Disney Gift Card Deals

[MinMou]

Does anyone know if JC Penny allows for GC to GC purchases? If I get a JCP gc, can I use it to buy a Disney GC? (not even sure my store carries them, but if they do and others have had luck, I may look into it.

According to this article, they don't: (Halfway down they list stores that let you buy third party gift cards with their own gift card. Under the chart of those that do - and this list is a bit outdated -, they list the stores that will not.)
http://www.hustlermoneyblog.com/best-gift-cards/
If you have a Penny's card, you can try it out, but I wouldn't get one, unless you would have another use for it.

 

[supersnoop]

I don't think you understand economics. Someone doesn't have to be losing for us to be winning.

Are you trying to say that additional revenue with negative margin is a "win" for retailers?

Every retailer marks a few items down to get people in their stores, because the odds are high that they will spend more once inside the store. They also offer promotions and coupons and sell gift cards for the same reason.

Ebay's bucks program is no different. We were trying to maximize how many bucks we got, and in the process we were on their site, shopping with them instead of WalMart, Amazon, or any other big website. When buying gift cards at ebay was easy, I did a LOT of shopping there. I bought children's clothes and gifts, household supplies, etc. Without the incentive to buy gift cards there, I will be doing more shopping at WalMart, and buying gift cards elsewhere. I doubt I am unusual in this.

When postage went up years ago and ebay was no longer a great big garage sale, I rarely shopped at ebay. My trips to Disney and churning brought me back. Take away the ability to use ebucks for gift cards, and I have no reason to regularly shop there. Almost everything I can get there will also be on etsy, amazon or in a local store.

I agree with you on this. Ebay has seen a whole lot more of me since I started churning and not just for GC's. I have bought more off ebay in the last almost year than I have since they began. Same for Target. I bought a whole lot more from them. Many times I was trying to trigger ebates but I wasn't just adding a ruler. I would buy clothes or shoes. SOmething 'fun' cause I was saving so much money, I felt I could.

A few years back, Bets Buy took a lot of flack when their goal of losing "devil" customer's was leaked. They wanted to get rid of people who only purchased the doorbuster items. If you're churning gift cards, you're a "devil" customer. You might be raising their revenue, but your eating up their profits.

 

[MinMou]

A few years back, Bets Buy took a lot of flack when their goal of losing "devil" customer's was leaked. They wanted to get rid of people who only purchased the doorbuster items. If you're churning gift cards, you're a "devil" customer. You might be raising their revenue, but your eating up their profits.

That was in 2004. A lot has changed since then. Perhaps ebay is trying to get rid of its more savvy customers, but that doesn't mean that other companies won't be happy to provide what ebay won't.

 

[wendow]

A few years back, Bets Buy took a lot of flack when their goal of losing "devil" customer's was leaked. They wanted to get rid of people who only purchased the doorbuster items. If you're churning gift cards, you're a "devil" customer. You might be raising their revenue, but your eating up their profits.

I may be a 'devil' customer but I was just saying I buy a TON more from ebay now than I ever have...supplements, books, clothes, Vera Bradley bags, Disney pins, hardware for my remodeled bathroom, shoes, etc. I have given them far more money in the last 'almost' year than I ever have. I only bought those items because I was already on their site buying GC's.

 

[supersnoop]

I may be a 'devil' customer but I was just saying I buy a TON more from ebay now than I ever have...supplements, books, clothes, Vera Bradley bags, Disney pins, hardware for my remodeled bathroom, shoes, etc. I have given them far more money in the last 'almost' year than I ever have. I only bought those items because I was already on their site buying GC's.

That shopping pattern wouldn't make you a "devil" customer. It's the folks who only buy gift cards using gift cards and rack up ebucks that aren't worth having.

 

[StuckInKS]

That shopping pattern wouldn't make you a "devil" customer. It's the folks who only buy gift cards using gift cards and rack up ebucks that aren't worth having.

This isn't only about buying GCs with GCs since they aren't going to give ebucks on GCs bought with cash anymore either. Assuming eBay charges the same 10% Final Value Fee for GCs as it charges for anything else being sold on eBay, I'm not sure how me buying $1,000 TV and getting ebucks is less of a loss for them than me buying $1,000 in GCs and getting ebucks. Even if all I buy is GCs, they are still making the same fees from the seller. ANYTHING I buy and receive 10% ebucks for is neither a loss nor a gain for eBay, but ANYTHING I buy and receive 2-8% ebucks for should still be a win for eBay. I can see how BB, GS and the others could be losing, but not eBay.

 

[supersnoop]

This isn't only about buying GCs with GCs since they aren't going to give ebucks on GCs bought with cash anymore either. Assuming eBay charges the same 10% Final Value Fee for GCs as it charges for anything else being sold on eBay, I'm not sure how me buying $1,000 TV and getting ebucks is less of a loss for them than me buying $1,000 in GCs and getting ebucks. Even if all I buy is GCs, they are still making the same fees from the seller. ANYTHING I buy and receive 10% ebucks for is neither a loss nor a gain for eBay, but ANYTHING I buy and receive 2-8% ebucks for should still be a win for eBay. I can see how BB, GS and the others could be losing, but not eBay.

