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.

We are a coffee nation, and Starbucks has over 21 million fans on Facebook to prove it! Founded in Seattle, the chain’s cool sensibilities and consistency in quality have invaded the smallest towns and the largest cities. In the summer it’s Starbucks Frappucinos and Trenta Iced Lattes; in the winter, it’s minty Hot Chocolate and fantastic Chai Lattes.

Starbucks can become a friendly habit. In case you’re looking to save some cash, don’t hesitate to purchase discounted Starbucks Gift Cards here on Plastic Jungle, because while they might give a taste away once in a while, there’s rarely a sale at Starbucks. To be the first to know when new, discounted Starbucks Gift Cards come into stock on Plastic Jungle, make sure to set a Starbucks email alert.

You should know that the new “My Starbucks Rewards” program is very versatile and customizable. You can set the card to reload with an auto-payment option, and collect “stars” toward Gold membership and free drinks. This program will replace the Starbucks Gold program and Starbucks Card Reward program.

For the latest details on the Starbucks Gift Card, Starbucks Card eGifts, and My Starbucks Rewards, check out the Starbucks Gift Card FAQ page.

For Starbucks events and promotions, be sure to follow Starbucks on Twitter, and be one of the 21 million to Like Starbucks on Facebook.

If you’re interested in purchasing Starbucks coffee online, check out the Starbucks Store.

And don’t be silly. If you have an idea for Starbucks, make sure to visit Starbucks’ dedicated site, My Starbucks Idea, where your idea is published and voted on.

To help you create your own Starbucks Signature drink and show you the options you have, the build-your-beverage experience at MyStarbucksSignature.com worth your time.

Check the Balance on Your Starbucks Gift Card

Online: Check your Starbucks Gift Card balance online.  All you’ll need is the card’s 16-digit number and its CSC (Card Security Code), which is an 8-digit number that can be found under the scratch-off coating on the back of your card.

In-Store: Find a Starbucks near you using the Starbucks Store Locator.

Sell Your Gift Card

Once you know your balance, you can sell or trade your gift card securely on Plastic Jungle. At Plastic Jungle, you can trade any unused gift card for cash, or an Amazon.com Gift Card, or use it to donate the funds to charity (Gift Cards for Good—look for the green ribbon at checkout), or even fund a PayPal account.

To know how much your 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 the store and enter the gift card balance you’ve just acquired. 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.

It’s Deal Time! As the web’s largest secured gift card exchange, Plastic Jungle gives shoppers choice and flexibility with funds they’ve got trapped on gift cards. If you’d like to sell your gift card, take a look at all the safe and quick options Plastic Jungle offers. See your options when you Sell or Swap gift cards on Plastic Jungle now >>>

Now, let’s take a look at only a few of the key discounted cards for sale on Plastic Jungle (at time of writing — hurry, supplies are limited!):

American Eagle Outfitters – discounts up to 14% off.

FYE — discounts up to 17% off. FYE is a music & movie retailer.

JCPenney – discounts up to 14% off with eCODEs available too – save on purchases today!

Olive Garden – discounts up to 10% off — also good at may also be used at any Red Lobster, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze or any other Darden restaurant.

Starbucks — discounts up to 9% off

AMC Theatres — discounts up to 16% off

Go to a complete listing of discounted gift cards for sale right now on Plastic Jungle >>>

Friday Gift Card Giveaways & Sweepstakes

This week we take you to the savings blogs. Coupon-cutting has entered the modern age and the best way to find elusive deals is to troll the savings blogs. You’ll find one for every segment, from technology geeks to mommies to fashionistas, and I’ll bet every one of us falls into each of those segments at least once a day.

MyBargainBuddy.com – Enter to win a $50 Kohl’s Gift Card. Just submit your info (no Byzantine follows or reports required) and let Karen know whether or not you want her email newsletter on retail bargains up to 90% off. Drawing to take place on 3/1/11; see details on the MyBargainBuddy.com giveaway page.

