Best Places to purchase gift cards discounted?

[poofyo101]

The last two years, BJs has run a special in Jan for bulk sales. 8% discount if you purchase at least $7500; between $5000 and $7500 is 7%; and between $2500 and $5000 is 6%.

Don’t know if they will run it again this year, but I have loaded up the past two years. Between DVC dues, park tickets, and DCL (hopefully coming back at some point), we burn through them. It’s a pain to combine, but worth it to us for over a 10% discount after including credit card rewards.

That is in person or online? how does this sale work?

 

[Budzooka]

That is in person or online? how does this sale work?

All online. I received an email from a sales rep at BJ’s and thought it was a scam the first year. But I went on the gift card discount thread on DIS and saw others talking about it. I think I was targeted because I had bought in bulk in the past. You make the purchase online and then they apply an additional discount.

My guess is it is available to anyone, but I can confirm with them if they do it again this January, and then come back here and update this post. I’m a big fan of the gift card. We’re going to spend it regardless, so might as well get it discounted. Biggest downside is if some negative life event happens and you have a bunch tied up in gift cards.

I prefer to combine gift cards. Yes, it takes some time and you do have the scratch the back off. But I think it is the considerate thing to do for both employees and other guests. I can’t imagine how frustrated I would be being behind someone in line that is paying for a large bill with multiple $50 gift cards. I just get both kids to join in and have a Disney gift card party. If they want to take the trips, they can help with the combination process.

 

[poofyo101]

All online. I received an email from a sales rep at BJ’s and thought it was a scam the first year. But I went on the gift card discount thread on DIS and saw others talking about it. I think I was targeted because I had bought in bulk in the past. You make the purchase online and then they apply an additional discount.

My guess is it is available to anyone, but I can confirm with them if they do it again this January, and then come back here and update this post. I’m a big fan of the gift card. We’re going to spend it regardless, so might as well get it discounted. Biggest downside is if some negative life event happens and you have a bunch tied up in gift cards.

I prefer to combine gift cards. Yes, it takes some time and you do have the scratch the back off. But I think it is the considerate thing to do for both employees and other guests. I can’t imagine how frustrated I would be being behind someone in line that is paying for a large bill with multiple $50 gift cards. I just get both kids to join in and have a Disney gift card party. If they want to take the trips, they can help with the combination process.

Is there contact information for that sales rep? If there is and you could PM me that would be great.

 

[sethschroeder]

I mean it's called be considerate not to give them a stack of gift cards and combing the gift cards.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Ok, so when I said I love this I was referring to the idea of paying for everything with giftcards! I also combine ours when making a big purchase!

I was online just the other day pre paying dvc dues with giftcards and combined them ahead of time even though I was doing it myself online. I wanted one cleaner payment to keep track of.

 

[dez1978]

Is rakuten confirmed to payout for gift card purchases?

Rakuten does pay out on gc from Sams. Not from everywhere though. But Sams, yes they do.

 

[pasealfondo9]

How can an international traveller get a hold on discounted gift cards? I don´t have any memberships like Costco, Target or so. If I am not a member of all these stores, is there any way I can purchase gift cards without paying the full value of it?

 

[SherylLC]

...but I can confirm with them if they do it again this January, and then come back here and update this post.

Oooo, that would be so kind of you! I'd sure be interested!

 

[sethschroeder]

How can an international traveller get a hold on discounted gift cards? I don´t have any memberships like Costco, Target or so. If I am not a member of all these stores, is there any way I can purchase gift cards without paying the full value of it?

Target is free you just have to link a bank account. So I am not sure you can do that to a international bank account or if you would need a bank account in the US to link to.

Otherwise most other ones require a paid membership to get access to.

I know some people even have bank accounts in the US because its a way they get around the exchange rates possibly getting worse at times as well. You would have to investigate it though not sure.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

When I was researching gc discounts, the best I could identify was Kroger 4x fuel points when purchasing a gc. When maximized to it's fullest extent, this offer essentially gives you 13% off your gc by way of $ off your gasoline purchase. But it's VERY complicated to pull off. I tried it twice and never did better than 11.5%. I live in the region where Meijer operates and they often have a deal where you get a "$5 off you cart" coupon for every $50 in gc purchase (with a max limit of course). It works out to 10% off and I do so much shopping at Meijer anyway, the $5 off coupons are easily spent. Granted these are not direct discounts, but if they offer you money off of something you were going to buy anyway (gasoline or groceries) then really what's the difference?

I use Kroger, and I always get 14% off, plus I use my Bank of America card to get an additional 2% cashback or my Chase Freedom card to get an additional 5% cashback during the quarter when grocery purchases are 5% back. To me, it's not complicated at all. Here's how I do it:
Let's say I purchase a $1000 Disney GC from Kroger. I use an ecoupon for 4x fuel points (must be loaded to your Kroger Plus Card). That will amount to 4000 fuel points which equal $4 total off gas up to 35 gallons each fill-up. I am lucky that the Kroger closest to us does not limit a fill-up to only $1; some Krogers do. So my DH who has a truck and lots of gas cans will go fill up a couple of times a month (sometimes I meet him there and fill up my car if he isn't on empty) and redeem $2 off each time (or more or less depending on the price for gas). We have two months total to use up all the savings. After it's all said and done, he will have 35 gallons of gas at $4 off, so a savings of $140, or 14%. I am the one who manages the budget, so I will move $140 out of the gas budget and apply it to the purchase of the GC. I also use credit cards to get cashback. If I buy a $1000 GC with my Bank of America card, it will save me an additional 2%. So I make a note to use $20 of my cashback money to pay for the card. With my $140 fuel point savings, the card ends up costing me $840. That's what I will move out of our vacation savings. Hopefully, Chase Freedom will offer 5% back in April-June as they have done in the past. I will space out my purchases over the 3 months to maximize gas savings, buying enough GCs to pay the remainder of my dues, paying $810 for a $1000 worth of GCs, a savings of 19%.

 

[Budzooka]

Is there contact information for that sales rep? If there is and you could PM me that would be great.

I reached out to the sales rep and was told there is no plan to offer a discount on bulk purchases at this time. I’ll let you know if that changes.

 

[poofyo101]

I reached out to the sales rep and was told there is no plan to offer a discount on bulk purchases at this time. I’ll let you know if that changes.

Which sales rep did you reach out to? I sent them an email and no reply.

 

[Drewferin]

My update on getting cash back when buying DGCs:
1 for 2 from Rakuten
1 for 1 from Dosh

I think this hit or miss so buy assuming you'll get $0 back. Both of my transactions were at Samsclub.