What can I do with the expiring gift cards?

aec on 08/11/2013 - 14:13

i have some westfield and dick smith gift cards which will expire this month.

i dont have any plan to spend all the money in this month. so i walked into a westfield trying to "renew"/consolidate the west field gift card. unfortunately, i didnt know that they didnt allow to purchase gift card with gift card.

do anyone know with actual experience (not just refer to their t&c) if i can purchase say woolies giftcard from woollies OUT of westfield?

i wanted to buy dickmisth's gift card with westfield AND dicksmiths gift cards, the girl told me their gift cards could NOT be used in any shops other than dick smith. however, i somehow remember i did use dick smith's gift card in woolies a few months ago (when ds was already not part of woolie group).

anyone, again, can someone with actual recent experience tell me if i can buy stuff from woolies using westfield' gc and if the gc sold in Dick Smith can be used in other stores?

General Discussion

Comments

  • mskeggs on 08/11/2013 - 14:21

    Don't know about westfield.
    Dick Smith/Woolies had a phase out period for gift cards after the DSE sale. It is long since over, I believe.

  • daalinz on 08/11/2013 - 14:31
    +1

    You could always start your Christmas shopping early….

  • Merapi on 08/11/2013 - 14:36
    +15

    How about buy an item and return it? They will not be able to refund you cash because you bought it by a gift card, therefore they probably will give you another card or store credit with extended expiry (make sure you check the store's term and condition for refund or ask the staff).

    Last time my Westfield gc didn't work when I tried using it at a store (legitimate claim) and I went to the information desk, they gave me another card of the same value with another year of expiry.

    • radicalvin on 08/11/2013 - 14:38
      +1

      I was about to suggest the exact same thing sealv.

      If you are wary about returning the item to the same store, just return it to another store.

      • aec on 08/11/2013 - 15:08

        thanks guys/girls for the good idea. i will probably try it out if i can not purchase more useful gc (imo, woolworths'). the only westfield close to where i live or work is sydney city. unfortunately there is no woolworths in this one, nor bigw, kmart or target. are you ware of any other store that may accept return without problem?

        • Merapi on 08/11/2013 - 16:25
          +4

          Myer is normally pretty good with accepting returns

        • radicalvin on 08/11/2013 - 16:42
          +1

          As an ex myer employee a long time ago, I second this. As long as it is in its original condition and has a receipt, no questions will be asked.

        • aec on 08/11/2013 - 16:58

          but westfield gc are not accepted by myer.

        • kerfuffle on 08/11/2013 - 18:12
          +3

          David Jones stores within Westfield do though. You can even use them to pay off your DJs storecard or AMEX if you have one.

          Source: I work at DJs in Sydney CBD which is connected to Westfield.

        • aec on 08/11/2013 - 22:15
          +1

          thanks kerfuffle.

  • bertts on 08/11/2013 - 14:41

    I've had experience of purchasing Wish cards at a Woolies with a Westfield gift card. Going by that logic, if they stock Wish gift cards you can try doing the same thing with a DSE gift card.

    • aec on 08/11/2013 - 15:08

      did you buy from a woolies IN a westfield or Out of a westfield centre?

      • bertts on 08/11/2013 - 15:54

        in westfield of course

        • aec on 08/11/2013 - 17:00

          i bought a pack of sandwidge bag in a woolies out of westfield on the way back home. didnt have any problem. i will go back to purchase the wish giftcard next monday. finger crossed :)

  • exc3113nce on 08/11/2013 - 16:10

    If you don't like the idea of buying something and returning it - buy something on sale and sell it as brand new on gumtree or ebay. You won't lose much if any net profit. I've done this before.

    • aec on 08/11/2013 - 17:01

      i thought of this, but i am not aware of any VERY good sales running atm.

  • 17833 on 08/11/2013 - 16:16

    Have no idea if this would be any good but I have heard people mention www.cardlimbo.com.au previously. They give an instant quote so you could see how much money you would lose selling them.

    • johnno07 on 10/11/2013 - 00:26

      Pretty sure the gift cards need to have at least 4 months left on them to use cardlimbo

  • msmhw on 08/11/2013 - 17:46
    +1

    you can use westfield gift card in k-mart, target and Woolies.
    try to buy different gift card or your grocery from Woolies using the westfield gift card

    • donga100 on 08/11/2013 - 18:30
      +8

      Just spend the whole amount on toilet paper. It doesn't expire and you'll end up using it eventually.

      • msmhw on 08/11/2013 - 19:51

        but they can be damaged easily with wet weather

        • c9 on 08/11/2013 - 20:10
          +3

          put in the microwave for 30 seconds will dry it up

  • DEvok on 08/11/2013 - 19:52

    You could always give them to me or someone else :)

  • Lucky13 on 09/11/2013 - 01:38

    Sell them on Ebay. Have seen them going for just under their value on Ebay. Like $100 Myer gift cards going for $90 etc. Not too good for the buyer, but good for the seller IMO

    • Brick50 on 09/11/2013 - 11:17
      +2

      Not to good for the seller either, 2.9% PayPal fee + 9.9% final value fee…

      • Ughhh on 09/11/2013 - 11:22

        Plus expiring this month, unless seller offers a really good low price, it might now sell

    • No ONE on 10/11/2013 - 02:22
      +1

      That's because you live in liverpool…

  • Almost Banned on 09/11/2013 - 12:06
    +5

    Just one of the reasons why gift-cards suck.
    Why the heck should there be an expiry on them? There's no expiry on cash.
    There are some places where this is illegal (or at least the expiry period is multiple years).

  • sydneybargainer on 09/11/2013 - 19:42

    Most of the gift cards has 30 days grace period. some one of them has up to 180 days grace period.
    (FYI coles group and myer gift cards never expires!, flight center gift cards can be re activated for another 12 months!!!)
    not too sure about westfield one…

  • anna10 on 09/11/2013 - 21:18
    +1

    In the past when I found a lost and expired gift card, I just went in and they extend it by 30 days.

    Why not wait a while until you get inspired to buy something for someone for Christmas.

  • onlyletters on 10/11/2013 - 10:06

    some places extend them no questions asked, you need to call around and find out if it can be extended when it expires.

  • rippa69 on 10/11/2013 - 13:37
    -5

    Couldn't you just use it to buy another gift card?

  • DEvok on 10/11/2013 - 20:47
    -4

    The reason that it expires is to protect the company from more debt, incase they went bankrupt, they wouldn't want to owe even more money.

    • donga100 on 10/11/2013 - 21:10

      If they were already bankrupt why would they care how much money they owed?

  • Jawtah on 11/11/2013 - 20:20

    Your Westfield Card can be used pretty much at any retailer in Westfield other than Coles Supermarket and Myer.
    You can definitely go to Woolworths - suppermarket, Big W, Dan Murphy and yes Dick Smith as well. JB Hifi if you prefer.

  • frostee on 12/11/2013 - 12:28

    Buy some iTunes cards? Use them or sell them.

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