Disney Gift Card Deals

[kidsfirsttrip]

Someone a few days ago mentioned being unable to buy for a brief period after purchasing a large amount of paypal digital gift cards. I got a similar message from PPDG a few weeks ago when I ordered $450 in bestbuy cards (that came with $45 in free ebay cards) and then tried to order something else from PPDG, it said 10 days. I was able to place another order with PPDG 5 days later. YMMV, but I would be it is much shorter than 10 days (I didn't try between day 1 and day 5).

But the OP is certain its GCM not PPDG so it doesn't make sense

 

[Vernie822]

So I am sure some of the more experienced people can better answer your questions but I thought I would chime in.. Looks like you have a great idea so far! I started in about the same position - sometime in mid January, so I am now getting all of my Ebay bucks (and Ebates, soon) that I have earned.

1. Is my thought process correct?

2. Are there gc limits to single purchases at Target online/stores or eBay online? - more concerned with eBay here due to not wanting shipping cost to eat into my profit. You can only use 4 Target GC's at a time. So I usually do a $600 (ish) churn at a time. 4 x $150 from GiftCardMall = $600, less 5% discount is around $570, plus whatever items you add on. Usually I get somewhere around $11.40 in Ebates (2% of $570 something).

I think you can use up to 8 Ebay GC's in a transaction, but I could be wrong, I have never got that high!

People have been banned from Target as I'm sure you read in the thread. I do buy regularly from Target in store and online using my red card, but I try to limit my Ebay GC transactions to 1 per day just to be safe.

3. Are there daily purchase limits on eBay - like can I not do a target card purchase there every week?

I don't think so, but I could be wrong. You can only earn up to $500 Ebay bucks per quarter or $100 per transaction.

3. Does anyone have a recommended starting dollar amount that would net me the best savings in the end or is it better to figure my starting point based off the amount I have budgeted for upcoming Disney trips? My goals are to have enough to pay for park purchases, food, and any Disney direct hotels or tickets. I have planned DLR in June and WDW in October....Next year we are planning Aulani June and WDW October.

I personally started with $300 because that was an easy 2 $150 from GCM. However, that's $3.98 to ship and you only earn $6 Ebates so it's not really worth it unless you have some Ebay bucks bonuses going on. I like the $600 amount, I started with that and added on so now I usually have 2 separate orders, one for around $600 and one for $250.

4. Am I thinking correctly that churning can be looked at as a long game - where I am consistently trading in GCs for increasing amounts and savings? Or is there like a cap where it's not worth it anymore. Between my next 2 years we have a very large Disney budget I would like to make a dent in - just hotel and AP renewals alone!

5. ANYTHING ELSE I AM MISSING OR SHOULD KNOW????

Things that popped into my head..
I believe $750+ from GCM requires USPS shipping. (I have a locked mailbox so I don't have a problem with stealing, but just be cautious knowing $$ in gift cards could be sitting in your mailbox)
Don't forget to Ebates!
Have a good spreadsheet and keep track of the Ebates/Ebay bucks/Swagbucks/etc you're receiving!
DON'T FREAK OUT if your GCM order takes a while to ship, or your Ebates don't show up right away. Don't put in tickets for missing Ebates because technically I don't think we are supposed to receive them for gift cards purchased. (Ebay Ebates often take a while to credit).
Stay organized -- it helps a ton to just be able to open a spreadsheet or a notebook and see everything right there.

 

[DIS_MERI]

But the OP is certain its GCM not PPDG so it doesn't make sense

Yes, but I was giving my experience of getting a similar message (even though it was a different retailer) and that it wasn't actually 10 days....

 

[wendow]

Hmmm. My guess is something from you Paypal end. Try calling them so see if your account has some sort of flag on it.

This is all that I can think too. Anytime I have had issues ordering from GCM, it's been a problem with PP.

 

[smellyia]

So I am sure some of the more experienced people can better answer your questions but I thought I would chime in.. Looks like you have a great idea so far! I started in about the same position - sometime in mid January, so I am now getting all of my Ebay bucks (and Ebates, soon) that I have earned.



