When is the last time you spotted an unused gift card?

You’re running an errand with a family member and as she goes to reach for her credit card out falls an unused gift card – the same unused gift card you’ve seen for the past 3 months.  Do you tell her she can sell it to Plastic Jungle and get a check?

Your coworker got a power drill from his grandma for his birthday, but he doesn’t want it.  He can return the drill to Lowe’s for a Lowe’s gift card, but he doesn’t know what he would buy with a $100 Lowe’s gift card. Will you tell him to sell the gift card to Plastic Jungle so he can get a cash deposit into his PayPal account?

You see a Facebook plea from a friend who is willing to sell a $100 Starbucks gift card she won but won’t use because she doesn’t drink coffee.  (This happened to me last week!)  Will you respond to her post with a note about Plastic Jungle and how she can receive up to 92% of the face value of the gift card as Amazon.com gift card if she sells the gift card?

Chances are we all know know of someone who has an unused gift card in their possession.  The sad news is, if a gift card goes unused for more than a few months it is more likely to get misplaced.

Help others free trapped gift card dollars by telling them how to sell unused gift cards to Plastic Jungle – the Web’s largest secured gift card exchange.

As long as the gift card has a value of $25 or more, Plastic Jungle will let the seller choose which payout option he or she wants and Plastic Jungle will even pay for postage to mail in the gift card (if applicable).  Once Plastic Jungle receives the gift card and verifies the value, either a cashier’s check, Amazon.com gift card via email, or PayPal credit will be processed.

Your friends will thank you for telling them about Plastic Jungle.  You never know how they money might be put to use.  They might have been tight on cash and needed to find money to pay a bill, buy groceries, or give a gift.

Be a friend and don’t let your friends clog their wallets with unused gift cards.  Tell them how they can sell gift cards to 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.

The PJ 10

What were we buying in March? Well, there weren’t any spectaular retail “events” that drove us to specialty stores, so as expected the top three gift card sellers were big box chains offering groceries and fishing supplies and everything in-between. Spring was a bit late late this year, so clearly we were driven to hot, caffeinated coffee, putting Starbucks into our Top 10 Gift Cards in March. And iTunes, with the diversity of media on offer these days, from music to books to TV and movies, proves it’s a great gift card to give and get.

Honorable mentions from March? JC Penney, Pottery Barn, Cabela’s, Barnes & Noble, and Nordstrom.

Salivating over the potential savings at a favorite store? If you’re ready to ditch your unused gift card and trade up to one of the favorites, you can safely and securely SELL or EXCHANGE your gift card on Plastic Jungle, with many different payout and trade options, including an Amazon.com Gift Card, Facebook credits and Paypal account funding.

Top 10 Gift Cards in March, 2011

10 SEARS

Purchase discount Sears Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 9% OFF.

9 KOHL’S

Purchase discount Kohl’s Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 14% OFF.

8 STARBUCKS

Purchase discount Starbucks Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle — when they come into stock. Set an Alert Now.

7 MACY’S

Purchase discount Macy’s Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle — when they come into stock. Set an Alert Now.

6 BEST BUY

Purchase discount Best Buy Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 5% OFF.

5 LOWE’S

Purchase discount Lowe’s Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 7% OFF.

4 iTUNES

Purchase discount iTunes Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 7% OFF.

3 TARGET

Purchase discount Target Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 5% OFF.

2 HOME DEPOT

Purchase discount Home Depot Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 7% OFF.

1 WALMART

Purchase discount Walmart Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle — when they become available. Set an Alert Now.

What’s your favorite gift card of the moment? Something to get ready for spring — sporting goods or travel? Let us know in the comments below.

Let Plastic Jungle help make this Mother’s Day even better with an extra $50 to spend!

Be logged into Facebook, and enter to win Plastic Jungle’s Mother’s Day Gift Card Sweepstakes now  >>>

Plastic Jungle is giving away a $50 Gift Card each day, through May 8th, 2011, to deserving moms who simply follow the link and register for the Mother’s Day Sweepstakes.

There is one question moms will have to answer, though: What Kind of Mom Are You? Whether you are a DIY Mom, or a Sporty, Stylish, Foodie or Starlet mother, Plastic Jungle has a discounted gift card just for you!

