March might be passing quickly but if you take a moment to take your turn on a few contests you might just end up ahead.

How would you like to win one of these gift cards from Plastic Jungle’s merchant partners?

Win 1 of 10 GameStop $500 Gift Cards

GameStop is hosting a $500 GiftCard Sweepstakes.  Perfect for the son, daughter, teenager, husband, or friend who loves to host group video game nights filled with Dance Central or WOW (World of Warcraft), a $500 GameStop gift card is enough to bring home a new video game console as well as several new games.

Entry deadline: March 31, 2012 at 5:00 p.m CST

Frequency of entering:  Once per person

Win a $150 Amazon Gift Card

Deseret News in Utah is holding two separate giveaways in honor of March Madness.  Take your best guess at who will win the 2012 NCAA Tournament and submit your predictions for the upfront bracket or play round by round.

Win a $10 eGift Card from Pizza Hut

No purchase necessary.  Just enter your email address and a message will appear on the screen that says if you are a winner.  If you are a winner, the prize is emailed right away.  Prizes include a $10 Pizza Hut eGift Card, free Breadsticks, and free Cinnamon Sticks.

Entry deadline: April 2, 2012 at 11:00 p.m PST

Frequency of entering:  Once per person

Win 5 Years’ Worth of Movie Tickets

In honor of Battleship coming to theaters in May, Fandango is giving away a check for $3,000 (the estimated cost of 5 years of movie tickets)!  You can eat a lot of popcorn and buy a lot of movie tickets with $3,000.

Entry deadline:  May 17, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. PST

Frequency of entering:  Once per person

Be sure to enter before these deadline pass!

Your brother and sister-in-law are expanding their family.  Your high school friend is getting married.  Show you care and save money by giving the gift of Plastic Jungle gift cards to your family and friends.

We’ve all been there.  The invitation came in the mail and weeks later you still had no what to purchase.  Dread of how other guests will respond when your beloved in-law or friend unwraps your gift lingers in you mind.

You look up their gift registry online and notice they are registered for gift cards. If you buy the gift registry gift cards from Plastic Jungle you save money and fulfill their gift registry, too.

Give the gift the never goes out of style.  Give the gift of a Plastic Jungle gift card.

Baby gifts and wedding presents, buy discount JCPenney gift cards from Plastic Jungle.

Home decor or baby clothing, buy discount Target gift cards from Plastic Jungle.

Cookware and dining room accessories, buy discount Williams-Sonoma gift cards from Plastic Jungle.

Gift giving just got easier and less expensive when you shop for gift registry gift cards from Plastic Jungle.

You want the deepest discounts on gift cards.

That’s why Plastic Jungle started in 2006. We strive to offer you the best deals at your favorite retailers.

We know your time is important.

So you can get discount gift cards fast, we sell discount electronic gift cards to various retailers which are emailed to you within 1-business day of purchase.  (Check out our inventory of discount Bed Bath & Beyond electronic gift cards, discount 1-800-FLOWERS electronic gift cards, discount Bass Pro Shops electronic gift cards, and discount Fandango electronic gift cards)

We know you like free things.

By providing free postage-paid shipping labels when you sell gift cards, we can help you get rid of unused gift cards in a matter of minutes as long as you have access to a printer and an envelope!  You get rid of the gift card(s) you no longer need or want, and in turn you receive a check, Amazon.com gift card, or PayPal credit,  in just a few weeks after we receive your gift card(s).

We’re listening.

When you have a question, run into an issue, or want to share the deals you’re getting when you use your Plastic Jungle gift cards, tell us about it. Drop us an email (customerservice@plasticjungle.com).  You should hear back from us within 1-2 business days.

Saving money is great, but WINNING money is even better!

Check out these current sweepstakes featuring some of Plastic Jungle’s merchant partners!

IHOP

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: enter IHOP’s SPY KIDS All the Time in the World 4D Sweepstakes. The grand prize winner gets a 3-day trip for four to Austin, TX, the chance to meet movie director Robert Rodriguez, a studio tour of Troublemaker Studios, $250 worth of IHOP gift cards, $1,770 for meals and spending cash and much more! (Total value $7,346.) Limit five entries per household through September 30, 2011.

In addition to the sweepstakes, kids eat FREE at IHOP every day in August from 4:00pm til 10:00pm (with purchase of one adult meal).

Craving IHOP’s Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity breakfast now? Check out Plastic Jungle’s discounted IHOP gift cards.

SOUTHWEST

It’s a Win-Wynn! Enter Southwest Airlines’ It’s a Win-Wynn Jackpot Deal! Sweepstakes for a chance to be one of TWO grand prize winners and receive three nights at either the Wynn Las Vegas or the Encore at Wynn Las Vegas. ($1,063 value.) But hurry and enter – the sweepstakes expires August 23, 2011.

Wanna Get Away now? Scoop up discounted Southwest gift cards from Plastic Jungle!

