Disney Gift Card sell or return??

[ratherbeindisney]

Can tell me if the Disney store takes gift cards as a return? We had a Disney trip planned for April 2013 but medical bills and life got in the way. We were saving by buying Disney gift cards. Now the money is needed to pay off some of my daughter's unexpected medical bills. Or does anyone know a reputable site that will buy the cards at a fraction of the cost? Any info you can give would be greatly appreciated. We have about $675.00 in cards.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

There are multiple gift card for sale on ebay. I have purchased some but never a disney giftcard. They always sell for more than I am willing to spend.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It appears that you can return these cards, as long as you have the original receipt and have not used it:

http://aimg.disneystore.com/content/global/guest_services10/return.html

 

[Marionnette]

Check with the store you purchased them from. If you bought them at Target or any place other than Disney, you may be out of luck because you will be subject to their gift card return policy. If you purchased directly from Disney, you should be able to get your money back as long as the gift card is unused and you have the original sales receipt.

From their gift card FAQ http://www.disneygiftcard.com/faq/#q19 :

Can I return the Disney Gift Card that I purchased or received as a gift?
You can return the Disney Gift Card as long as you have the original proof of purchase receipt and no funds have been deducted from the card. Each location's return policy may differ. Please contact the location.

I feel bad for you and I hope that you are able to return them for full face value. It would add insult to injury to have to sell them at a loss in order to meet your financial obligations. This is one reason that I won't buy Disney (or any) gift cards as a means of saving for a vacation. I would much rather keep my cash flexible and available in the event that a trip gets canceled.

Good luck, OP!

 

[pilesoflaundry]

Ebay, they always sell for face value or very close to it. You will get fees from ebay and paypal but you should still make most of your money back.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Ebay, they always sell for face value or very close to it. You will get fees from ebay and paypal but you should still make most of your money back.

I never understand why people pay face value for gift cards on eBay. I'm always suspicious about these auctions.

The again, I don't understand why anyone buys Disney gift cards to save for a trip. The OP's dilemma is a good reason not to do so.

 

[Dwheels]

Why in the world would you buy gift cards to save for a trip???? What a waste of money put it in a bank where it can collect interest ad can be accessed for medical bills!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Why in the world would you buy gift cards to save for a trip???? What a waste of money put it in a bank where it can collect interest ad can be accessed for medical bills!!

I agree, but many people do. It has been discussed many times on this board.

 

[Dwheels]

I agree, but many people do. It has been discussed many times on this board.

That's just crazy??

 

[Lumiere Lover]

Have you seen the interest rate at banks? Last Christmas Sam's club had $100 Disney gift cards, and you got a $10 Disney Store gift card as a bonus. We bought a lot of these cards! We love buying Disney gift cards as a way to save for the vacation. You can't use these funds for anything else, so for me it's a great way to know I am going back to WDW!

The best thing people can do is save the way they prefer, and to go to WDW with the trip fully paid off before they leave home. That is what is important!!

 

[ToodlesRN]

The best thing people can do is save the way they prefer, and to go to WDW with the trip fully paid off before they leave home. That is what is important!!

Very well said!! I buy Disney GC's and this method works well for our family if I had it stashed away I'd end up spending it else where or forget what it is being used for and spend it.

The feeling is great when I paid for a vacation and don't have a huge credit card bill to look at when I return home (did, done it and never again)

 

[jessica52877]

Hope you can do something with them OP. I have sold gift cards on plasticjungle before, most I got close to their value but it depends on the card.

If buying gift cards at target with their card you save 5%, that is a lot off a disney trip!

 

[amomma23]

Cardpool.com buys and sells gift cards. I have never sold to them, but I buy often. Very easy an reliable.

 

[starry_solo]

If unable to return, do you have a friend or colleague going to WDW or DLR? Maybe they would be willing to purchase it from you?

 

[MomToOne]

The best thing people can do is save the way they prefer, and to go to WDW with the trip fully paid off before they leave home. That is what is important!!

No, for the exact reason the OP is dealing with, "saving" for a trip by buying Disney gift cards when you have a possibility of needing the money to cover other emergencies life might throw at you is NOT the best way to do things.

It can make some sense to pick up a few gifts cards right before you have to pay the balance, or right before you leave to use for spending on your trip. But long before the trip, when you don't have a huge emergency fund already in place? Nope. I don't care if it's widely discussed as a method of saving on this board, it doesn't make sense. (And I don't even think buying the gift cards for paying off the balance is the best move, since if you pay with cash you could still get most of that refunded if necessary up until the trip.)

