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.

You might have heard of Covet.com or Gilt Groupe, promising exclusive savings and deals on the hottest apparel, accessories, and even décor and travel. If you’re to believe their hype, you’d think you could pick up a magazine, pick out a few outfits and a weekend getaway, and go online to find it all at 20-80% off. Is this possible?

Well, yes, it could be. Are you ready to shop at a moment’s notice? Do you have disposable income ready to snap up that hot bargain pair of jeans or that all-inclusive resort? Are you obsessive about never paying retail? OK then, let’s talk!

These sites offer good deals, and with a little check-in at Plastic Jungle, you can save even more. Here are some tips:

Get Thee to Covet.com

Covet’s hook is that you take a preference test, they call it the “Stylyzer”, based on the looks you like. They use familiar celebrities with trademarked looks: think Reese Witherspoon’s “Classic Preppy” JCrew looks, or Kate Hudson’s Hippie “Boho” Free People outfits, or Pink’s Urban melodrama via Diesel or Moschino.

After you finish your Stylyzer quiz, you get sale alerts for apparel and accessories that fit your profile. “Shop without Sin” is their tagline. In their sale alerts, you can buy sale or clearance merchandise from all over the web – Nordstrom to Ann Taylor to Zappos and plenty of other merchants whose DISCOUNTED GIFT CARDS you can purchase here on Plastic Jungle.

So: You get an alert for a sale, you jump onto PlasticJungle.com, purchase a discounted eCODE for the merchant with the sale, and wham-O! By the end of the day you’re saving an extra percentage off an item you’re very psyched about that is already on sale. Coordinating merchants include Nordstrom, Zappos, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Banana Republic, and many more.

Try also: Shop It To Me

As “Your Personal Online Shopper”, the Shop It To Me web bot crawls through department store and boutique sites looking for sales on the brands and designers you love. At your request for frequency, they’ll send you a “SaleMail”, an email loaded with items from your faves the minute they go on sale.

Other sale sites, such as Rue La La, Gilt Groupe and HauteLook (more designer clothing and haute travel), or Zulily (moms and kids gear), or One King’s Lane (amazing home décor), have awesome sales “boutiques” that sell items direct from the designers. You need to sign up, and there are no personal profiles to select specific brands, but the savings are substantial and come right to your email inbox. (Super Shopper Hint: these sites are amazing for introducing you to new brands.)

Remember, if you have a favorite brand, such as Armani Exchange, Coach, Victoria’s Secret, Ann Taylor, even Burberry (or a hundred more merchants), you can always check Plastic Jungle for discount gift cards. If none are in stock, set an alert so that when one does come into stock, Plastic Jungle will automatically email you so that you can snap it up to get up to 35% off.

But first, you might grab yourself a deal!

The Winter Sale is on at “Nordie’s” (as they say) right now, offering deep discounts on the store’s general merchandise. There’s also a sale in Nordstrom’s Designer Collections, and Sweaters have taken a mark down. From Brass Plum to Tory Burch, it’s all for the taking. Lawd, it’s a good day to be shopping.

Through its excellence in customer service and talent at stocking its department stores with fashions finely suited to local tastes, Oprah’s go-to department store Nordstrom has made a name for itself among high-quality retailers. Shoes were once the highlight at the store; now designer collections and unique offerings bring customers back again and again at about 200 stores nationwide. Nordstrom Rack is the retailer’s discount outlet, offering clearance savings on the same chic brands and labels.

Nordstrom Deals

• Check for events and store locations (including Nordstrom Rack locations) at Nordstrom’s Store Locator.
• Be at the cutting edge of hot trends: get pre-season discounts at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sales or Half-Yearly sales events: check the Nordstrom FAQ page for this year’s sale dates.
• Register an online account to get email updates on Nordstrom sales and promotions in the departments you select.
• Shop the same great labels at Nordstrom Rack online!

Discounted Nordstrom Gift Cards and Virtual Gift Cards are Another Great Way to Save

Make sure to set an email notification and get an alert when new, discounted Nordstrom Gift Cards become available for purchase on Plastic Jungle. Nordstrom Gift Cards and Nordstrom Virtual Gift Cards are valid in stores, via phone orders, and online, and when purchased or traded at Plastic Jungle, you’ll never pay shipping fees. See “Benefits of Nordstrom Gift Cards”, below, for more on the store’s terms & conditions on the cards.

Check the Balance on Your Nordstrom Gift Card or Nordstrom Virtual Gift Card

Not sure how much is left on your Nordstrom Gift Card or Nordstrom Virtual Card? Check here:

STORES: Nordstrom Gift Cards and Virtual Gift Cards are valid at Nordstrom & Nordstrom Rack Stores. Check the Nordstrom Store Locator online for one near you.
ONLINE: Use the “Check Gift Card Balance” tool at Nordstrom online
PHONE: 1-877-283-4045, or try Nordstrom Customer Service at 1-888-282-6060. When you call, be sure to have your Gift Card number and PIN in front of you.

Once you know your balance, you can safely sell or trade your Nordstrom Gift Card or Nordstrom Virtual Gift Card on Plastic Jungle.

Sell or Exchange Your Nordstrom Gift Card or Nordstrom Virtual Gift Card on Plastic Jungle

Once you’ve acquired your Nordstrom Gift Card or Nordstrom Virtual Gift Card balance, you can sell or exchange your Nordstrom Gift Card to Plastic Jungle. At Plastic Jungle, you can also trade your Nordstrom Gift Card for an Amazon.com Gift Card, Facebook credits (on Facebook.com), and even fund your PayPal account.

To know how much your Nordstrom Gift Card or Nordstrom Virtual Gift Card is worth in exchange on Plastic Jungle, on the main page, click “Sell Gift Cards” at the top of the page. Look up “Nordstrom”, enter the gift card balance you’ve just acquired, and you’ll see instantly what your gift card balance is worth in cash or trade.

Check other Plastic Jungle blog posts for the same “Check Your Gift Card Balance” information for other stores, including Sears, Land’s End, Macy’s, Best Buy, Lowe’s, and more.

The Benefits of Nordstrom Gift Cards

Check the Nordstrom Gift Cards and Nordstrom Virtual Gift Cards pages for details on possible terms & conditions on the gift cards.

• Nordstrom Gift Cards and Nordstrom Virtual Gift Cards may be redeemed at Nordstrom department stores and Nordstrom Rack stores, via phone order (1-888-282-6060), and online at Nordstrom.com as well.
• Nordstrom Gift Cards and Nordstrom Virtual Gift Cards have no expiration date and no transaction fees. Plastic Jungle charges no shipping fees.
• You may add value to Nordstrom Gift Cards and Nordstrom Virtual Gift Cards in stores at any time.