FLEMING’S

Do you enjoy fine wine and fine art? Enter to win a signed, limited-edition Giclee print by artist Thomas Arvid called “Winding Down.” Valued at $1,700, it’s one of only 325 in the edition. The sweepstakes is part of Fleming’s celebration of their “Month of Discovery” in September, along with the release of the 2007 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet. Enter by September 30, 2011.

Ready to wind down now? Plastic Jungle has discounted Fleming’s gift cards available now for 12% off!

DILLARD’S

What might soften the blow with going back to school? How ‘bout a free iPad2?! Dillard’s is running a Take an Apple Back to School Contest where one lucky grand prize winner will be awarded with one Apple 64GB iPad2 with Wi-Fi + 3G. (Valued at $829.)

Need some last-minute back-to-school clothes or shoes? Check out Plastic Jungle’s discounted Dillard’s gift cards for extra savings.

BAUSCH & LOMB

Here’s a fun one – test your music knowledge and challenge your brain in the Bio True Match to Win Contest! As a supporter of the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, Bausch & Lomb is doing a weekly drawing for a $1,000 Ticketmaster
gift certificate or a Celebrity Gift Bag from the Music Lounge during the 20^th Lollapalooza Festival. Just match the musicians and beat the clock for your chance to win! Weekly drawings through September 16, 2011.

Plastic Jungle has discounted Ticketmaster gift cards available now for 8% off!

Try your luck! Someone has to win – it might as well be YOU!

Enjoy summer camping and S’mores with a twist using discounted gift cards from Plastic Jungle

Nothing is more traditional than S’mores during a summer camping trip, but it’s fun to mix it up and try something new. Our family recently discovered “Pole Pies” and I just had to share this fantastic campfire recipe with our Junglers!

You will need:

• Wooden dowels
• Refrigerated biscuit dough
• Pie filling
• Whip Cream

Go to Home Depot and buy wooden dowels (the rods used to hang clothes on in your closet). They only sell the wooden dowels in 6-foot lengths, so you’ll need to cut them in half so that they’re 3 feet each. These are the “poles” for the Pole Pie. Buy discounted Home Depot cards from Plastic Jungle and save 7%!

Take one raw piece of biscuit dough, flatten it a bit, and then gently cover the top of the wooden dowel so that it looks like a dome. We use Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits (the regular size, not the Grands), but any brand will do!

Cook over a campfire and rotate evenly until the dough is golden brown and easily comes off the pole. Unlike marshmallows, do NOT let these babies blacken or burn. Rather than cooking them directly over the flame, use the heat from the fire instead. Be patient – they take just a tad longer but are oh-so-worth it. They will be hot, so let them cool slightly before handling. Once you pop the cooked dough off the pole, it makes a miniature pie crust!

Now the fun part – filling your pie! We’ve used cherry, blackberry, blueberry and peach pie filling. All are delectable, but the cherry is my favorite. Chocolate or miniature peanut butter cups are also delicious. Top off your Pole Pie with whip cream and voila! You have a scrumptious little treat!

Here’s a pic of my Pole Pie Chef daughter and her friends on our recent camping trip. She ate four of ‘em and would have probably guzzled up more if I would have let her!

Need some other supplies for your trip in the wilderness? Buy discounted gift cards from Bass Pro Shops, Sports Authority, Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Scheel’s.

I’m always on the look-out for new campfire recipes…do you have any good ones to share?

We’re working with Givex to make our marketplace more convenient for our consumers. Read below for more details.

Buca di Beppo joins new platform to provide an easy and secure way for consumers to buy gift cards and sell balances to receive instant funding

SAN JOSE, CA, July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Givex, a global technology company which powers loyalty and gift card programs across 50 countries worldwide, today announced an integrated partnership with Plastic Jungle, the web’s largest secured gift card exchange, to enable Plastic Jungle users to easily buy and sell select merchants’ gift cards processed by Givex and enjoy instant funding, an immediate electronic transaction on the Plastic Jungle website.

Plastic Jungle helps unlock the estimated $30 billion in unredeemed gift cards by allowing consumers to sell gift cards for up to 92% of the gift card value, buy new gift cards at their favorite brands for up to 35% off, or donate the value of their unused cards to their favorite cause. Users can also opt for instant funding via PayPal or Amazon.com gift cards for select retailers – all in a safe and trusted environment. This partnership will help drive unused gift cards back to the merchants, turning unredeemed gift card value into productive, high margin spend.

“We’re very pleased that our marketplace will become even more convenient for consumers through our integration with Givex,” said Bruce Bower, CEO of Plastic Jungle. “This partnership not only helps both businesses and consumers capture the value from unused gift cards, but also enables brands to better connect with their best customers while at the same time giving gift card merchants ways to participate in a fully integrated manner in the secondary gift card marketplace.”

The first brand to sign onto the platform is Buca di Beppo, the nation’s leading family style Italian restaurant chain.  Plastic Jungle users will now be able to enjoy instant funding for Buca di Beppo gift cards they sell to the site, while the value on these cards will be seamlessly transferred to new Buca di Beppo gift cards available to motivated buyers on the Plastic Jungle marketplace. In addition to Buca di Beppo, the integration features will also be offered to the entire roster of Givex merchants and further adds to Plastic Jungle’s existing relationships with leading payment processors, which now cover the vast majority of retailer gift card programs.

