Any gift card discount clubs out there like Hotwire?

[carol9999]

Hi... a couple of years ago i joined Hotwire club and was able to get $25 gift cards to a bunch of places for $20 and they had other offers as well....does anyone know of a good one now going on....i like to buy for Christmas ... i did join Everyday Priviledges gold which i used last year, but i cancelled it and need to find a new one...thanks

 

[my3kids]

You can order them from AAA at a 2.5% savings. Not as good as the 5% but AAA does have a MUCH wider variety of places to purchase from.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

bumping this- I need to fnd a new club also. Hotwire was nice because it offered giftcards for restaurants as well as department stores. Thanks!

 

[zack'smommy]

I use dealpass. It offers $25 cards with a $5 refund. I get Target, Macy's, Pier 1, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Home Depot, Lowes, Circuit City and a ton of other stores. You can get up to 20 from each store.

There is a catch. You do have to pay for it, but I shop everyday at those stores. In the end, it works out for me. If you're not gonna buy a lot of cards, this probably isn't a good option for you.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

I don't get the catch - what do you mean you have to pay for it. I figured I would have to pay for any gift cards- I just would like to get them for a discount. Can you explain what you mean? Thanks

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I didn't know about Dealpass. I used to love Hotwire too. I think I'll join, prior to Christmas. How do the travel rates compare on that site vs. others? Do you have to be a member to book through them? TIA






Edited to correct error.

 

[PrincessMom98]

I use dealpass. It offers $25 cards with a $5 refund.

How do you get a $5 refund? The only thing that I can find on the Dealpass website was "Gift Card Savings - Enjoy unlimited, 5% savings on $25 gift cards". 5% is only $1.25

 

[femail]

i used simple escapes, too and bought a load of cards; they gave you back 5.00 for every 25.00 card you bought; i just search engined that and memberworks and all i found was a lot of complaints from people who were charged for a service they didn't even know that they had; i sure liked my service with it tho.. if anyone has something like it i'd love to go back on it...

 

[The Disney Bunch]

Can anyone tell me how much dealpass charges monthly or annually? Thanks!

 

[my3kids]

Stupid me....AAA is a 5% savings not a 2.5% discount!

 

[lgazz]

You can order them from AAA at a 2.5% savings. Not as good as the 5% but AAA does have a MUCH wider variety of places to purchase from.

How do you purchase gift cards through AAA? I have been a long time member, and did not know about this? Do you have to go into the office, or can you order them online? TIA!

 

[zack'smommy]

Dealpass charges an annual fee of about $150 with a form to send in for a free $25 gift card, so it actually cost about $125/year. They do automatically renew each year. I could definitely understand people getting upset, if they are not using the service enough. Unfortunately, you have to buy a lot of cards for this to work to your benefit.

The $5 credit per card purchased is just refunded onto your credit card statment. I've never had any problems getting a credit. It has always been in the same billing period. Not sure about the travel aspect of the service because I've never used that.

here's an example of the cards i've bought this year:

target (shop here every day) 20 cards x $5 = $100 back
home depot (workin' on the house) 20 cards x $5 = $100 back
lowes (workin' on the house) 20 cards x $5 = $100 back
pier 1 (gave as gift) 2 cards x $5 = $10 back
harry & david (gave as gift) 2 cards x $5 = $10 back
macys (gave as gift) 6 cards x $5 = $30 back
circuit city (used gc to buy a gift) 8 cards X $5= $40 back
marshalls (bought myself clothes) 8 cards x $5= $40 back
note: each card = $25

there may be more, but i'm sure you get the idea. i'm getting ready to buy more cards for xmas gifts. this will not work for everyone because they won't use the service this much, but it really works for me. there is a nice list of retailers to choose from.

happy shopping (& saving)!
katrina

 

[carol9999]

thanks for all the info everybody.... any other deals out there that are not so much annual fee....also any trial memberships or monthly fees, so you can cancel when you want? thanks

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Wow, I guess I should have spent more time on the site researching the fees. $125 is probably too much for me to benefit. Thanks for the info. though.

 

[my3kids]

How do you purchase gift cards through AAA? I have been a long time member, and did not know about this? Do you have to go into the office, or can you order them online? TIA!

www.aaa.com/giftcards

"Purchasing a gift for someone who has a favorite place to shop or eat? Select from over 40 gift cards for well-known stores and restaurants. You only pay for the value of the card - at a 5% savings. Regular shipping is free. With all these selections, you are sure to find a gift card for everyone on your list."

Restaurants:

Bennigan's® Grill & Tavern
Bonanza Steakhouse®
Hard Rock Cafe
Olive Garden®
Panera Bread®
Ponderosa Steakhouse®
Red Lobster®
Smokey Bones® Barbeque & Grill
Steak and Ale®
T.G.I.Friday's®

"Fun and Fashion"

A Pea in the Pod®
Bath & Body Works®
Dillard's®
Dress Barn
Foot Locker
K•B Toys®
L.L.Bean
Lands' End®
Lillian Vernon
Mimi Maternity®
Motherhood® Maternity
Sunglass Hut®
Sports Authority®
Timberland®
Watch Station®

Home & Enterrtainment

Barnes & Noble
Bass Pro Shops®
BLOCKBUSTER®
Brunswick Bowling
Harry and David®
Jackson & Perkins
Linens 'n Things
Omaha Steaks®
Orvis®
Sam Goody®
Pier 1 Imports®
Sears
SonyAwards
SuncoastSM
The Sharper Image®
Staples
The White Barn Candle Co.

 

[my3kids]

Oh, and if you are a AAA member, the service is free. No additional fees to save the %. I *think* you can order up to 50 per merchant at a time.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

So wait- if I am a AAA member, I do not have to pay the annual fee to buy these gift cards at a discount? Is this beacause I am already paying AAA a membership fee? this seems great! Wish I had known about this previously. I was just complaining to my dh about having to pay the AAA renewal. Please correct my thinking if I am wrong.

 

[my3kids]

If you are a AAA member, the gift cards are a member benefit. You do not have to pay an additional fee on top of your membership.

Also, you pay the dicounted fee upfront for the card. It is not a rebate or refund system. You strictly pay the discounted price. But, unfortunatley, the discount isn't as great as Hotwire used to be.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

I don't think any of the programs are as good as Hotwire used to be, unfortunately.

 

[3darlings]

I use Passport to Fun (which is through DealPass). I signed up with a free trial through Sunshine Rewards (and got a few dollars from SR for doing that.) Passport to Fun normally charges $ 19.95 a month for their service. I called during the trial period (after ordering some cards) to cancel and they offered to give me the service for a year for a one time charge of $ 19.95. I took that and it has been great. You get $ 25 gift cards for $20 (and $10 ones for fast food restaurants for $ 8). You get that as a credit on your credit card at the end of the month. I usually order whatever I need near the end of the month so then the credit appears on the same bill. They also send me some rebate coupons that I use one a month to get a $ 5 check from them (you have to send in a receipt for a entertainment purchase.) I was a bit leery at first but it has been a great service. I especially used it at the end of the school year for teacher gifts. I think there is a limit of 20 cards per year per merchant. Hope this helps!