Do-It-Yourself Mom — You enjoy making it happen. You’re talented at finding the lost item, fixing the broken toy, doing up the veggie garden, and keeping it real. Your favorite discounted gift cards on Plastic Jungle are:

Lowe’s >>> |   Home Depot >>> |   J Jill >>> |   Omaha Steaks >>> |   Lands’ End >>>

Sporty Mom — Nothing wrong with a little challenge! You are talented in many areas, including leading kids in a pick-up game on the yard, knowing where the best hikes are, and fixing perfectly balanced meals. Your favorite discounted gift cards on Plastic Jungle are:

Jamba Juice >>> |   Orvis >>> |   Columbia Sportswear >>> |   LL Bean >>> |   Bed, Bath & Beyond >>>

Stylish Mom – You have a natural brilliance and are usually a fashionable step ahead of everyone else. You’ve got an outfit in your style for every occasion, from PTA meetings to Board meetings and even Soccer on Saturday. Your favorite discounted gift cards on Plastic Jungle are:

H&M >>> |   Nordstrom >>> |   Kohl’s >>> |   bebe >>> |   Ann Taylor >>>

Foodie Mom — Confidence in the kitchen, or anywhere, comes naturally for you. Nothing matters more than good nutrition, which you manage for your family and friends whether you eat in or dine out, and even in those pesky lunch boxes. Your favorite discounted gift cards on Plastic Jungle are:

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf >>> |   Baja Fresh >>> |   Legal Sea Foods >>> |   Crate and Barrel >>>

Starlet Mom — You might be emotional, but it’s all about the story for you: you can’t help but show pride at your daughter’s game-winning goal, jump for joy when you reserve at Disneyland, cry your heart out when your little guy gets his heart broken by a fellow kindergartner. Your favorite discounted gift cards on Plastic Jungle are:

Chico’s >>> |   BabyGap, Gap Kids >>> |   AMC Theatres >>> |   Buca di Beppo >>> | Barnes & Noble >>>

Giveaway ends May 8, 2011 (that would be Mother’s Day!!); check the Plastic Jungle Mother’s Day Sweepstakes official rules for details. Winners will be announced daily at facebook.com/plasticjungle.

What gift card will YOU choose, if you are chosen to win?! Let us know and tell your friends!

Good Luck! Have a Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Earth Day. What are you doing to save the Earth today?

You may not even have the snow melted out of your driveway yet, but I’m sure you’ve got summer on your mind. For many families, summer camps are being booked this month. Summer road trips and family reunions are starting to pop into the calendar. And surely, one day in the very near future, the Earth will turn and the weather will warm up.

Perhaps because of finances this summer it’s not the whole-Earth-worship trip to Bali you’d hoped for, but a good-ole American road trip. If you’ve got driving on your mind, you’ll need gas and fuel saving tips. See our post on Gas Saving Tips, which includes very pertinent links to the discounted gas cards offered on Plastic Jungle.

And in case you’re looking to ditch your automobile altogether, sell your gas card (or any other gift card with a minimum balance) on Plastic Jungle today.

Get to the Giveaways!

Ms. Veronica’s Mothers Day Giveaway – Mothers Day is coming up soon, and you could win a sweet, handmade collection of Mothers Day gifts to save you from a frantic Sunday morning trip Trader Joe’s ravaged flower department. Ms. Veronica’s has up for grabs a lovely handmade bracelet, hair clip and stationery. Enter by following Ms. Veronica’s blog, plus try out the bonus entries listed on the giveaway post. NOTE: new subscribers also get 20% off their first order! Contest ends April 27, 2011; see entry page for contest details.

Win a Viking 30” Gas or Electric Range – In another nod to Mothers Day (or maybe just improving your cooking skills for home entertaining!) it will take you only a second to follow up on this giveaway. Visit Facebook, “Like” Viking, and enter to win a 30” Viking gas or electric range in your choice of 24 fabulous colors or finishes. Contest ends April 30, 2011; see the Facebook’s official Viking page for official rules and giveaway details.

Thompson’s Deck of Your Dreams Sweepstakes — Maybe your summer will include home entertaining and it’s time for an outdoor upgrade: win a $10,000 prize for a home fix-it. The Thompson’s Company, makers of Thompson’s WaterSeal, has teamed with HGTV/diy Network star Jeff Wilson to help take your visions of a backyard paradise from dream to reality. The winner will receive $10,000 and a personal visit from Jeff Wilson to kick off the planning and design process. Contest ends Oct 1, 2011; see entry page for official rules and details.

Can’t wait to get started on your home do-it-yourself project? Get instant savings when you purchase discounted gift cards to Lowe’s, Home Depot, or Ace Hardware today.

Deadliest Catch Giveaway – If you’re a Deadliest Catch fan, you’re going to be excited to enter the Deadliest Catch Giveaway where the grand prize is an iPad, and there are 40 more Deadliest Catch prizes to win. See the Discovery Channel Store’s Deadliest Catch sweepstakes rules for details. Hurry to enter, giveaway ends April 29, 2011.

