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alexriverr
New Visitor

Gift Cards

Has anyone used an aggregator like carddeals.co to check which site has the best rates before buying?

 

I see it lists rates from Raise, CardCash, CardCookie, etc., but I’m hesitant to actually pull the trigger on some of the ones I haven't heard of before.

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2 REPLIES 2
ElvisCaprice
Established Contributor

Re: Gift Cards


@alexriverr wrote:

Has anyone used an aggregator like carddeals.co to check which site has the best rates before buying?

 

I see it lists rates from Raise, CardCash, CardCookie, etc., but I’m hesitant to actually pull the trigger on some of the ones I haven't heard of before.


Gift cards can be a tricky business, on the secure side.  Doable with extreme caution, best to limit this.   I find merchant discounts offered by CC's, a more reliable/secure method.

BofA: Citi:US Bank:Chase:Aven:RH:

Spend: Less than 10k per year organic (frugal). MS varies, can be more significant.

(Oct of 26) Scorecard: Clean, Thick, Mature (Always PIF)

HP's: EQ 1/6, 2/12, 5/24 | TU 0/6, 3/12, 5/24 | EX 0/6, 2/12, 6/24

New Accounts: 1/6, 7/12, 9/24

Message 2 of 3
ptatohed
Senior Contributor

Re: Gift Cards

I like the idea of an aggregator site because I always wonder if I am getting the best discount.  But, like you said, there are too many 2nd hand gift card sites on there that I haven't heard of.  They may be worth trying but I just find myself going to CardCash and GCX/Raise because I am familiar.  Like Elvis said, be careful with using gift cards.  1.) The cards themselves could be emptied if someone kept the card number and pin and uses them before you do.  So try to use them before the guarantee date.  And 2.) Depending on what you are buying, you may have less or no buyer protection. 

 

I pretty much only buy them for dining.  There are some heavily discounted cards on these sites.  Golden Corral is 24.8% on Cardcash right now.  I'll buy the kids Chuck E Cheese cards for sometimes 27% (20.10% at GCX right now).    Domino's is usually in the high teens.  PF Changs can be over 20%.  Subway is 18% right now.  Etc., etc.   I pay with AOD for another 3%.  A few times I had to make a claim where the card was empty or less value than I bought and GCX and CardCash came through within the guarantee period.  

 

I have been burned before.  I bought a bunch of Panda Express cards at a good discount, didn't use them before the guarantee date and when I went to use them, Panda had changed their cards to use a PIN and my cards did not have a PIN.  CardCash would not help me.  The few times I did buy 2nd hand cards for a non-dining purchase was when I bought 8 $100 HP cards to buy a laptop.  Probably not smart.  It bit me because, at check-out, HP had a limit on the number of cards you can use!  Doh!  I eventually was able to complete the purchase by calling in.  I have also used them to buy Greyhound cards but that went smoothly. 

 

Anyway, to answer your question, I haven't yet but maybe I will give the aggregator site a go!    

Everyday 5% CB:
Chase prime Visa // citi CUSTOM CASH “A” // citi CUSTOM CASH “B” // citi CUSTOM CASH “C” // citi ThankYou (5% gas, lucrative spending offers) // mylowe’s Rewards // Target circle card

Rotating 5% CB:
Chase “OG” freedom Visa // DISCOVER it Cash Back // nusenda CU Platinum Cash Rewards

Everyday 4% CB:
US Bank Smartly (v1.0)

Everyday 3% / 2.2% CB:
AOD FCU Visa Signature (3%, sockdrawered) // upgrade Cash Rewards Elite (2.2%, sockdrawered)

Welcome Offer / credits only:
NFCU FLAGSHIP REWARDS (elevated Welcome Offer, annual prime credit, sockdrawered)

Hotel card:
Chase IHG ONE REWARDS PREMIER (elevated Welcome Offer, 1 free night/yr)

On my radar:
Langely FCU Signature Cash Back (5% CB monthly selectable cat) // Safe CU Cash Back+ (Quarterly rotating 5% CB cats plus bonus cats) // upgrade MyFive Cash Rewards (5% CB monthly selectable cat) // US Bank Kroger (and family) World Elite Master Card(s) (5% CB Mobile Wallet)
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