Disney Gift Card Deals

[kristenrice]

Unexpected side effect of purchasing gift cards at Best Buy - I now have Elite Plus status. The free expedited shipping and extra rewards % will be nice, but I am curious about the special sales and offers. Does they ever amount to much?

I had $25 in rewards sitting in my "bank" and so when my DD needed a new Lifeproof case for her iPhone, I was able to instantly redeem them. The $80 case was on sale for $42 so after I applied my rewards certificates, I paid only $17. Those certificates can come in handy when you have an unexpected expense.

 

[bbsearchlight]

As with everything that has gone on with Best Buy in the last year (stopping gift card to gift card, stopping using rewards points to buy gift cards), it wouldn't surprise me sometime in the near future that the next step will be to stop getting rewards points for purchasing gift cards.

 

[miztressuz]

No.

Having status gives you 45 days to return items (if you're Elite Plus). Other than that, it's pretty useless except to be able to bank your rewards points instead of having the system kick a reward out every time you hit $5.

You can change your certificate amount for the auto redemption so it's not every $5. I don't recall the max but I had ours set to $20 or $25 before we hit Elite. Just a FYI for anyone getting annoyed at tiny certs randomly appearing.

 

[miztressuz]

As with everything that has gone on with Best Buy in the last year (stopping gift card to gift card, stopping using rewards points to buy gift cards), it wouldn't surprise me sometime in the near future that the next step will be to stop getting rewards points for purchasing gift cards.

I don't think they'd go that far, at least not if they can help it. The gift cards are a small profit game, but it's an easy profit as you don't have to carry inventory and nothing to clearance for a loss later. If it gets people into the store, even just to use the rewards certs earned on buying the GCs, which you can't use on the GCs anymore so you're going to buy something with a profit margin baked in, it's a win. Especially if it's a lower cost item as oddly enough most of that stuff has a higher profit margin than big ticket items. Plus it gets people looking at other options they may not have considered before - I think there was a thread talking of people who started shopping at best buy for other things. So the marketing worked and got people to come back to spend more money.

Until many people manage to abuse the system, like buy enough gift cards to redeem rewards certs for a free TV, I think earning points is safe. I'm not ruling it out, but I think it'd be a last resort.

 

[ember1205]

I don't think they'd go that far, at least not if they can help it. The gift cards are a small profit game, but it's an easy profit as you don't have to carry inventory and nothing to clearance for a loss later. If it gets people into the store, even just to use the rewards certs earned on buying the GCs, which you can't use on the GCs anymore so you're going to buy something with a profit margin baked in, it's a win. Especially if it's a lower cost item as oddly enough most of that stuff has a higher profit margin than big ticket items. Plus it gets people looking at other options they may not have considered before - I think there was a thread talking of people who started shopping at best buy for other things. So the marketing worked and got people to come back to spend more money.

Until many people manage to abuse the system, like buy enough gift cards to redeem rewards certs for a free TV, I think earning points is safe. I'm not ruling it out, but I think it'd be a last resort.

Gift cards are also a financial liability. They have your cash but you haven't exchanged it yet for merchandise. Until that happens, they have to carry the liability of holding that money "on account" for you. This is why so many companies used to push so hard to expire them out if you didn't use them.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Gift cards are also a financial liability. They have your cash but you haven't exchanged it yet for merchandise. Until that happens, they have to carry the liability of holding that money "on account" for you. This is why so many companies used to push so hard to expire them out if you didn't use them.

I think it’s the other way around. They have your money, so you’re committed to getting something from them. Until you redeem the GC, they have your cash to invest, earn interest on, etc. They also know full well that a percentage of gift cards will never be redeemed, so that’s free money for them.

 

[FabFive24]

I think it’s the other way around. They have your money, so you’re committed to getting something from them. Until you redeem the GC, they have your cash to invest, earn interest on, etc. They also know full well that a percentage of gift cards will never be redeemed, so that’s free money for them.

This! I work in retail and there is a reason gifts cards are marketed as the "perfect" gift... always the right size and color! Additionally, once someone has purchased a gift card, it's highly likely the recipient will in turn create additional revenue. Think of giving a $5 Starbucks gc as a teacher appreciation gift.. most beverage purchases will be over that $5.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I think it’s the other way around. They have your money, so you’re committed to getting something from them. Until you redeem the GC, they have your cash to invest, earn interest on, etc. They also know full well that a percentage of gift cards will never be redeemed, so that’s free money for them.

Only kind of. Generally earnings/income/sales are going to be more important that scoring some interest free cash, especially because it's so cheap right now. A company cannot count this as income until you spend it, so it remains on their books as an outstanding liability and that's not good for a company trying to show sales or growth- which they are all trying to do unless there's shady business going on.

