Buying gift cards below face value is one of the few ways to earn cashback on every future purchase at a specific retailer regardless of category, card, or portal. Buy the card at a discount, pay with it at checkout, and the discount is effectively guaranteed cashback.
Watch resellers like Raise, CardCash, and CardKangaroo for discounted gift cards, typically 2%–15% off face value depending on the brand.
During Q4 and back-to-school seasons, grocery stores often run 4x–10x fuel-point promotions on third-party gift cards, worth another 4%–10% off.
Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club sell restaurant, movie, and travel gift cards in multipacks below face value year-round.
Pay with a category-bonus credit card when you buy the gift card to stack another 2–5% on top.
Predictable spenders — if you know you'll spend $500 at a specific retailer this quarter, buying a discounted $500 gift card locks in guaranteed cashback.
Only buy from reputable resellers with a purchase guarantee. Never buy gift cards from marketplaces or classified ads — fraud is common.