Gift Cards You Loved in August – Guess Who’s #1?

After three consecutive months at spot #4, Target took first place finish in revenue as Plastic Jungle’s best-selling discounted gift card in August 2011.

Before we get to the usual suspects on the list, let’s talk about some honorary mentions.

Pottery Barn had a strong showing at #11 and was THIS CLOSE to making the Top Ten. And if the list were based on quantity instead of revenue, BP & Arco and Shell would have made the cut. (Everyone needs gas, right!?)

Get a Pottery Barn discounted gift card today at 10% off. As of press time, less than 20 cards are available, so stock up now while supplies last.

Gift cards to our gas merchants get snatched up as quickly as the changing fuel prices. While we don’t have any BP & Arco or Shell cards currently in stock, you can always sign up for email notifications and we’ll let you know when more become available.

Here’s the complete list of the top sellers in August 2011:

#1 Target – 3% off!

#2 Home Depot – 7% off!

#3 Lowe’s – 7% off!

#4 Walmart – 2% off!

#5 Best  Buy – 5% off!

#6 Kohl’s – 16% off!

#7 Macy’s – 7% off!

#8 JCPenney – 14% off!

#9 Abercrombie  & Fitch – no cards currently available, but click here to get notified when we more come in stock.

#10 Sears – 8% off!

With the holiday season approaching, it will be interesting to see who stays on the list and who makes their debut. Any predictions for September?

What were we buying in July? Plastic Jungle’s top 10 list is here!

While there weren’t any big retail holidays last month (does National Ice Cream Month count?!), the warm summer weather likely drove shoppers outside, strolling stores and buying items for fun summer activities.

Many of the usual favorite gift cards made their appearance on the top 10 list, including Lowe’s and Home Depot. July was a great time to work on landscaping and outdoor projects, so no doubt our Junglers took advantage of discounted gift cards to these home improvement giants.

It’s no surprise that Walmart and Target made the cut as well, since both super centers offer thousands of products at exceptionally low prices. And as one-stop shops, we can buy everything from camping supplies to pool toys to clothes for the whole family in just one place.

One merchant that made its debut on the list was Abercrombie & Fitch. Known for their casual clothing designed for the modern collegiate lifestyle, students ditched their school books for new cool summer duds.

Here’s the complete list:

#10 Sears – currently offered at 9% off!

#9 Abercrombie & Fitch - currently offered at 9% off!

#8 JC Penney - currently offered at 14% off!

#7 Kohl’s - currently offered at 16% off!

#6 Macy’s - none are available right now, but sign up for our Notification Alert and we’ll let you know when more pop up!

#5 Best Buy – currently offered at 5% off!

#4 Target - currently offered at 3% off!

#3 Walmart - none are available right now, but sign up for our Notification Alert and we’ll let you know when more pop up!

#2 Home Depot – currently offered at 7% off!

#1 Lowe’s – currently offered at 7% off!

Have any unused gift cards you’d like to sell to get one of these favorites instead? Plastic Jungle will buy your unused gift cards for up to 92% of their value!

With summer closing in and fall around the corner, what gift cards are you buying right now? Which of your favorites do you think will make the August list?

Mark your calendars, set your DVR’s and whatever you do, stay out of the water – the 24^th annual Shark Week airs on the Discovery Channel starting July 31 at 9pm e/p.

The week-long series features television programs dedicated solely to the sea’s biggest predators, with shows like 10 Deadliest Sharks, Great White Invasion and Rogue Sharks. In addition to thrilling and chilling, Shark Week was also invented to help the average landlubber have a greater respect for these swimming beasts.

Saturday Night Live cast member Andy Samberg will host the series and has been given the coveted title of the first-ever Chief Shark Officer (CSO). He will film on-air wraps, host a Shark Week special and may even don a wetsuit to go nose-to-nose with the jawesome fish.

