Gift cards from Hotwire?

[boysmom123]

Hi All, can anyone tell me if they have purchased the store gift cards, target, Circuit city etc. from hotwire? I was thinking about using them for Christmas shopping... How do they work exactly? Do you really get 20% off each $25 card? e.g. $100 in cards for $80? Sounds too good to be true.... Especially if the cards are used to buy gifts when the sales start after Thanksgiving.... Anyone had any experience with these?

 

[dizcrazy]

Hi!

I buy gift cards from Hotwire all the time. The monthly membership is $7.99, so if I buy two cards, I save a little money.

I have bought gift cards for Macy's, JC Penney's, Target, Olive Garden, and Outback Steakhouse.

Never had a problem with any of them - gave them as gifts, used them myself also. They are the same as gift cards you pruchase in the store.

The Target cards I just got have $25 printed on the back. I kinda like that - person knows how much you gave them.

Yes, use them during the Christmas sales!!!! GREAT IDEA!

Chris

 

[LisaZoe]

I haven't bought any (yet) but here is my understanding of it.

You buy and pay for the card at full price. Once you have paid for them, you then will get a credit for $5 back per card. As long as your HSC account is still active at the time the credit is applied (HSC says at the end of the month), you'll get the credit.

So, if you plan to sign up for HSC and cancel within the 30 day free trial period, you'll need to make sure you get your timing right on the purchase so you can get the credit before you cancel.

BTW - I'm going to order some gift cards and movie tickets for my adult (late teens/early 20s) niece and nephews and their SOs. I figure if I give them gift cards for a restaurant, it will be like treating them to a date. Since they are all young with mostly entry level jobs and trying to start their own households, it's not always possible for them to afford a "real" date.

Edited to correct my information about how you get the $5 back.

 

[4greatboys]

We buy them all the time. Its a great savings if you use lots of the cards. You can also get Red lobster, Bennigans, Olive Garden--and our paper always has coupons in there for $5 off off or B1G1 free. We use the coupons for the discount then pay with our gift cards getting the additional 20% discount. Back when xboxs were $200 I used the Toys R Us gc's to get one so I ended up paying $160 with the rebate I rec'd.

 

[ilovediznee]

We used our AMEX points last year to get gift cardds to use toward xmas gifts. I was going to give the gift cards, but they expired on 12/31! Not much time between xmas day and the 31st!

Do Hotwire gift certificates have quick expiration dates?

Thanks - Diane

 

[4greatboys]

They are all different. I got some Planet Hollywood ones that dont expire til 12/2005 and some others have no expiration date.

 

[Trixiezzz]

I've used Hotwire giftcards a lot already for birthday & Christmas shopping. Where they really come in handy is when you pair them with a really great sale.

Last week at Penneys I bought some things for 50% off ~ got a $20 card free (Penney's promotion) and THEN saved another 20% off by paying with a Hotwire giftcard ($50 card only cost me $40).

The only thing to remember is, you can't pair it with a rewards site for even more savings. If you do "shopping" through My Points, Creations Rewards, Quick Rewards, etc. they DO NOT credit you anything when you pay with a gift card.

That doesn't spoil it for me any, just wanted you to know that you don't get that little extra.

~~~~~~VERY IMPORTANT~~~~~
Also, DO NOT THROW AWAY your gift card after you've done online shopping and used the balance up.

Sometimes something is not in stock and they won't notify you until several days later.....after they've credited your gift card (that's now in a landfill somewhere!?!) back with money. So save them until you receive your purchase before tossing them!!