For purchases big and small, Plastic Jungle helps you save.

P  Practical discounts on brands you love.

L  Letting loose of unwanted gift cards gets you cash to spend however you want.

A  Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, and Ann Taylor discount gift cards

S  Stack savings by using discount gift cards on top of coupons and store sales.

T  Take the guesswork out of finding a bargain.  Always buy gift cards for less than face value at Plastic Jungle.

I   It only takes minutes to pick out the discount gift cards you want.

C  Camping gear, coats, and clothing discounts.

J  Jump up and down as you watch your savings grow.

U  USA-based.  Plastic Jungle’s corporate office is in San Mateo, California.

N  No hassle because all transactions are guaranteed.

G  Go online and save with discount electronic gift cards (eCODES).

L  Lowe’s and Home Depot discount gift cards wipe 7% off home improvement projects.

E  Eat out for less with discount California Pizza Kitchen gift cards.

G  Give the gift of gift cards (at a discount).

I   Indulge your shopping dreams without paying full price.

F  Free shipping when you buy and sell gift cards.

T  The web’s largest discount gift card exchange.

C  Check on Plastic Jungle for wedding and baby shower gifts. 

A  Alerts keep us in-the know when the gift cards we want are in stock.

R  Real life discounts.  Save on groceries at Target and on oil changes and car repairs at Jiffy Lube.

D  Deposit into PayPal account or Amazon.com electronic gift card when you sell a gift card.

S  Share Plastic Jungle with a friend and earn $5 for each friend you refer.

Plastic Jungle gift cards consistently provide discounts.

According to “From Coats to Boats, a List of Best-Buy Items for January” (an MSN article), January is the time to get the best price on many items found at JCPenney.  You have the opportunity to increase these best prices with discount JCPenney gift cards which are available for 9% less than face value at Plastic Jungle.

To maximize your savings on January discounts, stock up on discount JCPenney gift cards now.

January is when bedding goes on sale.  Do you need new sheets, comforters, mattress pads, toppers, pillow cases, blankets, pillows, duvets, bed skirts, quilts, or throws?

In January bathroom linens are sold at the lowest prices.  How about shopping for those towels, bath rugs, bath mats, or shower curtains you’ve been holding off on?

Furniture is a great buy in January.  Are you ready to finish your living room or replace old couches, loveseats, recliners, benches, ottomans, bar stools, entertainment centers, and bedroom sets?

January is the time to buy suits specifically fall and winter suits.  While the season is changing, you can get a few wears in this year and then you’ll be all set for next fall.

In the words of Tom Barlow (the author of the article mentioned above), “Because January offers so many bargains, it’s also the perfect time to use up those gift cards that you received [over the holidays], before you forget about them.”

Remember – if you receive a gift card you never plan to use this holiday season, you can brighten a misgift by selling your gift card to Plastic Jungle.  In exchange, we’ll send you a cashier’s check, Amazon.com gift card via email, or a deposit into your PayPal account for up to 92% of the gift card’s value. 

Spring Cleaning is SO two seasons ago.

As seasons transition from summer to fall, it’s the perfect time to take an inventory on your gift card stash. Just like you go through your clothes closet, ditching things that don’t fit, ask yourself: “Will I ever really use this?”

Just how clothes don’t fit, sometimes gift cards don’t either.

Here’s a personal story:

Three years back, my brother gave our family generous Cheesecake Factory and AMC Theatres gift cards, so that we could enjoy a big night out. Such a nice gift with incredible intentions, but guess what? We don’t have either of those establishments where we live here in Reno, NV. (Even though we are the Biggest Little City in the World!) Those gift cards took up permanent residence in my wallet and every time I looked at them I thought, “well, maybe I’ll use them next time we’re in California,” or “maybe I’ll re-gift them to somebody else someday.” It wasn’t until I discovered Plastic Jungle that I finally sold those two suckers for cash. (Apologies to my brother if he happens to read this blog post!)

Do you have a similar dilemma? Selling gift cards to Plastic Jungle is easy!

$25 Minimum Balance. If you have an unused or even partially redeemed gift card with at least a $25 minimum balance, Plastic Jungle will buy it for up to 92% of the verified balance.