The liability is worth it because as PP said gift cards tend to drive additional spending to a store that otherwise might not have happened.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Well, now I'm starting to get nervous about 750 SB bonuses not posting yet. I know my own advice here earlier to be patient, having seen it take 1-2 weeks in rare instances, especially when holidays are involved, but... c'mon! Nothing since 4/9 and a week was yesterday. I'm not too concerned because the 200 shop activity is pending, but- I'm not thrilled either.

If you're casually thinking about doing some SB/BB churning I'd hold off until the next bonus round posts just to be on the safe side.

 

[FabFive24]

Well, now I'm starting to get nervous about 750 SB bonuses not posting yet. I know my own advice here earlier to be patient, having seen it take 1-2 weeks in rare instances, especially when holidays are involved, but... c'mon! Nothing since 4/9 and a week was yesterday. I'm not too concerned because the 200 shop activity is pending, but- I'm not thrilled either.

If you're casually thinking about doing some SB/BB churning I'd hold off until the next bonus round posts just to be on the safe side.

This has been discussed on the Swagbucks thread too. I hope the deal isn't dead but it may be. I'm keeping an eye out for updates and kicking myself for not making the effort to churn over the past month or so.

 

[gottalovepluto]

This has been discussed on the Swagbucks thread too. I hope the deal isn't dead but it may be. I'm keeping an eye out for updates and kicking myself for not making the effort to churn over the past month or so.

Well, if you'd been churning over the last week you'd be kicking yourself for not being more patient so take it easy on yourself

 

[trstno1]

Well, now I'm starting to get nervous about 750 SB bonuses not posting yet. I know my own advice here earlier to be patient, having seen it take 1-2 weeks in rare instances, especially when holidays are involved, but... c'mon! Nothing since 4/9 and a week was yesterday. I'm not too concerned because the 200 shop activity is pending, but- I'm not thrilled either.

If you're casually thinking about doing some SB/BB churning I'd hold off until the next bonus round posts just to be on the safe side.

Thanks for the heads up. I wasn't paying attention, and I've continued to spend my Visa gift cards this week. My last 750 bonus as also on 4/9. I don't really have an easier redemption for my remaining VGC's, but I'll still wait to see how this shakes out.

 

[Teal03]

Did Shopkicks credit for gift card purchases? They have 15 kicks per $1.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Well, now I'm starting to get nervous about 750 SB bonuses not posting yet. I know my own advice here earlier to be patient, having seen it take 1-2 weeks in rare instances, especially when holidays are involved, but... c'mon! Nothing since 4/9 and a week was yesterday. I'm not too concerned because the 200 shop activity is pending, but- I'm not thrilled either.

If you're casually thinking about doing some SB/BB churning I'd hold off until the next bonus round posts just to be on the safe side.

So, I did my first BB a little while ago, and I’ve got the 750 bonus credited on 4/8, but that’s it. Shouldn’t there be other points for the shop activity? Was there something else I was supposed to do to get both?

 

[Vysecity]

I made BB purchases 4/10 and 4/11. Guess its good I have been too busy to buy more. Good luck to us all

 

[Vysecity]

So, I did my first BB a little while ago, and I’ve got the 750 bonus credited on 4/8, but that’s it. Shouldn’t there be other points for the shop activity? Was there something else I was supposed to do to get both?

Believe the additional 200 are posted 31 days after

 

[disfanforlife]

I made BB purchases 4/10 and 4/11. Guess its good I have been too busy to buy more. Good luck to us all

That’s what I was thinking. I’m glad I only have one outstanding. I feel bad for those who bought more if it doesn’t come through.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

Well, now I'm starting to get nervous about 750 SB bonuses not posting yet. I know my own advice here earlier to be patient, having seen it take 1-2 weeks in rare instances, especially when holidays are involved, but... c'mon! Nothing since 4/9 and a week was yesterday. I'm not too concerned because the 200 shop activity is pending, but- I'm not thrilled either.

If you're casually thinking about doing some SB/BB churning I'd hold off until the next bonus round posts just to be on the safe side.

Oh no. I just started doing this deal again since my June trip is coming up. Yesterday, I bought $100 to test it since I did hear rumblings in several groups that bonuses have not been posting. Hopefully it is just taking extra long and the deal isn't dead.

 

[FabFive24]

Oh no. I just started doing this deal again since my June trip is coming up. Yesterday, I bought $100 to test it since I did hear rumblings in several groups that bonuses have not been posting. Hopefully it is just taking extra long and the deal isn't dead.

Our trip is in June too. I was really looking forward to using the SB/BB bonus for extra spending money.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

Our trip is in June too. I was really looking forward to using the SB/BB bonus for extra spending money.

I use my SB money for Hulu GCs. We haven't really paid for our tv entertainment for at least a year! Figure any money I'm not using, can be used for Disney!