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December 19, 2005

Buying gift cards for less than face value

If you're like me, chances are you're running out of gift ideas and are thinking about buying some gift cards. If so, you might want to check out these sites to buy gift cards for less than the face value.

At CertificateSwap.com, CardAvenue.com, and SwapAGift.com, you can buy someone else's old gift cards (new or used) for less than face value. For example, on Certificate Swap, I found a $50 J. Crew gift certificate on sale for $42.

Also, you can sell your gift certificates, too. I used to sell mine on eBay, but now I'm going to see if I can sell them for more on one of these sites. (I earn gift certificates through sites like MyPoints.com).

If you make the purchase through a website like Card Avenue, it might be a little safer than going through eBay because the website verifies the card's balance before the card is listed on the site. Also, after you receice the card or gift certificate, you can check to make sure it has the right value with the merchant - if it doesn't, a website like Card Avenue will refund some of all of your purchase price.

I'm not actually going to buy any gift cards for presents, though. I figure a lot of gift cards might be available after the holidays when people start getting cards they don't like and start selling them on sites like these. Then I plan to pick up some cheap cards for myself.

Posted by brian at 05:07 PM | Comments (0)

December 02, 2005

$25 to open account at HSBC with only $1

You can get $25 to open an HSBC Online Savings Account. Just enter "start" in the promo code section. You only need $1 to open an account and the bonus is supposedly deposited within 45 days of opening the account.

HSBC's Online Savings Account rate is 4.0% APY right now, which is higher than NetBank and ING, two of my favorites. Also, HSBC offers and ATM, something ING doesn't do. You can learn more details at this FatWallet thread.

Posted by brian at 12:25 AM | Comments (1)

December 01, 2005

Credit protector silliness

I've been getting a few offers from Discover Card to sign up for their Account Guard service - you know, another version of the crappy credit card insurance so that if you lose your job the credit card company will make your minimum payments for you. They charge an outrageous amount - something like $0.89 per $100 of your balance - to provide you with a insurance that will pay, what, $30 or $50 or $100 a month until you get back on your feet? No thanks.

Anyway, I actually did take Discover Card up on their offer because I don't use my two Discover Cards any more (my woman and I just use hers instead). That means if I have a $0 balance I won't get charged anything in case I forget to cancel within the free 30-day trial. One of the offers promised a $15 gas card and the other promised a $25 U.S. Savings Bond for signing up.

Well, I mailed in the offer for one card on Nov 10 and haven't got the gas card and I mailed in the offer for the other card on Oct 30 and haven't got the Savings Bond, but I'll keep you updated.

When Chase sends out offers to sign up for their version, it usually comes with a check for $15. That actually works. We've taken advantage of that offer twice so far.

And no, the forum is not fixed yet. Sorry ...

Posted by brian at 08:34 PM | Comments (0)