Plastic Jungle Guarantee. All transactions are safe, secure and guaranteed.  See their Terms of Use here.

Free Shipping. You’ll get a pre-paid USPS shipping label.

Fast Turnaround. Once your card is received and the balance is verified, payment will be sent within 2 business days. If you selected to receive an Amazon.com Gift Card, your claim code will be emailed.

Large Merchant Pool. With over 400+ merchants, you’re bound to find your card on the list. If not, you can sign up for a notification and be alerted when your merchant is accepted.

Multiple Payment Options. Choose from an Amazon.com Gift Card, PayPal or even donate to your favorite charity.

Click here to get started and set your gift cards free!

Check out what’s new at Bath & Body Works and stock up on personal care items.

Bath & Body Works consistently ranks as one of our most popular gift cards (it’s currently #23 out of 400+ retailers year-to-date), so no doubt there are plenty floating around the marketplace.

Wondering what to do with yours?

Start by checking the balance. Just call 800-640-6052 and follow the prompts. They will ask for your 19-digit card number as well your PIN, which is located underneath a scratch-off field on the back of the card.

Redeem your gift card. Bath & Body Works has these top offers happening now:

• Buy 3, Get 2 Free Signature Collection
• 4 for $20 or 6 for $24 Mix & Match Home Fragrance
• 5 for $15 or 7 for $20 Fall Anti-Bacterial Soaps

And – if you can believe it – Bath & Body Works just launched their new Halloween Collection. Scary!

Buy a gift card. Plastic Jungle has over 50 discounted Bath & Body Works gift cards available for 12% off! They are available in denominations as low as $25 and as high as $280, with everything in between. Get yours now while supplies last!

Sell your gift card. Would you rather sell your Bath & Body Works gift card in exchange for cash? Plastic Jungle buys unused gift cards for up to 92% of the verified balance! You can swap it for an Amazon.com gift card, PayPal credit, a cashier’s check, or you can even make a donation to the charity of your choice! We pay for shipping and all transactions are guaranteed.

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?

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

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#

We are so excited to be selected as one of the AlwaysOn Global 250 winners for the second year in a row!!  Read below for more details.

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) July 13, 2011

Plastic Jungle, the Web’s largest secured gift card exchange, today announced that it has been chosen by AlwaysOn as one of the AlwaysOn Global 250 winners for the second year on a row. Inclusion in the AlwaysOn Global 250 signifies leadership amongst its peers and game-changing approaches and technologies that are likely to disrupt existing markets and entrenched players in the Global Silicon Valley. Plastic Jungle was specially selected by the AlwaysOn editorial team and industry experts spanning the globe based on a set of five criteria: innovation, market potential, commercialization, stakeholder value, and media buzz.

Plastic Jungle and the AlwaysOn Global 250 companies will be honored at AlwaysOn’s ninth annual Innovation Summit at Santa Clara University on July 28th, 2011, at the Louis B. Mayer Theatre at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA.

This two-day executive gathering that highlights the significant economic, political, and commercial trends affecting the global technology industries. Innovation Summit’s goal is to identify the most promising entrepreneurial opportunities and investments in the global tech industry.

“This year’s AlwaysOn Global 250 are companies driven by the biggest mega-trends, including the accelerating growth of mobile users, cloud computing, and SaaS offerings, globalization, and the socialization of commerce and basically everything online,” says Tony Perkins, founder and editor of AlwaysOn. “This year’s winners clearly represent some of the highest-growth opportunities we’ve seen in the private company marketplace in the history of the global Silicon Valley.”

The AlwaysOn Global 250 winners were selected from among thousands of domestic and international technology companies nominated by investors, bankers, journalists, and industry insiders. The AlwaysOn editorial team conducted a rigorous three-month selection process to finalize the 2011 list.

Merchant-issued – or closed loop – gift cards now represent $90 billion of the U.S. economy, and an estimated $30 billion in gift cards are unredeemed at any given time. Plastic Jungle brings liquidity to the secondary gift card market by allowing consumers to buy gift cards at their favorite stores for savings at up to 35%, sell unredeemed gift cards for up to 92% of the gift card value, or donate the value of 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.

