Where Can I Convert my Gift Card for Cash?
You can convert your gift card for cash at any of the kiosks or most of the websites listed above.
Coinstar Exchange is the quickest option, as you can immediately redeem the voucher at customer service for cash.
Can You Get Cash for Gift Cards at Coinstar?
You cannot receive cash in exchange for gift cards at the standard green Coinstar machines that accept coins.
However, you can exchange gift cards at the yellow Coinstar Exchange machines, which are cashless.
