Can I Use An eBay Gift Card on Amazon?

The short answer is no, eBay gift cards cannot be used to make purchases on Amazon. eBay gift cards can only be redeemed on the eBay marketplace.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll give you all the details on eBay gift cards and how they differ from Amazon gift cards. We‘ll also provide tips on how to get the most value out of an unwanted eBay gift card.

Comparing eBay and Amazon Gift Cards

eBay and Amazon have different policies when it comes to their gift cards. Here is an overview of how they differ:

Where They Can Be Used

• eBay gift cards: Can only be used on eBay.com
• Amazon gift cards: Can only be used on Amazon.com

Transferability

• eBay gift cards: Balances cannot be transferred to others or cashed out
• Amazon gift cards: Can be transferred to others, but not cashed out

Expired Balances

• eBay gift cards: Never expire
• Amazon gift cards: Expire after 10 years

Redemption Requirements

• eBay: Must have an eBay account
• Amazon: Do not require an account for redemption

Balance Checking

• eBay: Can check balance on eBay website
• Amazon: Can check balance on Amazon website or mobile app

So in summary, while Amazon offers more flexibility in some cases, neither company allows gift card balances to be cashed out or transferred to your bank account. The funds must be spent on their platforms.

Should You Buy an eBay or Amazon Gift Card?

If you‘re purchasing a gift card for someone else, you‘ll need to consider which brand fits them best:

Buy an eBay Gift Card If…

• The recipient enjoys bidding in auctions for deals
• They frequently buy or sell secondhand items
• They are an active eBay buyer who would use the credit

Buy an Amazon Gift Card If…

• The recipient makes a lot of general purchases online
• They buy almost everything on Amazon already
• They read ebooks or stream shows on Prime Video

Either brand can make a great gift for the right person. Just be sure you know where they like to shop before deciding.

How to Use an eBay Gift Card on eBay

If you receive or purchase an eBay gift card, using it is straightforward:

1. Visit eBay and find an item to purchase as usual
2. Add the item to your cart and proceed to checkout
3. Select the option to pay with gift card
4. Enter the eBay gift card number and PIN
5. The balance will be taken off your total automatically
6. Finish checking out

Once redeemed to your account, the eBay gift card balance can be used across multiple purchases until it runs out.

If you run into any trouble using an eBay gift card, you can contact eBay customer support for assistance.

Getting Value from an Unwanted eBay Gift Card

What should you do if you receive an eBay gift card that you don‘t want? Here are some smart options to maximize its value:

Pros of Selling an Unwanted eBay Gift Card:

• Allows you to recover cash instead of credit
• Usually get about 80-90% of the balance
• Instantly converts the card to spendable money

Cons of Selling:

• Have to trust the buyer to pay fairly
• Less than full balance is recovered
• Takes more time and effort

Pros of Using the Card on eBay:

• Guaranteed full value of the balance
• Don‘t need to negotiate or ship anything
• Items still count as "gifted" even if not your first choice

Cons of Using the Card on eBay:

• Forced to shop on eBay if you don‘t normally
• May need to tweak shopping habits or buy gift cards
• Have to actively use up the full balance

Either selling or using the gift card yourself are solid choices. Consider what will give you the most return with the least hassle based on your needs.

Where to Sell an eBay Gift Card

If you decide to sell an unwanted eBay gift card, here are some reputable sites to use:

• CardCash – Well-known gift card reseller, offers 80-92% payouts

• Cardpool – Established reselling marketplace, payouts up to 92%

• GiftCardGranny – Aggregates rates from over 20 trusted resellers

• eBay – Can also sell directly through eBay auction

Always compare rates across sites to maximize your payout. And be wary of scams on less reputable sites.

Using eBay Gift Cards for Non-eBay Purchases

If you want to use your eBay credit outside of eBay, you can buy gift cards to other brands:

• Buy gift cards to restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, etc.
• Purchase retail or visa gift cards for general spending

Many sellers offer discounted gift cards too. Just search "gift card" on eBay to find options.

This allows you to convert your eBay balance to cards that can be used anywhere. The key is finding gift card listings priced low enough that you still get good value after eBay‘s fees.

Be sure to thoroughly vet sellers before purchasing third-party gift cards to avoid scams. Check their reviews, ratings, return policy, and purchase guarantees.