More than just killing machines, check out these fin-tastic facts about sharks:

• There are about 350 different types of sharks
• The dwarf shark is as small as your hand, while the whale shark can be as large as a school bus
• Sharks have been around for more the 300 million years
• More people are killed by bee stings than shark attacks
• A Mako shark can swim up to 60 miles per hour
• A shark may go through 1000 sets of teeth in its lifetime
• Big meals can last in a shark’s stomach for 3 months
• A tiger shark can have up to 40 babies at a time
• A shark does not have one bone in its body; its skeleton is made up of cartilage
• Weird stuff has been found inside shark’s bellies, including drums, a six-pound cannonball, the remains of a polar bear, bottles of wine and a complete copy of the New York Times.

Ever wondered what you’d look like as a shark? You can Shark Yourself by uploading a photo and adding shark eyes, mouths, fins and skins. Here’s yours truly. What do YOU look like?

The Discovery Channel Store has great selection of shark merchandise, including this nifty shark hoodie. I bought one for my son and he gets a kick out of folding his arms and giving his friends a friendly chomp. Buy a discounted Discovery Channel Store gift card from Plastic Jungle then get an additional 10% savings when you sign up for The Discovery Channel Store email alerts.

Need an upgraded television to view the action in high-definition or on a bigger screen? Check out Plastic Jungle’s discounted gift cards to Best Buy, Sears and RC Willey.

Does all this talk about sharks make you hungry for seafood? Swim over to Red Lobster, McCormick & Schmick’s and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and don’t forget to pack Plastic Jungle’s discounted gift cards in your life vest.

Buy discounted gift cards from Plastic Jungle and take a bite out of full prices.

Pssst! Have you heard? The Rumor Mill’s been a-churnin’ about a new iPhone 5 release in September!

According to inside buzz, the new iPhone 5 might be lighter and slimmer than the iPhone 4, with an upgraded eight-megapixel camera and possibly a larger screen.

Here are some other potential features to look forward to:

• A faster A5 Processor
• IOS 5 Operating System, which brings more than 200 features including Notification Center, iMessage, Twitter, Newsstand, enhanced photo functions and more
• More Storage
• Face Recognition Security
• Video Chat on a 4G network
• Shatter-resistant and scratch-resistant screen
• Longer battery life
• HD Audio
• Built-in GPS
• Separate rear camera from the flash to reduce “red eye”
• Dual Core Processors for speedy downloads
• More powerful graphics chip cards, to provide better video and still images
• Personalized ring tones

Another major feature that’s expected to launch is “Assistive Touch.” Rather than physically pushing a Home, Mute or Volume button, users can simply just tap the screen’s touch panel to perform these tasks, as well as use “Gestures” like “Pinch” and “Swipe.” This is a terrific enhancement for folks that might have trouble with the traditional hardware buttons. Here’s what it might look like:

Word on the street is that beta testing’s already underway at AT&T and T-Mobile, where the phone carriers are verifying that the iPhone 5 is working properly and reporting any issues back to Apple.

Sales are expected to be swift. Reports shows that the iPhone 5 is projected to be five times more profitable than its predecessor. Sources claim that Taiwanese company “Pegatron Technology” already received an order for 15 million iPhone 5 units that are scheduled for a September shipment.

And while Apple has remained mum on everything, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer hinted in their earnings report that a “future product transition would impact the September quarter.”

So how do you get your hands on one of these new toys? And better yet, how can you get the best price?

Start by buying discounted gift cards at Plastic Jungle! iPhone products can be purchased at Apple Stores, as well as at AT&T Stores, Verizon Stores, Best Buy, Radio Shack and Walmart. Stock up on gift cards now so you’ll have them ready in time for the September launch.

Need to check the balance on your Apple Store Card? Simply call 1-888-320-3301 and follow the instructions. You can also see your balance by visiting the account area of the Apple Store online.

Do you have some old gift cards gathering dust and would rather have the cash to spend on an iPhone 5? Sell ‘em to Plastic Jungle! We’ll buy your unused gift cards for up to 92% of their value.

What iPhone 5 feature are YOU looking forward to most? I personally would love to see longer battery life. In addition to air, food, water and chocolate, it seems like I can’t get through a day without constant access to an iPhone charger!

