Hey there! Let‘s talk about whether you can reload Walmart gift cards

Have you ever received a Walmart gift card for your birthday or the holidays? Do you like using Walmart gift cards to get your shopping done without spending real cash?

If so, you may be wondering: Can I add more money to my Walmart gift card when the balance starts running low?

Lots of gift cards from other stores let you easily reload them online or in-person. It would be nice if Walmart gift cards worked the same way!

Unfortunately, the answer is no 😞 Walmart gift cards can‘t be reloaded (with a few exceptions we‘ll explain below).

In this detailed guide, we‘ll walk through everything you need to know about reloading Walmart gift cards.

Here‘s what we‘ll cover:

• Why Walmart gift cards aren‘t reloadable
• How Walmart MoneyCards work differently from gift cards
• The difference between physical and eGift cards
• When funds CAN be added back to a gift card
• Tips for maximizing your Walmart gift card value

By the end of this guide, you‘ll be a Walmart gift card reloading expert!

Why You Can‘t Reload Walmart Gift Cards

First, let‘s talk about why Walmart doesn‘t allow their gift cards to be reloaded.

Walmart gift cards operate as "closed-loop" stored value cards. This means:

• The card contains the monetary value itself
• It can only be used at Walmart (not other stores)
• No outside bank or financial company manages the balance

Back in the day, you used to be able to add money to Walmart gift cards. But due to issues with fraud and scams, Walmart discontinued this feature.

People were using reloadable gift cards to launder money or run other shady schemes. So Walmart removed the reload capability to cut down on gift card misuse.

While no longer reloadable, Walmart gift cards offer plenty of perks:

• No fees to purchase or use them
• Never expire – you can use the balance at any time
• Work for purchases both in-store and online

So even though you can‘t add funds later, you still get excellent value from Walmart gift cards!

How Walmart gift card reloading compares to other stores

Walmart is not the only major retailer that doesn‘t allow gift card reloading. Target and Costco gift cards also cannot be reloaded.

Meanwhile, stores like Amazon, Starbucks, and Home Depot do offer reloadable gift cards.

Why the difference between retailers? It likely comes down to fraud prevention vs convenience:

• Reloadable: Prioritizes convenience for customers
• Not reloadable: Prioritizes security and reducing misuse

Walmart gift cards may not be as flexible as reloadable cards from some other retailers. But the upside is you don‘t have to worry about your card being compromised.

Walmart MoneyCards – The Reloadable Option

Now you know that standard Walmart gift cards are not reloadable. But what about Walmart MoneyCards?

Walmart MoneyCards look like regular Walmart gift cards. But they actually work more like prepaid debit cards. And they can be reloaded!

Here are the key differences between standard Walmart gift cards and Walmart MoneyCards:

• Gift cards are issued directly by Walmart. MoneyCards are issued by Green Dot Bank.
• Gift card balances are stored on the card. MoneyCard balances are stored in an account at Green Dot Bank.
• Gift cards can only be used at Walmart. MoneyCards can be used anywhere Visa/Mastercard debit is accepted.
• Gift cards cannot be reloaded. MoneyCards can be continually reloaded.

So in a nutshell:

• Standard gift cards = closed-loop stored value

• MoneyCards = open-loop prepaid debit

With MoneyCards, you get the flexibility of adding more funds whenever you want. The downside is you pay fees to purchase and use the card.

Walmart MoneyCards give you a reloadable option. But if you don‘t need to continually add funds, standard Walmart gift cards let you avoid fees and get the same purchasing power.

Physical Gift Cards vs eGift Cards

Another important distinction is between physical Walmart gift cards and eGift cards. What‘s the difference between buying a plastic card vs getting an eGift card?

Physical gift cards are the standard plastic cards you buy at the store or order online. You or the gift recipient can use the card for purchases by swiping it or giving the cashier the card number.

eGift cards are digital cards that get delivered to your or the recipient‘s email. There‘s no physical card – just an email with the gift card value attached. eGift cards can be printed or shown on a phone for redemption.

Both physical and eGift cards follow the same policies:

• The full value is loaded at time of purchase
• No way to add more funds later (unless you make a return)
• Never expire, no fees

The only real perk of eGift cards is faster delivery when you need a last-minute gift. Both options work equally well for purchases.

So whether you get a plastic gift card or an email eGift card, neither can be reloaded down the road. You get the full value upfront.

When CAN You Add Funds Back to a Gift Card?

We‘ve covered all the ways you can‘t reload a Walmart gift card. But there‘s one case where funds can be added back to an existing card:

Returns

If you use a Walmart gift card to buy items, then need to return some stuff – the value of the returned merchandise will go back to the original gift card.

Let‘s walk through an example:

• You have a $100 Walmart gift card.
• You use it to buy $80 worth of stuff at Walmart. You have $20 left on the card.
• You later return $30 worth of the items purchased with that gift card.
• Walmart will credit the $30 value back to the original gift card. So now your balance goes back up to $50.

Returns are the only way to replenish the funds on an existing Walmart gift card. This policy makes sense when you think about it. The store needs to reimburse you the value of the returned items.

Outside of returns, there‘s no way to "reload" or add new funds to a Walmart gift card you already have. You‘ll need to buy a brand new gift card when you want to add more money.

Tips for Making the Most of Walmart Gift Cards

Since Walmart gift cards can‘t be reloaded, it‘s smart to use strategies to maximize their value:

• Know the policies. Understanding that you can‘t add funds later prevents problems down the road.

• Get the full amount you need upfront. Don‘t assume you can reload a card. Purchase the total balance you expect to use.

• Use it all at once if possible. Instead of small purchases that drain the card over time, try to spend the full balance in one or two transactions.

• See if you can exchange an unused card. Some stores allow you to exchange an unused gift card for a new one with a different balance. Walmart‘s policy is unclear on this, but it may be possible if you visit customer service.

• Re-gift it. If you receive a Walmart gift card you don‘t plan to use, consider regifting it to someone who frequents Walmart.

Following these tips will ensure you strategically use your Walmart gift cards since reloading isn‘t an option!

Let‘s Recap!

We‘ve covered a lot of ground on whether Walmart gift cards can be reloaded. Here are the key takeaways:

• Walmart gift cards are NOT reloadable. You can‘t add more funds except through returns.

• Walmart MoneyCards ARE reloadable. These prepaid debit cards let you add money anytime.

• Physical and eGift cards follow the same policies. Neither plastic nor digital gift cards can be reloaded.

• Only returns can add funds back. Refunding items purchased with a gift card reimburses the card balance.

• Use smart strategies to maximize your card. Get the full value upfront and use ASAP.

Hopefully this guide gave you the complete lowdown on reloading Walmart gift cards! Now you can stop wondering and use your gift cards wisely.

Let me know if you have any other Walmart gift card questions! I‘m always happy to help explain their sometimes confusing policies. Just drop me a line!