A full list of all the AlwaysOn Global 250 winners can be found on the AlwaysOn website at:
http://www.aonetwork.com/AOStory/Announcing-2011-AlwaysOn-Global-250
“It’s an honor to be recognized by AlwaysOn as one of the top tech innovators in our field,” said Bruce Bower, CEO of Plastic Jungle. “In the last 5 years we have grown from a small startup to the largest and most trusted brand in the secondary gift card marketplace, and we’re proud of our efforts to develop unparalleled payment applications that protect the interests of consumers and retailers alike.”

About AlwaysOn
AlwaysOn is the leading business media brand networking the Global Silicon Valley. AlwaysOn helped ignite the social media revolution in early 2003 when it launched the AlwaysOn network. In 2004, it became the first media brand to socially network its online readers and event attendees. AlwaysOn’s preeminent executive event series includes the Innovation Summit, OnMedia, OnHollywood, Venture Summit Mid-Atlantic / IMPACT 2011, OnDemand, Venture Summit Silicon Valley, Venture Summit East, GoingGreen Silicon Valley, and GoingGreen East. The AlwaysOn network and live event series continue to lead the industry by empowering its readers, event participants, sponsors, and advertisers like no other media brand.

Read the full press release here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/7/prweb8640077.htm

Plastic Jungle is King of the Jungle when it comes to the best online gift card exchange!

We are so excited that we have been named the best online gift card exchange by Tech Media Network’s 2011 Top Ten Reviews:

“We’ve researched several online sites that provide similar gift card exchange services and Plastic Jungle is by far the best.”

Ranked #1 out of 9 gift card exchange sites, Plastic Jungle earned the top spot based on the following four criteria:

• Inventory Selection
• Website Features
• Ease of Use
• Help and Support

Rank
Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor

Per Top Ten Reviews rating system, Plastic Jungle received the highest score (4 out of 4) in all categories.

Plastic Jungle Overall Rating

Other gift card companies up for consideration (ranked in order #2 through #9) included: GiftCardRescue, Cardpool, Monster Gift Card, Swapagift.com, ABC Gift Cards, GiftCardSwapping, GiftCardBin and TheGiftCardTrader.

You can read the whole article and see side-by-side comparisons here.

Thank you Top Ten Reviews – we appreciate the recognition and will strive to be your top banana!

And thank you to our fabulous customers! We are thrilled to provide a gift card exchange service that’s palm fronds and vines above the rest!

Feeling generous? Be a do-gooder and donate your gift cards to charity in celebration of Public Service Day.

Observed every year on June 23^rd, the United Nations’ Public Service Day celebrates the value and virtue of community service.

Plastic Jungle has partnered with nearly 90 organizations, both big and small. Whether it’s a world-renown association like the American Red Cross or your neighborhood high school, Junglers can choose to act globally or locally. Check out our Non-Profit Directory for the complete list.

Donating is easy! Here’s how:

1. Enter your gift card information in our Sell Your Gift Card form. Select the ”Donate to Charity” option under the Payout Choice.
2. Before you confirm your transaction, look for the blue and green ribbon to make a donation and select a nonprofit to support.
3. Print the FREE shipping label, and drop your gift card in the mail. Upon receipt, we will verify your card’s balance and process your donation. You will receive an email receipt for your kind tax-deductible contribution.

On the flip side, are YOU a non-profit that wants to benefit from our big-hearted Junglers? Participation in our fundraising program is FREE!

Getting started is easy! Here’s how:

Step 1: Please sign the Non-Profit Affiliate Agreement and return it back to us. You can scan and email it back or fax it to us at 408-608-2009.
Step 2: In addition to the contract we also need -

• Proof of 501©3 status
• A high resolution logo for the organization
• Your mission statement

Make a difference today and everyday. While Public Service Day is designated as June 23rd, you can donate gift cards all year long. What charity is near and dear to your heart? Tell us – we’d love to know. Maybe it’s the environment, hunger and poverty or disaster relief. Or perhaps it’s health and disease, children or the elderly. Plastic Jungle is pleased to help you connect with the organization of your choice.

“Be Good. Do Good.”

L.M. Heroux