Travel Channel’s Win a Trip to Montana Giveaway — Travel Channel and the Montana Office of Tourism are giving away a trip for two to Montana. The winner will choose between a winter adventure and a summer getaway to either Glacier National Park or Yellowstone National Park. Enter to win daily; the more you know about Travel Channel, the better you’ll do. Contest ends April 30, 2011; see the contest’s official rules for details.

Enjoy a great spring day today, and even if you’re a stalwart Earth fan, take the time to put litter in its place today, or walk or bike instead of driving, or put a little more effort into using re-usable coffee cups or mugs, re-usable shopping bags, or think twice about what you need to print.

Happy Weekend!

Image Courtesy of The Go Green Blog

In case you’re wondering, Yes! We at Plastic Jungle hear your feedback and work to improve the site every day.

We’ve got some new website enhancements to help you come to a quick decision about which gift card will be the one for you.

Who will have the best discount?

Sort Your Gift Card Searches

Now, after you perform a search for a card, say you choose a category from the pull-down menu on the left, you can search for the biggest discount by clicking on the “Discount” heading. Automatically, the cards with the biggest discounts, no matter which merchant they come from, are listed at the top of the page.

Alternately, you can adjust how the results appear by toggling the “Merchant” heading to see the merchants in a-z order or z-a order, or by Gift Card “Value”, “Discount”, or purchase “Price”.

Each merchant’s page, displaying which gift cards are available for purchase, now also has that functionality, and you can sort cards by price, discount, or value.

• Price is the cost of the gift card. Remember, what you see is what you get. Plastic Jungle does not charge shipping or handling fees.
• Discount is the percentage off you’ll receive from the full value of the gift card.
• Value is the full value of the gift card.

If you’re wondering what the BEST DEAL on Plastic Jungle is at any point in time, go ahead and click the  button. Then sort by discount (arrow up) and the most discounted cards will come to the top of the list.

Finding an eCODE – a Discounted Electronic Gift Card – Is Now Much Easier

Right from the Plastic Jungle home page, you can click through to see what stores are offering eCODES at the moment.

Just look for the following link, right below the    button on the Plastic Jungle home page:

View All Electronic Gift Cards 

With eCODEs you can take advantage of online savings opportunities right away: as soon as your payment is processed, the eCODE is emailed to you.  You can pay for items in your online cart at the selected merchant AND possibly still use valid discounts or free shipping codes.

When you purchase eCODEs on Plastic Jungle, it will be sent to the email address you registered in your Plastic Jungle account. Please add customerservice@plasticjungle.com to your email address book to ensure delivery. Shop with the card on the merchant’s website, just like you would use a regular gift card.

What update would you like to see on Plastic Jungle? How can we make your experience buying gift cards, exchanging gift cards, and donating gift cards easier and more fun?  Let us know at blog@plasticjungle.com

BY THE WAY:  ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT to enter Plastic Jungle’s Spring Cleaning Sweepstakes. Sell a gift card on the site to WIN!!

February saw the Superbowl, the Oscars, Valentine’s Day, and Presidents’ Day all packed into a few short weeks. Plus, a few frozen moments across the country kept shoppers inside and online, no doubt.

Many of the usual favorite gift cards showed up in February’s Top Ten, plus a very conspicuous hanger-on at #11, giving hope to all girlfriends, wives, and mothers out there for something a little more than a card.

I’m thinking the bridal business might be busy this year, because TIFFANY & CO came in at #11 on the sales chart. (Right now, there are no discounted Tiffany & Co gift cards for sale on Plastic Jungle. You can set a Tiffany & Co alert to be notified via email when gift cards become available.)

Where did lingerie retailer VICTORIA’S SECRET land during the month for love? Still in the top 50, at #28, but well behind #9, CABELA’S.

10 JCPENNEY

Purchase discount JCPenney Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 14% Off.

9 CABELA’S

Purchase discount Cabela’s Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently up to 12% off.

8 BARNES & NOBLE

Purchase discount Barnes & Noble Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 9% Off.

7 KOHL’S

Purchase discount Kohl’s Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 14% Off.

6 MACY’S

Purchase discount Macy’s Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle — when they come into stock. Set an Alert Now.

5 LOWE’S

Purchase discount Lowe’s Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 7% Off.

4 WALMART

Purchase discount Walmart Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 3% Off.

3 BEST BUY

Purchase discount Best Buy Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 6% Off.

2 TARGET

Purchase discount Target Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 3% Off.

1 HOME DEPOT

Purchase discount Home Depot Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 7% Off.