OP - I hope you can get a refund. I have my fingers crossed for you!

 

[sissy_ib]

Have you seen the interest rate at banks? Last Christmas Sam's club had $100 Disney gift cards, and you got a $10 Disney Store gift card as a bonus. We bought a lot of these cards! We love buying Disney gift cards as a way to save for the vacation. You can't use these funds for anything else, so for me it's a great way to know I am going back to WDW!

The best thing people can do is save the way they prefer, and to go to WDW with the trip fully paid off before they leave home. That is what is important!!

Exactly, you cant use the funds for anything else. Like medical emergencies. Sorry, but there are things more important than WDW.

OP, I agree with the others, Ebay is the way to go unless you can return them.

 

[Dwheels]

No, for the exact reason the OP is dealing with, "saving" for a trip by buying Disney gift cards when you have a possibility of needing the money to cover other emergencies life might throw at you is NOT the best way to do things.

It can make some sense to pick up a few gifts cards right before you have to pay the balance, or right before you leave to use for spending on your trip. But long before the trip, when you don't have a huge emergency fund already in place? Nope. I don't care if it's widely discussed as a method of saving on this board, it doesn't make sense. (And I don't even think buying the gift cards for paying off the balance is the best move, since if you pay with cash you could still get most of that refunded if necessary up until the trip.)

OP - I hope you can get a refund. I have my fingers crossed for you!

I agree what are people thinking? Not a smart move at all!

 

[Marionnette]

No, for the exact reason the OP is dealing with, "saving" for a trip by buying Disney gift cards when you have a possibility of needing the money to cover other emergencies life might throw at you is NOT the best way to do things.

It can make some sense to pick up a few gifts cards right before you have to pay the balance, or right before you leave to use for spending on your trip. But long before the trip, when you don't have a huge emergency fund already in place? Nope. I don't care if it's widely discussed as a method of saving on this board, it doesn't make sense. (And I don't even think buying the gift cards for paying off the balance is the best move, since if you pay with cash you could still get most of that refunded if necessary up until the trip.)

OP - I hope you can get a refund. I have my fingers crossed for you!

I don't know if this is the OP's case, since she hasn't shared all of the details. But I agree with you that if would indeed be foolish to be socking away Disney gift cards for a future trip if you don't have an adequate emergency fund in place. In fact, it would be short-sighted to be planning a trip at all if that were the case.

A lot of people use gift cards as a saving method because they just aren't good at saving money otherwise. It's sort of like those people who intentionally get a big tax refund so that they can use it for a vacation or other luxury. But instead of giving the money to Uncle Sam, they give it to Mickey Mouse. Both saving methods tie your cash up so that you can't use it for other purposes. It can be a good thing if you're inclined to blow through any chunk of money you have. But it backfires when you need a chunk of cash for emergencies.

You'll notice that the OP has chosen to do the grown-up thing and cancel her trip so that she can take care of her financial obligations. I give her props for that. How many people would tell her "the-kids-are-only-little-for-so-long-and-you-never-know-what-will-happen-tomorrow-so-go-anyway-and-worry-about-the-bills-when-you-get-back"?

I'm hoping that things work out for the OP and that she updates us when she gets it all worked out. In the meantime, I'm going to keep saving my cash the old fashioned way. I'm hiding it under my mattress!

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

There are multiple gift card for sale on ebay. I have purchased some but never a disney giftcard. They always sell for more than I am willing to spend.

Actually I have seen DISNEY gift cards sell for more than the face value if there is a very special picture on the gift card, especially Disney Cruise Line or a favorite Princess picture. Hope this helps... ALOHA, Karen

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Why in the world would you buy gift cards to save for a trip???? What a waste of money put it in a bank where it can collect interest ad can be accessed for medical bills!!

Because I can buy Disney gift cards at Target with a minimum 5% discount with my Red Card. If I also have a pharmacy rewards coupon, I can combine discounts and get close to a 10% discount. My savings account (the one I use for vacations) pays a little over 1%. If Disney comes out with a code for my travel time, I can take advantage of the room or package discount as well as paying with gift cards that I bought at a discount. It can add up to significant savings for our trips.

And I am not buying gift cards with my emergency fund. I buy them with my travel budget. It might not work for you or for the OP in this case, but it works fine for me.