Things that popped into my head..
I believe $750+ from GCM requires USPS shipping. (I have a locked mailbox so I don't have a problem with stealing, but just be cautious knowing $$ in gift cards could be sitting in your mailbox)
Don't forget to Ebates!
Have a good spreadsheet and keep track of the Ebates/Ebay bucks/Swagbucks/etc you're receiving!
DON'T FREAK OUT if your GCM order takes a while to ship, or your Ebates don't show up right away. Don't put in tickets for missing Ebates because technically I don't think we are supposed to receive them for gift cards purchased. (Ebay Ebates often take a while to credit).
Stay organized -- it helps a ton to just be able to open a spreadsheet or a notebook and see everything right there.

BANNED FROM TARGET? The website or actual stores??? What for???? This isn't illegal! I missed that one reading through trying to focus on HOW rather than risks....Banned due to using high amounts or frequency?

Also, you go through GCM direct rather than eBay?

 

[aaarcher86]

So I am sure some of the more experienced people can better answer your questions but I thought I would chime in.. Looks like you have a great idea so far! I started in about the same position - sometime in mid January, so I am now getting all of my Ebay bucks (and Ebates, soon) that I have earned.



Things that popped into my head..
I believe $750+ from GCM requires USPS shipping. (I have a locked mailbox so I don't have a problem with stealing, but just be cautious knowing $$ in gift cards could be sitting in your mailbox)
Don't forget to Ebates!
Have a good spreadsheet and keep track of the Ebates/Ebay bucks/Swagbucks/etc you're receiving!
DON'T FREAK OUT if your GCM order takes a while to ship, or your Ebates don't show up right away. Don't put in tickets for missing Ebates because technically I don't think we are supposed to receive them for gift cards purchased. (Ebay Ebates often take a while to credit).
Stay organized -- it helps a ton to just be able to open a spreadsheet or a notebook and see everything right there.

EBay gift cards through Ebates are totally cool. I think it's usually 1%

 

[wendow]

EBay gift cards through Ebates are totally cool. I think it's usually 1%

Gift cards bought through eBay are legitimate for earning from ebates unless you paid for the purchase with a gift card. Then, ebates 'technically' will not pay. However, most of us do still receive those payouts. No ticket though if you do not receive credit since they weren't supposed to be paid out anyways.

 

[Lain]

BANNED FROM TARGET? The website or actual stores??? What for???? This isn't illegal! I missed that one reading through trying to focus on HOW rather than risks....Banned due to using high amounts or frequency?

Also, you go through GCM direct rather than eBay?

A few people have posted here and on other sites that they were banned from shopping online at Target .com. Asked why, and Target pointed them to just read their Terms and Conditions. Some of these people suggested Target accused them of being "resellers," people who buy certain items (often limited editions or loss leaders) to resell on eBay, gift card sites, etc., who therefore deprive other shoppers of the opportunity to purchase those items and Target of profit on other items that shoppers might usually pick up along with those items. Apparently, Target had a big problem with resellers buying out their limited collaboration with Lilly Pulitzer last year.

They can still shop in stores, but that removes their ability to trick the website to give them the Red Card 5% discount on their entire purchase amount even when using gift cards to pay. In stores, the 5% discount only applies to the amount actually charged on the Red Card.

No one knows what triggers a ban, but it's likely a combination of high amounts and high frequency in a short period of time. A lady who reported her ban here last month said she bought over $25,000+ Disney gift cards in something like a 3 month period. She didn't seem to have done much churning. I think another man who reported his ban on another site said he bought several thousand $ worth of Disney gift cards in a few days and added he hadn't had his Red Card open for very long.

 

[hsmamato2]

I have a question..... If I use an ebay gc to purchase an item on ebay, and it has $ left on it, do they hold the balance for future use? is this reliable? It would be the first time I'm using uneven numbers to purchase- And I am correct that it's held at Ebay, not in Paypal,right? example I have a $50 gc, I use it to buy a $25 item, the other $25 is still there in a month when I need it?

? anyone?

 

[CMNJ]

? anyone?

I had a $100 gift card recently that I used when they had the $15 coupon so my target gift card with shipping was $87.99-the $12.01 leftover was linked to my eBay account (as in it could not be used toward a purchase using my husband's eBay/pay pal account. However unlike target's website I have not actually seen anywhere that you can click and pull up the card info to apply to a new order-I had to retype the card number in when I used it on a future purchase.

 

[hsmamato2]

However unlike target's website I have not actually seen anywhere that you can click and pull up the card info to apply to a new order-I had to retype the card number in when I used it on a future purchase.

Thanks so much! as long as it still worked when you needed it.... I was a little concerned, with reports of balances possibly disappearing...

