If you have a bunch of unused gift cards taking up space in your wallet, you may be wondering how to cash them and get the most money for them.
There was a time when you could go to the Coinstar gift card exchange kiosk near you and get cash for your gift cards.
However, Coinstar no longer offers this service, i.e. you cannot exchange your gift card for cash anymore.
Those yellow Coinstar gift card exchange kiosks are no longer in operation. Instead, you can spot those green Coinstar machines that only accept coins and turn them into cash or e-gift card.
So what do you do if you want to get cash for your unwanted gift cards? Don’t worry; there is still hope.
Read on to find out the best way to exchange those unwanted gift cards for cash and get the most money for your cards!
Do Coinstar kiosks take gift cards?
No, Coinstar kiosks do not take gift cards now. Coinstar gift card exchange is no longer available. There was a time when gift cards were accepted by Coinstar’s kiosks near you, and you could get instant cash for them. For example, you could take a $50 gift card to Coinstar, and they would give you cash for it on the spot. However, this is no longer an option.
Now, all Coinstar machines only accept coins and turn them into cash or e-gift cards. To find a coin counting machine near you, please refer to this page.
What do Coinstar machines do (now)?
Coinstar machines are coin-counting machines that you can find in grocery stores. They’re typically located near the customer service desk.
You simply pour your coins into the machine, and it counts them all up for you. Once it’s done counting, you have the option to receive:
Cash notes
The coin machine can convert coins into notes. The coin machine will print out a voucher that you take to the customer service desk to exchange for cash notes.
E-gift card
The Coinstar coining machine can load the value of your coins onto an e-gift card from a selection of popular retailers, which you can then spend online or in-store.
Bitcoins
Yes, you can now convert your coins into bitcoins at select Coinstar machines! Coinstar machine will issue you a voucher with a redemption code to claim your Bitcoin.
Charity
You can even donate your coin’s value to charity through Coinstar. Simply select the ‘charity donation’ option on the machine, and choose from a list of popular charities.
Amazon Cash Balance
You can also convert coins to Amazon balance. The coin machine will print out a voucher that you can use to top up your Amazon gift card.
What is the Coinstar fee?
Coinstar fees depend upon which option you choose. There is ‘no fee’ if you choose to receive gift cards or donate to the charity. You will get the full value of your coins, i.e. converting $50 in coins will give you a $50 e-gift card.
However, if you choose to receive cash, there is an 11.90% fee. So, out of the $50 coin value, you will get only $44.05 in cash after the fee deduction.
Furthermore, if you want the coin machine to convert your coins into Bitcoins, there is a transaction fee of 4% and a cash exchange fee of 7%.
Where can I find a Gift Card Exchange Kiosk Near Me?
Coinstar is available in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, and Spain.
If you are in the US, you can find the nearest coin counting machine by visiting coinstar.com. Just enter your zip code, and the website will show you all the Coinstar locations near you.
Or visit this page to find all the Coinstar locations in your state.
Please note that services in Canada, Ireland, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, or Spain, services limited to cash counting only.
How to avoid Coinstar fees?
If you want to avoid the Coinstar fee and save money, then you have the following two options:
Get a e-gift card: You can avoid the Coinstar fee by selecting the ‘e-gift card’ option. This way, you will get the full value of your coins. For example, if you have $50 in coins, you will get a $50 e-gift card.
Cash in at banks: Only a few banks offer this service so it’s best to call your bank first and ask about their coin counting policy before going in.
Do Coinstar cash vouchers expire?
Coinstar vouchers are valid for 24-48 hours from the time of their issue (mentioned on the voucher). After that, they will expire, and you will not be able to use them.
Therefore, it’s important to redeem your voucher as soon as possible after receiving it.
Can you exchange gift cards for a different one At Coinstar?
No, you cannot exchange gift cards for a different one at Coinstar. As per Coinstar policy, all giftcard sales are final.
What are the different ways to get cash for my gift cards?