Ready to ditch your unused gift card and trade up to one of the favorites? You can safely and securely SELL your gift card on Plastic Jungle, with many different payout options.

What’s your favorite gift card of the moment? Something to get ready for spring — sporting goods or travel? Let us know in the comments below.

Saving money is not always easy. Many of us have to weigh a cost of time : benefit ratio. It’s got to be simple, foolproof, and secure. We do our best to make the gift card-swap process as easy as it can be. Plus, Plastic Jungle offers a few ways to redeem your gift card. You can exchange your unused gift card for an Amazon.com Gift Card; for cold, hard cash; to fund a PayPal account; and you can even exchange your gift card for Facebook Credits.

More stores are taking PayPal as a method of payment on their websites. For example, the Abercrombie & Fitch network of clothing stores that also includes Hollister Co., and Gilly Hicks. While you can’t use the same gift card to pay at all three sites, you can use a PayPal account as payment at checkout at each of these stores. It becomes really efficient to exchange a gift card for instant PayPal account funding on Plastic Jungle and check out at Hollister in the same day you make the gift card swap.

Other online merchants who accept PayPal as payment include: Sears, Walmart, Best Buy, eBay, newegg.com, Delta Airlines, 1800Flowers.com, Zappos and many more. The PayPal Store Directory will give you a complete list of retailers who accept PayPal for payment.

Check the Plastic Jungle “Sell Gift Cards” page to see what the exchange value will be for your unused gift card.

Plastic Jungle’s Top 10 Gift Cards for January 2011 (in reverse order)

10. iTunes (down from #4 in December)

Check Plastic Jungle for Discounted iTunes Gift Cards >>

9. Nordstrom

Check Plastic Jungle for Discounted Nordstrom Gift Cards >>

8. Kohl’s

Check Plastic Jungle for Discounted Kohl’s Gift Cards >>

7. Apple Store

Check Plastic Jungle for Discounted Apple Store Gift Cards >>

6. Macy’s (down from #2 in December)

Check Plastic Jungle for Discounted Macy’s Gift Cards >>

5. Best Buy (up from #9 in December)

Check Plastic Jungle for Discounted Best Buy Gift Cards Now

4. Lowe’s (up from #10 in December)

Check Plastic Jungle for Discounted Lowe’s Gift Cards >>

Check Plastic Jungle for Discounted Target Gift Cards >>

2. Home Depot (up from #5 in December)

Check Plastic Jungle for Discounted Home Depot Gift Cards >>

Check Plastic Jungle for Discounted Walmart Gift Cards >>

View gift cards you loved in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, Fall 2010, and December 2010.

We are often asked in comments from our readers how to check the balance on numerous gift cards. When you speak we listen. Starting with this post, once weekly we will select a gift card and explain how to check the balance.

Today, we will discuss how to check the balance on your Lowe’s gift card.

Lowe’s conveniently offers three different ways to check the balance on your gift card:

1. PHONE: Call Lowe’s headquarters at 1-800-560-7172 to check your gift card balance.

2. ONLINE: Quickly check the balance on your Lowe’s gift card online. Just enter your Lowe’s gift card number, your PIN and a security number string generated by the site to check your balance instantly.

3. IN STORE: Check your balance in person at a Lowe’s location. Lowe’s even offers this handy Store Locator on their website to help you find the closest Lowe’s location near you.

We hope this post will expedite the process of checking the balance on your Lowe’s gift card. And remember, if you find you have no current need for your Lowe’s gift card, you can always sell it to Plastic Jungle!  We pay out at 84%* of the verified balance – or more if you want to accept an Amazon.com Gift Card in exchange.

As always, please check the site for current rates.

If you’re interested in buying discounted Lowe’s gift cards, we have a bunch listed at 7% off right now.  Be sure to set a notification in your Plastic Jungle account so you can be the first to know whenever Lowe’s gift cards are available on PlasticJungle.com.

How did you stretch your budget in August? Perhaps you saved with a gift card from Plastic Jungle to complete all your back-to-school shopping?

See if the gift card brand you purchased fell on our list of most popular cards for August 2010:

1. Walmart Gift Card

2. Home Depot Gift Card

3. Target Gift Card

4. Lowe’s Gift Card

5. Macy’s Gift Card

6. Best Buy Gift Card

7. Lands’ End Gift Card

8. Pottery Barn Gift Card

9. Tiffany & Co. Gift Card

10. Kohl’s Gift Card

View gift cards you loved in January, February, March, April, May, June, and July.

Share how you plan to keep more money in your wallet for September…