 

[CMNJ]

Thanks so much! as long as it still worked when you needed it.... I was a little concerned, with reports of balances possibly disappearing...

Absolutely it worked for me several times-used the remaining $12 balance twice toward paying shipping fees

 

[PerfessorZ]

Oh man! (slaps forehead) really? That's one more 'live and learn' moment! I swear I had read earlier that they didn't give ebucks for ebucks! Oh well...next time I'll remember that....

A couple have erroneously posted that you couldn't, but we've always tried to correct them quickly.

The only thing you don't earn ebay bucks on are ebay gift certificates, but this is true no matter what the payment method.

 

[PerfessorZ]

I believe $750+ from GCM requires USPS shipping. (I have a locked mailbox so I don't have a problem with stealing, but just be cautious knowing $$ in gift cards could be sitting in your mailbox)

Just to clarify. Gift Card Mall currently ships orders under $750 via the Post Office, aka USPS.
Orders $750 and up come via UPS and are signature required.

 

[PerfessorZ]

Thanks so much! as long as it still worked when you needed it.... I was a little concerned, with reports of balances possibly disappearing...

Also, just a reminder: with ebay gift cards, once you use a portion of the balance with an account, it is forever linked to that account. There's no way somebody else (even yourself with a different account) can use it on you.

 

[havaneselover]

A few people have posted here and on other sites that they were banned from shopping online at Target .com. Asked why, and Target pointed them to just read their Terms and Conditions. Some of these people suggested Target accused them of being "resellers," people who buy certain items (often limited editions or loss leaders) to resell on eBay, gift card sites, etc., who therefore deprive other shoppers of the opportunity to purchase those items and Target of profit on other items that shoppers might usually pick up along with those items. Apparently, Target had a big problem with resellers buying out their limited collaboration with Lilly Pulitzer last year.

They can still shop in stores, but that removes their ability to trick the website to give them the Red Card 5% discount on their entire purchase amount even when using gift cards to pay. In stores, the 5% discount only applies to the amount actually charged on the Red Card.

No one knows what triggers a ban, but it's likely a combination of high amounts and high frequency in a short period of time. A lady who reported her ban here last month said she bought over $25,000+ Disney gift cards in something like a 3 month period. She didn't seem to have done much churning. I think another man who reported his ban on another site said he bought several thousand $ worth of Disney gift cards in a few days and added he hadn't had his Red Card open for very long.

She did do churning. The details changed but she was buying eBay gift cards.

 

[uncharch7]

Also, just a reminder: with ebay gift cards, once you use a portion of the balance with an account, it is forever linked to that account. There's no way somebody else (even yourself with a different account) can use it on you.

Is there any place to store GCs or see the ones you've used? I have my spreadsheet but if I am ordering from my phone it's a pain to figure out which ones I have balances on. Worst case scenario I guess I'll just put my spreadsheet on Google Docs and add the app to my phone and start putting in the full numbers on the spreadsheet.

 

[PerfessorZ]

Is there any place to store GCs or see the ones you've used? I have my spreadsheet but if I am ordering from my phone it's a pain to figure out which ones I have balances on. Worst case scenario I guess I'll just put my spreadsheet on Google Docs and add the app to my phone and start putting in the full numbers on the spreadsheet.

I store all my gift card numbers in a big ol' spreadsheet that also tracks what I've paid, from where, when, and any bonuses/rebates I'm expecting. I don't think it would be something I could do easily from a phone, but in a pinch I could.

I don't like keeping my gift card numbers in Target's wallet because their security is fairly dicey, despite being hacked. My spreadsheet is saved in my Dropbox, so I have access to it no matter if I'm home or at work. I'm relying on Dropbox for security, but I do trust them more than Target. And if I were really paranoid, I could password protect it, too, I suppose.

Anyway, having access to all my card numbers has helped me not lose track of a single GC penny so far.

 

[adudeinblue]

I'm now part of the "Cancelled Target Orders" Team! Didn't really bothered with eBates and Target and decided to try for fun since I'm cutting SB out completely now. Cancelled eBay GC with a Picnic Basket I was going to get anyway for our anniversary picnic. And all orders today after that was instant cancelled even for a single eBay GC by itself. eBates gave me credit though. Going to wait another day before I try again.

 

[JKalai]

Does anybody use the Gyft app on their phones to keep track of all the balances on their gift cards? I've heard of other people using it, but I haven't bothered to download it myself.