“It’s important for us to connect directly to our customers and ensure their experience with Buca di Beppo is as positive as possible,” said Trish Giordano, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Buca di Beppo. “Plastic Jungle and Givex are making it easier for our customers to get the best value they can and we’re pleased to be a part of this new integration.”

“Businesses are constantly looking for new ways to excite and engage their best customers,” said Bryan Wang, Director Marketing at Givex. “That’s why we look forward to working with Plastic Jungle. This new channel gets gift cards into the hands of active users, driving revenue and visits.”

About Givex

Givex’s technology has now significantly evolved from the first gift card and loyalty programs that began in 1999. We now provide customizable tools that empower businesses of all kinds to acquire new customers, build, maintain and expand their customer database, effectively communicate with customers, and finally understand and reward their most loyal customers. Find out more at www.givex.com.

Read the full press release here: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/givex-and-plastic-jungle-announce-partnership-to-integrate-gift-card-services-126161088.html

Where are you buying shoes for the new school year?

Step into shoes for the whole family at JCPenney.  Over 1,400 pairs of shoes are currently priced at the lowest this season. Couple this $10 off $50 coupon with Plastic Jungle discounted gift cards for JCPenney at 14% off and you’re sure to find a deal you can feel good in.

Shop at home with Kohl’s and get free shipping on your purchase of $75 or more (use code: SHOPNSHIP). Buy discounted Kohl’s gift cards from Plastic Jungle to get an additional 15% in savings.  Be sure to visit RetailMeNot for the most current Kohl’s coupon codes.

If you’ve got teens and tweens, Buckle has a broad selection of sole mates which you can get at 11% off when you link up with Plastic Jungle discounted gift cards. For those in middle school and high school who prefer a little more funk in their shoe style, check out the 791 ways Urban Outfitters can decorate feet and bring style with trendy prices by matching a pair with 10% off thanks to discounted Urban Outfitters gift cards found at Plastic Jungle.

And don’t forget that they’ll need sneakers for gym class and rain boots to stomp in the puddles!

Buying a top of the line vacuum does not have to cost full price.

My family was recently on a hunt to get a high quality vacuum for less than the advertised price.  We researched online and decided the Dyson DC33 Multi-Floors Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner was the right fit for our home and lifestyle.  We liked that it converts into various hand held tools by pressing a few buttons, the canister can be cleaned with a visit to the trash can instead of replacing bags, it’s lightweight, and can be used on both carpet and hardwood floors.

On average, the vacuum sells for around $320.  To cut costs, we compared which store would give us the best savings.  Knowing that Plastic Jungle offers Bed Bath & Beyond discounted gift cards for 10% less than face value as well as discounted Home Depot gift cards for 6% less than face value, Bed Bath & Beyond seemed like the obvious choice.

However, our final step was to stack Plastic Jungle’s discounted gift cards with a store coupon to maximize savings.  I immediately grabbed a 20% off Bed Bath & Beyond coupon and decided to read the fine print.  The text on the coupon explained that it was not valid for the purchase of Dyson vacuums.  As Plan B, I checked the limitations of a Home Depot 10% off coupon and found it can be used on a Dyson vacuum.

We quickly ordered enough discounted Home Depot gift cards from Plastic Jungle to cover the purchase and a 10% off Home Depot coupon from from eBay.  About one week later, everything arrived in the mail and we made a trip to Home Depot to buy a $320 Dyson vacuum for under $270 (15% off)!

For those who are visual learners, here’s the deal comparison in visual form.

What ways have you saved with Plastic Jungle?

Homeowners and renters alike, replace broken appliances without breaking the bank.

Are you frustrated because your clothes washer or dryer is on its last leg?  Perhaps replacing your refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, or stove is just around the corner.

Trying to score the best savings in a rush can be difficult.  Consider making your next appliance purchase cost-effective and stress-free by taking a few steps now.

• Research. With abundant tools at your fingertips, you can find product reviews in minutes through sites like Appliance Buyer’s Guide or Good Housingkeeping. If you have a Consumer Reports online subscription, you can even see how products perform when tested over and over again.
• Estimate. Get an idea of the price range and best store to buy a replacement that will meet your needs.  Scope out the inventory at places like Best Buy, Lowe’s, and Home Depot to score even bigger savings by using discounted gift cards from Plastic Jungle as tender.  If there is a Sears Outlet in your area, you can stack their 20-60% off prices with a Sears discounted gift cards from Plastic Jungle (which are usually 8% off).  No Sears gift cards are available right now, but you can set up a notification today or check back on Plastic Jungle soon.
• Get Ready. Go ahead and order the appropriate amount of discounted gift cards from Plastic Jungle.  Also, check for store coupons (most stores have a 10% off sale and/or coupon regularly).

When that appliance finally does stop working, you’ll be set to head to the store with your Plastic Jungle discounted gift cards to score extra savings on an item you can be confident about.

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?