References: www.iphone5release.org, www.iphone5specs.org, www.hubpages.com/hub/iPhone-5-Review,
www.iphone5rumours.com/2011/07/19/july-19th-ios-5-to-feature-gestures-to-replace-buttons/, www.businessinsider.com/iphone-5-rumors-2011-6#

What gift cards topped your shopping list in June? Surprisingly, almost the exact same ones, in the same order as last month – but with a little twist.

Home improvement giants continued to top the list, with Home Depot and Lowe’s ranked at #1 and #2. The secret is out – builders, subcontractors and professional handymen can increase their margins by buying discounted gift cards from Plastic Jungle. Both Home Depot and Lowe’s cards are currently offered at 7% off, immediately shaving costs and adding profit to the bottom line.

And it’s not just skilled experts that enjoyed savings. With June graduations and the Father’s Day holiday, Home Depot and Lowe’s gift cards made terrific gifts for the home improvement hobbyist.

Walmart and Target again ranked #3 and #4 respectively. As one-stop shopping centers, Junglers saved on nearly everything under the sun, including house wares, toys, clothing, electronics, and even groceries. With 3% discounted gift cards stacked on top of Walmart and Target’s already uber-competitive low prices, these cards get swiped up fast, so sign up for a notification alert to get first access.

Best Buy again ranked #5. A great source for computers, video games, televisions, digital cameras, mp3 players, mobile phones & appliances, Best Buy gift cards likely made for some great Father’s Day and Graduation gifts as well.

The next three spots were filled by clothing department stores: Macys (#6), Kohl’s (#7) and JC Penney (#8). Perhaps our Junglers were freshening up their summer wardrobe with new shorts, tanks, sundresses, swimsuits and sandals. All three merchants have darling summer clothing collections on sale now, as they make room for their fall and back-to-school collections.

The Apple Store held spot #9. Our family celebrated the end of school and good report cards with a new iPhone for my daughter, a new iTouch for my son and a new Nano for mama (I deserved a little treat for helping with all the homework and packing lunches all year long, right?!) Apple Store gift cards are quite popular, so be sure to plan ahead and sign up for an email alert when they become available.

Rounding out the Top 10 was Barnes & Noble. (Cabela’s filled this spot in May.) A popular go-to, slam-dunk teacher’s gift is always a Barnes & Noble gift card. Was your child’s teacher the lucky recipient of one of these end-of-the-school-year gifts?

Special Honorary Mention goes out to iTunes, who ranked #6 in quantity (vs. revenue), with a whopping 6,125 cards sold in June. That’s a lot of TV, video, movie, app and music downloads!

These Top 10 gift cards are just the tip of the iceberg (or should we say tip of the palm tree?) Plastic Jungle has  nearly 400 brands, with discounted gift cards offered up to 35% off. Click here to see what hot cards we’ve got up for sale now!

What gift cards topped your shopping list last month?

After being cooped up for a long winter, shoppers were ready to get some fresh air and visit their favorite big-box retail stores. Nearly all of the gift cards in the Top 10 were to superstore chains. And with Cinco de May, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, there were plenty of holidays to celebrate.

Home Depot and Lowe’s topped the list (#1 and #2 respectively). Perhaps many of you were tackling home improvement projects or shopping ahead for Father’s Day.  Nearly 10,000 Home Depot gift cards were purchased – that’s Jungle-riffic!  Did you paint a nursery?  Re-tile a bathroom?  Build new shelving?  Not only are our Plastic Jungle friends savvy shoppers you are also quite handy!  We’d love to hear your home improvement stories and see pictures of your new-and-improved abodes.

Here’s your Top 10 Most-Wanted list for May:

#1 Home Depot – buy today for 7% off!

#2 Lowe’s – buy today for 7% off!

#3 Walmart – no gift cards currently available but check back soon or get set up on a notification alert. New gift cards are added all the time!

#4 Target – buy today for 3% off!

#5 Best Buy – buy today for 5% off!

#6 Macy’s – no gift cards currently available but check back soon or get set up on a notification alert. New gift cards are added all the time!

#7 Kohl’s – buy today for 15% off!

#8 JC Penney – buy today for 14% off!

#9 Apple Store - no gift cards currently available but check back soon or get set up on a notification alert. New gift cards are added all the time!