I imagine eBay has a corporate pricing model for high-volume, low margin sellers. Fees seem to range from 4%-9%.

 

[wendow]

This isn't only about buying GCs with GCs since they aren't going to give ebucks on GCs bought with cash anymore either. Assuming eBay charges the same 10% Final Value Fee for GCs as it charges for anything else being sold on eBay, I'm not sure how me buying $1,000 TV and getting ebucks is less of a loss for them than me buying $1,000 in GCs and getting ebucks. Even if all I buy is GCs, they are still making the same fees from the seller. ANYTHING I buy and receive 10% ebucks for is neither a loss nor a gain for eBay, but ANYTHING I buy and receive 2-8% ebucks for should still be a win for eBay. I can see how BB, GS and the others could be losing, but not eBay.

That has kind of been my thinking also. When the standard percentage for selling is 10%, they are basically breaking even with 10% ebucks. Many of us bought GC's on less than 10% ebuck promos and many of us bought items when there was absolutely no ebucks promo. They should be making the same amount either way, right? But I think @PerfessorZ is right, they have to be losing money on this or they would not have changed the terms so much.

 

[Minniekins]

This isn't only about buying GCs with GCs since they aren't going to give ebucks on GCs bought with cash anymore either. Assuming eBay charges the same 10% Final Value Fee for GCs as it charges for anything else being sold on eBay, I'm not sure how me buying $1,000 TV and getting ebucks is less of a loss for them than me buying $1,000 in GCs and getting ebucks. Even if all I buy is GCs, they are still making the same fees from the seller. ANYTHING I buy and receive 10% ebucks for is neither a loss nor a gain for eBay, but ANYTHING I buy and receive 2-8% ebucks for should still be a win for eBay. I can see how BB, GS and the others could be losing, but not eBay.

Yeah, I agree with you here.

All I know is that since the Target part was ended, I haven't been back to purchase anything online at Target, whereas I used to purchase other things there regularly, so I spend much less there now as I don't go there often. The same with Ebay now. I used ebay in the past, but considerably picked up purchasing there when I started churning. As many of us were, I was trying to maximize my ebucks, and use those for gc's. First they stopped allowing gc to gc purchase, stopping a big part of the ebucks. And now they will not allow you to earn ebucks on gc's at all, even for gc's purchased with a cash/cc after Oct 1st. And after Jan 1st won't allow ebucks to be used to purchase gc's. No reason to buy gc's of any sort there, and no reason for me to even buy other things without being able to get or use ebucks in conjunction with gift cards in any way. And, I would think a lot of others are going to be shopping much less there or not at all, as well. To me, that's all lost sales. I can get deals on gc's elsewhere. Will they ever change this all again? Who knows, maybe they are done, maybe they are testing things and will evaluate things after another quarter or two. I'm hoping for that, though I suppose it's unlikely.

Curious why they did the rolling $2000 60 day limits on gc purchases, when they were just going to end any incentive to buy gc's at ebay anyway. Seems like a strange step they added and for what. What they are putting in place beginning Oct 1st and Jan 1st takes care of all that so that seems to have been unnecessary.

 

[PerfessorZ]

Ebay used to make money even when waiving their sales commission because they owned Paypal. They'd still usually make money on the transaction thanks to Paypal's fees.

As @supersnoop suggested, I'm pretty sure that 10% commission is only for low volume sellers - ebay's 'off-the-street' price, so to speak. Once you become an "Authorized Gift Card Seller", I'm sure you're getting a discounted commission. I don't see how the numbers would add up otherwise.

I'm starting to think another way we're seeing ebay nudge out 'devil' customers is the gradual reduction in portals offering credit for gift card purchases. This may be coincidental or ebay may have changed their terms with them. We've seen Ebates drop gift card purchases and SW RR drop ebay completely. I have no way to verify whether it's related or not, but I'm definitely wondering.

 

[smellyia]

Publix has a great concurrent gc sale right now for today and tomorrow.

There's 2 coupons - one in ad and one in their coupon booklet.
Every $50 spent in grocery get $10 off $50 Gas card (good till Sunday 20% off)
Every $50 spent in grocery get $10 off $50 VISA Card ($4.95 activation - good until tomorrow 9/23 10% savings)
So for each $50 in grocery you can get 1 discounted Visa and 1 discounted Gas gc.

You can only buy 2 gc per transaction with cc there but can buy however many you qualify for based off grocery bill at once with debit card. I always make them ring up 2 on repeated transaction since I prefer to use my rewards cc. They will ring up separately for you if asked. I've also had success adding in a public gc to meet a $50 spending minimum but it will go against your 2 gc per transaction limit in their POS system if paying via cc.

Example. I spent $160 at grocer today stocking up on the weekly b1g1 deals and food for until we leave for Wdw next week and with grocery I purchased 2 Shell cards then on two additional transaction I got 1 shell, 1 visa, then 2 visas.