CouponingFor4.com – Enter to win one of 10 $10 Amazon Gift Certificates. You are eligible to win one of five by leaving a comment on the Giveaway blog post. To be eligible for one of the other five, become a Facebook fan of CouponingFor4.com. See the Giveaway blog post for details; drawing takes place 3/2/11 at about 10 pm CST.

TechBargains.com – Enter to win an iPad. Well, it’s not a gift card or an egift card, but we didn’t think you’d mind winning an iPad with 32GB and WiFi + 3G – a $729 value. To enter, subscribe to the new TechBargains YouTube Channel, or become a fan of TechBargains on Facebook. The last day to enter the contest is 2/28 and the winner will be announced on the site shortly after; for details see TechBargains’ iPad Giveaway contest rules. Be sure to share the giveaway link with your friends because we’re going to ask the winner how they heard about the giveaway and the site. If they name you, then you’ll win a $100 American Express gift card.

PassionforSavings.com – Enter to win a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card. Entering is easy, Just sign up for Free Email Updates or Subscribe to the Passion for Savings RSS Feed. You can also follow on Facebook or Twitter. Each method gets you one entry into the giveaway. The winner will be selected at the end of the month. See giveaway page for details.

WellHeeledBlog.com – Enter to win a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card. This site about personal finance and savvy living is handing out a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card thanks to MrRebates.com. It’s complicated, so visit the Well Heeled Blog giveaway page for details and info on both informative sites. Deadline is Wednesday March 3 at midnight PST.

Won anything yet? Let us know… and let us know: Would you rather enter a big sweepstakes with thousands of entries or little giveaways where your chances are better, but the prizes are smaller?

Have a great weekend — shop away!

Like fine wine, the gift card has only gotten better with age. With its commercial debut as a paper certificate created by big department stores in the 1930s–certificates that were kept behind the counter and sold only at the request of select customers–the gift card has become the biggest selling gift item of all times. This trend has continued over the last five years, with sales in 2009 topping $87 million.

As with anything that witnesses such massive growth, we have to wonder about its origin and evolution. In that spirit we are going to take a trip down gift card memory lane with the following timeline of the gift card’s beginnings and history. We hope you enjoy the journey.

• Edgar Allan Funt — not to be confused with Allan Funt from Candid Camera but a practical joker nonetheless — editor of Candid Horror Writer, a 19th-century syndicated newspaper, wrote a featured column in which unsuspecting individuals were walled up inside a stone mausoleum, buried six feet under or secured in coffins for weeks without food or water, then told afterwards that they had participated in a practical joke and given a $1.50 gift certificate to the local apothecary. (Source: Wikipedia)
• 1930s — Major department stores brought the paper gift certificate to the mass market (Note, we cannot locate the name of the very first department store to do this, and would love your input if you know the answer!)
• 1970 — McDonald’s introduced its Christmas gift certificate program.
• Paper gift certificates were replaced by electronic gift certificates, also known as gift cards, in the mid-1990s. Mobil Oil Company produced the first retail gift certificate with a magnetic strip in 1995. The card, which could be used toward gas fill-ups, was built using technology borrowed from prepaid phone cards.
• Blockbuster is credited with pioneering the modern-day gift card. In 1995 they began displaying their plastic gift cards on counters for customers to buy.
• J.C. Penney created their first gift card for sale in 1996, and they were one of the first retailers to begin creating designs and innovations of the gift card.
• 1997 — Kmart is the first discount retailer to begin selling gift cards. In a partnership with AT&T, the Kmart Cash Card was used as a gift card and also as a phone calling card.
• 1999 — Target joins the mix by beginning to sell gift cards and became the leader in design innovation.
• Gift card sales grew from $19 billion in 1999 to $37 billion in 2002.
• 2001 — Starbucks creates its first gift card, establishing itself as the most successful gift card program in the world.
• Gift card design by retailers becomes all the rage. Home Depot once made a card that doubled as a tape measure, Best Buy created a gift card with built-in headphones and speakers, and last year Target had gift cards that look like toys, as well as “GiftCoins” and a “GiftSticker.”
• Present day — Racks selling gift cards from various retailers are displayed in supermarkets and convenience stores. Shoppers are regularly buying both physical and virtual gift cards online. Consumers can buy gift cards at huge savings and sell gift cards for cash (or other value) on PlasticJungle.com!