#10 Cabela’s – buy today for 10% off!

And check this out – the top six also made an appearance in the May 2010 Top 10 list. Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Target, Best Buy and Macy’s have been solid merchants year-to-year.

What are YOUR favorite gift cards this month? Can you predict who will top the charts in June?

Work is dragging. You’ve got an event coming up. The kids are outgrowing everything from toys to socks. NCAA March Madness is your inspiration to get a new TV. All the spring magazines have you itching to update your wardrobe. And please, anything to not see Charlie Sheen on a headline!

Time to find an exciting sale. Cheap shoes, Michigan sweatshirts, HDTVs, and sale clothes are just a click away. And remember, you can add to your savings by purchasing a discounted gift card to pay for your hot sale finds.

Our first stop would be Sale.com, whose home page is a shopping addict’s crack, compiling some of the best apparel discounts on the web. Enter the retailer you’d love to see a sale from, ie Abercrombie, and voila, the site’s sale page pops in, along with a list of promotions and offers. Sign up for Sale.com alerts to get first crack at fresh promotions, coupons, deals, and sale merchandise.

Sales on Now around the Web:

Nordstrom:

Get Women’s Coats on sale for up to 40% off.

Shop Nordstrom’s Shoe Clearance – hurry, this is a hot one and the best brands and styles sell out fast.

Shop Nordstrom’s Designer Collection Sale for quality-made on-trend brands and looks.

Aeropostale:

Save big with Aeropostale’s Spring Break Sale featuring $9 Camis and Graphic T-shirts for girls and guys.

Best Buy:

Act now to save 5%-15% on a wide selection of HDTVs on brands including RCA, Philips, Samsung, LG, and Panasonic.

JCPenney:

Time to freshen up the house with JCP’s Spring Home Sale, where you’ll save 30-60% off housewares, linens, and more.

Shop deep discounts on JCP’s Clearance page, with final markdowns at up to 80% off retail.

Zappos:

This online retailer always has free shipping & returns – but have you found Zappo’s Sale page? Shop shoes from 100’s of brands, as well as accessories and clothes on sale. Even hard-to-find men’s shoes are on sale here. Yippee!

PetSmart:

Get deals on thousands of items, from Kong to Advantix & Advantage flea & tick products online and in stores at PetSmart’s Everything Spring Sale.

Borders:

It’s a shame Borders is closing so many stores, but their loss is your gain. Find clearance merchandise in the stores that are closing; here’s a list of closing Borders stores. As well, get to Borders Hot Deals / Weekly Deals page to score discounts on remainders, music under $10, and even bestsellers and upcoming new releases.

Right now, get up to 15% off a Borders Gift Card on Plastic Jungle >>>

Sports Authority:

The NCAA Final Four is around the corner and it’s time to gear up! Save on NCAA gear for the entire family at the SportsAuthority.com Outlet – Fan Gear page, and most of it will ship for only 99 cents!

If you’ve got a “slow-day shopping distraction” ritual, please share it in the comments of this page. Remember, if you’ve got time on your hands, maybe you could create a little cash flow by trading in your unused gift cards. Thank me later! And be prepared, the weekend is almost here.

Did you know that Best Buy was named “The Sound of Music” from 1966 to 1983? Quite an interesting fact about the #56 company in the Fortune 1000 list.

Today we’d like to supply you with the information you need to check the balance on your Best Buy gift card. Below are the options offered by Best Buy for checking your gift card balance:

PHONE: 1-888-716-7994

WEBSITE: Check Your Best Buy gift card balance online

IN STORE: Best Buy Store Locator

Checking the balance on your Best Buy gift card is as easy as pie, and so is selling your Best Buy gift card to Plastic Jungle! Currently we are buying Best Buy gift cards for 86% of their value, but always check the going rate on the site. You can get even more for the card if you exchange it for Amazon.com credit.

We also sell Best Buy gift cards, at a current savings of 4% off. For instance, if  you wanted to purchase a Best Buy gift card as a holiday gift in the amount of $100, rather than buying it for face value somewhere else, buying it at Plastic Jungle will put $4.oo back in your pocket. Now that is just good business sense, (and cents!)