If you have Publix, Kroger and Shell I stack my Disney gc fuel rewards from Kroger and get my $1/gallon for 35 gallons (DH and I go together and we have a can), and pay with the discounted Shell cards. I'm averaging $.80-$1 per gallon right now.

Total in gc: $300
Total OOP: $254.85

 

[Phatscott25]

And after Jan 1st won't allow ebucks to be used to purchase gc's.

I believe the updated terms state that ebucks cannot be used on Ebay GC's, not all GC's. Not that it really helps for churning but at least if you earned ebucks other ways, they could be cashed out for 3rd party GC's.

 

[Minniekins]

I believe the updated terms state that ebucks cannot be used on Ebay GC's, not all GC's. Not that it really helps for churning but at least if you earned ebucks other ways, they could be cashed out for 3rd party GC's.

Whoops, well I guess
I read that wrong! I thought it was no gc could be purchased with ebucks. I guess that's a little better. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[StuckInKS]

I imagine eBay has a corporate pricing model for high-volume, low margin sellers. Fees seem to range from 4%-9%.

As @supersnoop suggested, I'm pretty sure that 10% commission is only for low volume sellers - ebay's 'off-the-street' price, so to speak. Once you become an "Authorized Gift Card Seller", I'm sure you're getting a discounted commission. I don't see how the numbers would add up otherwise.

True, but it would be nice if they could separate the high-volume sellers and put them in the special category with eBay branded GCs instead of nixing the whole thing. Then we could still buy from individuals and earn ebucks.

I'm starting to think another way we're seeing ebay nudge out 'devil' customers is the gradual reduction in portals offering credit for gift card purchases. This may be coincidental or ebay may have changed their terms with them. We've seen Ebates drop gift card purchases and SW RR drop ebay completely. I have no way to verify whether it's related or not, but I'm definitely wondering.

Yes, Chase UR also took out eBay completely earlier this year, around the same time MyPoints stopped crediting for GC purchases on Target. It has definitely been slowly phased out of portals for a while now.

But I think @PerfessorZ is right, they have to be losing money on this or they would not have changed the terms so much.

Probably. I had just assumed it had to do with limiting fraud risk.

I believe the updated terms state that ebucks cannot be used on Ebay GC's, not all GC's. Not that it really helps for churning but at least if you earned ebucks other ways, they could be cashed out for 3rd party GC's.

I read it the same way as @Minniekins, but I hope you are right. That is at least a small bit to hang on to.

 

[im4pacers1]

Sorry if this is covered, but I couldn't find it. Can you buy Disney gift cards at Best Buy with a Best Buy gift card? Meijer has Best Buy gift cards 10.00 off.

 

[havaneselover]

Sorry if this is covered, but I couldn't find it. Can you buy Disney gift cards at Best Buy with a Best Buy gift card? Meijer has Best Buy gift cards 10.00 off.

Yes

 

[AmyAnne]

Yes

I think a more complete answer is yes, probably, although possibly not. Best Buy registers will allow the purchase of gift cards with gift cards, but some employees/managers have a different policy and will not allow it. I wouldn't buy a lot of Best Buy gift cards until you are sure your local store will let you use them for other gift cards.

 

[bbsearchlight]

Sorry if this is covered, but I couldn't find it. Can you buy Disney gift cards at Best Buy with a Best Buy gift card? Meijer has Best Buy gift cards 10.00 off.

Here is the exact terms from the Best Buy website and the back of the gift card:

"Redeemable in any U.S. or Puerto Rico Best Buy retail location or online at BestBuy.com® where available for merchandise or services, including Magnolia Home Theater® and Geek Squad®. Cannot be redeemed on prepaid open loop cards (sold in store only)."

From the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau website:

"An open-loop prepaid card is a card with a network logo on it (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) that can be used at any location that accepts that brand."

Best Buy corporate policy is very clear that Disney gift cards (which are not open loop gift cards) are allowed to be bought with a best Buy gift card. If any employee or manager at a Best Buy tries to tell you otherwise, show them the back of the gift card and if they still refuse then get the managers name and put in a complaint to Best Buy corporate.

 

[bbsearchlight]

I can understand an employee at Best Buy might not necessarily know the gift card policy (although they should) but there is absolutely no excuse for a manger to be ignorant of the policy. Which is why you should absolutely complain to corporate if a manager tells you that you can't buy a Disney gift card with a best buy gift card.

 

[havaneselover]

I think a more complete answer is yes, probably, although possibly not. Best Buy registers will allow the purchase of gift cards with gift cards, but some employees/managers have a different policy and will not allow it. I wouldn't buy a lot of Best Buy gift cards until you are sure your local store will let you use them for other gift cards.

I've not heard of anyone not able to convert a Best Buy gift card to a Disney gift card in store and I've done so myself. If you run into a cashier who won't do it (again I've not heard this is an issue), try again later. I would have no concern about being stuck with BB gift cards unless corporate made a sudden policy change.