]]> http://www.plasticjungle.com/blog/2010/10/25/the-fascinating-history-behind-the-gift-card/feed/ 0 http://www.plasticjungle.com/blog/2010/06/18/hey-teachers-trade-in-those-gift-cards/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hey-teachers-trade-in-those-gift-cards http://www.plasticjungle.com/blog/2010/06/18/hey-teachers-trade-in-those-gift-cards/#comments Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:51:44 +0000 Kathryn http://www.plasticjungle.com/blog/?p=1162

It’s that time of year, Teachers…

Some parents want to show their appreciation for all you have done for their little ones.  After all, you have dedicated yourself to help their children succeed.

Since gift cards are often one of the most practical end of the year gift for teachers, you may find yourself with a stack of them.  Some you will spend right away, some might get tucked away in your sock drawer for a variety of reasons.  Do you have a sock drawer full of gift cards at home?

The gift is the thought that counts, but the challenge for teachers becomes finding enough hours in the day to take advantage of all those gift cards.  How many different gift card brands did you receive this year?

Teachers, we want to help you get the most out of those gift cards, since the days are short and the brands are wide, sell those gift cards for up to 92% of the balance.  Alternatively, if you love to shop on Amazon.com, sell your gift card for more purchasing power towards your next purchase.

Did you get a Starbucks Gift Card? Sell your Starbucks Gift Card for 82%. How about a Target Gift Card? Sell your Target Gift Card for 92%.  Receive any Walmart Gift Cards? Sell your Walmart Gift Card for 90%.  We accept over 400 gift cards, see if your gift card is on our list.

How to sell your gift cards on PlasticJungle.com:

1. Enter your gift card information to receive an offer

2. Print the free shipping label and mail your gift card for processing

3. We will verify the gift card balance, then mail you a check (or email you an Amazon.com Gift Card code)

That’s it!

Summer must be here! Our Plastic Jungle customers can’t get enough of all the great summer sales and deals at large department stores.  With all the money our customers are saving shopping with discounted gift cards, can you blame them?

Most purchased gift cards in May 2010 include:

1. Walmart Gift Card
2. Target Gift Card
3. Home Depot Gift Card
4. Lowe’s Gift Card
5. Best Buy Gift Card
6. Tiffany & Co. Gift Card
7. Lands’ End Gift Card
8. Macy’s Gift Card
9. Starbucks Gift Card
10. Sears Gift Card

View gift cards you loved this so far in January, February, March, and April.

Did you meet your money saving plans for May? Share with us where you shopped in May and we will tell you where it fell on our list.

How do you plan to budget differently for the summer months?

Plastic Jungle is helping you save even more by slashing prices on our already deeply-discounted gift cards!  This week Punxsutawney Phil let us know that we have 6 more weeks to wear our winter coats -  take advantage of these additional savings to go buy that sweater you’ve had your eye on all winter or get an early jump on the spring lines!

Just a reminder that Valentine’s Day is around the corner.  Save up to 14% on a Morton’s Gift Card and show your significant other that you are thinking with your heart and your head during these tough economic times.  The clock is ticking, save 15% on 1-800-flowers.com gift cards this Valentine’s Day.  Combine that savings with others and you can save closer to 30%! Not bad.

Help the kids get ready for spring with a new fort or swing-set in the backyard – not so far fetched with a 5% discounted Home Depot Gift Card.

These are but a few ways Plastic Jungle is saving you more this year.  Take a peek below to see the name brands in our increased discount selection:

Best Buy Gift Card- NOW 5% off!
Home Depot Gift Card- NOW 8% off!
Kohl’s Gift Card- NOW 11% off!
Target Gift Card- NOW 4% off!
Barnes & Noble Gift Card- NOW 11% off!
Old Navy Gift Card- NOW 12% off!
Gap Gift Card- NOW 12% off!
Starbucks Gift Card- NOW 8% off!
Jamba Juice Gift Card- NOW 11% off!
Morton’s Steakhouse Gift Card- NOW 14% off!
Walmart Gift Card- NOW 4% off!