Getting Cash Back from an eBay Gift Card

According to the eBay gift card policy, funds cannot be cashed out or transferred back to your bank account.

However, some options to recover cash include:

• Using a rebate app – Apps like Ibotta, Rakuten, and Dosh provide cash back on eBay purchases. Open bonus offers can help maximize your cash back earnings.

• Retail arbitrage – Buy discounted items on eBay you know will resell for higher elsewhere. Sell at a profit on platforms like FB Marketplace.

• Flipping – Similarly, purchase collectibles, trendy items, or limited releases on eBay you can flip for more on sites like Mercari.

• Get legal help – Hire a service to legally compel eBay to refund gift card balances in certain cases, for a portion of the funds.

While eBay gift cards can‘t be cashed out directly, a little creativity can help recover some cash from an unwanted card through bonuses, reselling, or legal assistance.

Checking Your eBay Gift Card Balance

To check your gift card balance on eBay:

1. Go to ebay.com/giftcardbalance
2. Select whether you have a physical or e-gift card
3. Enter the 19-digit gift card number
4. Enter the 4-digit PIN or security code
5. View your current balance

You can check your balance as often as you‘d like to track your available funds.

For an eGift card received by email, the gift card number will be below the "Gift Card" header. Physical gift cards show the number printed in the bottom-right corner.

eBay Gift Card Scams to Avoid

When buying or selling eBay gift cards, be aware of potential scams:

• Fake eBay gift cards – Scammers sell used, forged, or nonexistent cards online and in stores. Verify codes immediately.

• Balance theft – Dishonest sellers can copy down and redeem card numbers, draining the balance before you use it.

• Fake listings – Scammers list eBay gift cards for sale but never deliver after payment. Carefully vet sellers.

• Sob stories – Beware buyers who give long stories about why they need heavily discounted gift cards. It‘s likely a con.

Deal only with reputable sellers with excellent ratings and reviews. Also buy directly from secure retailers when possible to reduce risk of getting scammed.

Frequently Asked Questions About eBay Gift Cards

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about using eBay gift cards:

Can I buy eBay gift cards on Amazon?

No, eBay gift cards cannot be purchased through Amazon‘s site or app. You‘ll need to buy them directly from eBay or select major retailers.

Can I combine multiple eBay gift cards into one?

Unfortunately eBay does not allow users to merge or consolidate gift card balances into one card. Each gift card number stays separate.

How long does it take for eBay eGift cards to arrive by email?

eBay eGift cards are delivered instantly via email after purchase, within 1 minute typically. If an eGift card code hasn‘t arrived, check spam folders.

Can I buy eBay gift cards with another gift card?

Yes, you can purchase eBay eGift cards using other gift cards on eBay, including Amazon, Visa, Mastercard, and retailer gift cards. Just search for eBay gift card listings.

Where can I buy eBay gift cards in-store?

Major retailers that carry eBay gift cards include GameStop, CVS, 7-Eleven, Walgreens, Dollar General, and more. Availability varies by location.

Do eBay gift cards ever expire?

No, eBay gift cards do not expire. The funds will remain on your eBay account indefinitely until used entirely on purchases. State laws regarding gift cards do not apply to eBay balances.

Can I use eBay gift cards internationally?

Yes, eBay gift cards will work on any eBay site around the world. At foreign checkout, the balance will automatically be converted to the local currency.

Can I get a refund on an eBay gift card I haven‘t used yet?

According to eBay‘s policy, gift card balances cannot be refunded or cashed out except where legally required. You will need to spend the full balance on eBay purchases.

Can I add money to my eBay gift card balance?

Unfortunately, you cannot add or reload funds to an existing eBay gift card. Each gift card number can only be loaded with its initial balance at the time of purchase.

Putting eBay Gift Cards to Good Use

While eBay gift cards are restricted to eBay purchases only, they can still be extremely valuable if used strategically. The key is making sure you can put the full balance to use buying items you would have purchased anyway on eBay.

With a little creativity, you can also maximize unwanted eBay gift cards by exchanging them for other more versatile gift cards to buy on eBay. Or recover some cash by reselling at a discount or using rebate bonuses.

Hopefully this thorough guide has provided all the details you need to use eBay gift cards effectively and get the most out of their balances, even if you can‘t spend them directly on Amazon.