If you want to get cash for your unwanted gift cards, here are a few options:
1. Buy items to sell
If you have a used gift card with some money left, you can buy low-priced/sales/clearance items from a store and sell those items on sites like eBay or Craigslist.
Returning the items back to the store could also be an option too, but sometimes stores give back gift cards for items bought with a gift card.
Related reading: How to find best prices and deals at your fav retail stores using this insane tool!
2. Sell it to someone you know
If you have a friend or family member who likes to shop at the same store as the gift card is for, see if he would like to buy your card from you, maybe at a little discounted price.
3. Sell it online
You can also try selling your unwanted gift cards on sites like the Facebook marketplace, eBay, or craigslist at a discounted price. Offering a 15-20% discount is usually a good starting point. Buyers are usually not comfortable buying gift cards from unknown people (due to scams), but if you have a good seller profile (ratings and trust factor), you should be able to sell them.
4. Use online Coinstar alternatives, aka gift card exchange sites
There are a few legit online websites (or apps) that will buy your unwanted gift cards from individuals at a discounted price. These sites will give you anywhere from 60-92% of the card’s value in cash.
Here are some gift cards exchange websites to check out:
Raise
I have used the Raise app a number of times to buy discounted gift cards. Raise also lets you sell your gift cards on its platform.
While you may not receive the full face value of your gift card, raise is a legitimate website and lets you get cash (or even a Raise.com credit) for your unwanted gift cards.
The funds are sent to you through PayPal or direct deposit once someone purchases your gift card.
CardCash
CardCash is another popular website to sell unwanted gift cards. As per the Cardcash claim, you can get up to 92% balance back of your card value.
These gift cards are then resold at a discount on CardCash. They also offer a 45-day card balance guarantee to buyers, which is a great feature.
GiftCardBin
GiftCardBin is another gift card exchange site that buys unwanted gift cards. Unlike the above two mentioned sites, selling a gift card requires finding a partner’s store location and then physically going there to sell your card.
While this may not be convenient for everyone, it can get you a higher payout as compared to other methods.
Frequently asked questions about Selling Gifts cards for cash
How can I get cash for gift cards immediately?
To get cash immediately for your gift cards, you can use a service like Raise or CardCash to sell at a discounted price. These websites will give you anywhere from 60-92% of the card’s value in cash.
Another option is to find a friend or family member who shops at the same store as the gift card is for and ask if they want to buy your gift card from you.
Selling online on sites like the Facebook marketplace, eBay, or craigslist at a discounted price is also an option but might take some time to sell.
Related reading: Best items to sell on Facebook marketplace
What is the best way to exchange gift cards for cash?
The best way to get cash for your gift cards is to use a service like Cardpool or GiftCardGranny. These services will give you up to 92% of the card’s value in cash.
Can I sell my gift card for cash at pawn shops?
Yes, you can sell your gift card at your local pawn shops for quick cash. Pawnshops will give you anywhere from 50-65% of the card’s value in cash.
Here’s what I found on a pawn shop website “Pawn shops are always thinking about how much they can sell your card for. They need to buy it from you, sell it to someone else, and make sure they turn a profit. They also have to take into account sales tax.”
If you need money quickly, selling your home through a quick sale can be a good option.
Can You Exchange A Gift Card For Cash At Walmart?
Unfortunately no, Walmart does not exchange a gift card for cash. You can use the gift card to make purchases at Walmart or Sam’s Club stores, or online at Walmart.com or SamsClub.com.
Final Thoughts Coinstar gift card exchange
Coinstar gift card exchange was a great way to get quick cash for your unwanted gift cards. Since Coinstar coin machines no longer offer this service, you can use one of the many online gift card exchange sites to get cash for your unwanted cards.
It is a good option if you don’t have anyone to sell your gift cards. These services will give you anywhere from 60-92% of the card’s value in cash.
I hope this guide was helpful in understanding Coinstar gift card exchange and how you can get the most money for your unwanted cards. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.
