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I often write about ways to get lots of points, miles or cash back when buying Sears’ gift cards. For example, see these recent posts:
- Re-Plinking Sears
- The top 5 ways to get Sears gift cards
- Maximizing the 2 day Sears/MileagePlus 16X promotion (expired offer)
Whenever I write posts like these, I get variations on the same question: “That’s great, but what the heck can I do with a bunch of Sears gift cards?” Long time readers of my posts already know the answers to that question, but I’ve come to realize that not everybody has read and memorized every one of my posts. What, really? Yep, it’s true.
So, without further ado, here are the top 5 ways to use Sears gift cards:
1. Buy merchandise
Sears gift cards can be used to buy all kinds of stuff at Sears, Kmart, Lands End, and more. Don’t forget that you can go through an online portal to earn additional points or cash back even if you’re paying with a gift card! I recommend using CashBackMonitor to find the best portal when shopping online. Sears also has a price match guarantee that can be used when their prices are higher than the competition.
2. Buy travel
It’s not necessarily easy to do, but I’ve found that it is possible to pay for airfare, hotels, cruises, etc. with Sears gift cards via Sears Vacations. For details of my experience, please see “Earn more miles (many more) for any flight, any hotel, any cruise.”
3. Buy and sell
This option is definitely not for everyone! At times, Sears portal promotions can be so good that it is worth buying stuff and reselling it for a loss just to get the miles for both buying gift cards and using the gift cards to buy merchandise. For tips and tricks about buying and selling, BigHabitat is worth adding to your daily reading list. Also, see my post: Tips for selling on Amazon.
4. Buy gift cards that you need
It’s not always easy to buy other store gift cards with Sears gift cards, but it is possible. Sears is usually more lenient than Kmart, but Kmart tends to have a better selection of merchant gift cards. For info about Sears merchant gift cards, please see:
- The mysterious case of the secret gift card rack
- A year later, a new breed of Sears’ gift card racks spotted in the wild. The mystery continues.
5. Buy and liquidate gift cards
Some Sears stores sell $100 Visa and MasterCard gift cards for $105.95 and will let you pay with a Sears (or Lands End, or Kmart) gift card. If you got enough points and/or cash back from buying the Sears gift cards, it could be worth paying that 6% fee to turn them into Visa or MasterCard gift cards with PINs (see “Gift card PINs“).
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How and where can I use my sears gift card there isnt a sears in my town. Grrrrr
Sears.com?
Can I use sears gift card to for servicing sears equipments
I don’t know
Can I (somehow) cash in Sears GC’s for PayPal credit? off this topic, but same line of question regard to cashing in an iTunes card for PayPal credit?
I’m not sure what you mean about cashing in an iTunes card for PayPal credit. If you mean selling it to a gift card reseller, you can do that. See giftcardwiki.com or giftcardgranny.com to see public resale rates. Some places will pay you via PayPal (others cut a check).
Where can I spend Sears gift card in Canada?
The Sears in San Diego UTC flat out refused to accept a Sears gift card in payment for other merchants’ gift cards or cell phone service cards. The cashier said cash only.
Is this not universal? I’d really like to find a Sears that still accepts gift cards as payment.
It depends on the cashier. Some allow it, others do not
Can I use sears gift card to shop on amazon
No
I bought $500 in kmart gc a couple weeks ago, turned them into southwest gift cards and then bought my $480 flight. Ended up getting 3k miles from the portal and then 5k for flying.
Tried again today. Bought $200 in gc to cover my next flight for 1,200 rapid rewards points through the portal plus 750 bonus. Then got shut down by multiple cashiers and managers. They were adamant about no gc for gc purchases. So be wary of trying this loophole.
Kmart has been much tougher about this in my experience than Sears.
[…] According to the post from Frequent Miler, you can use Sears gift cards to pay for travel and buy other gift cards. […]
Do you have any more details on Sears vacation? Like can you use gift cards? I have a Kmart one with about $150 that I’d like to put towards a flight. CMH-Den. Their prices are only like $10 more than I find elsewhere which would be worth it to get rid of this giftcard to me
Yes, you can use gift cards with Sears vacations, but you have to call to do so. I bought a flight this way once, but it was a big hassle.
[…] I know some of my readers already know this, but in addition to Thank You points which actually can be cashed out, Citibank has some cards that give Citi Easy Deals points. You may have looked at their “rewards” web site in the past and dismissed it as having nothing of any real value, which is largely true. However, you can buy certain gift cards for 10% off, including Staples, Office Depot, Neiman Marcus, Since Lands End is there, you could use that to pay for any Sears resales deals you find, or the other top ways to use Sears gift cards per Frequent Miler. […]
[…] I know some of my readers already know this, but in addition to Thank You points which actually can be cashed out, Citibank has some cards that give Citi Easy Deals points. You may have looked at their “rewards” web site in the past and dismissed it as having nothing of any real value, which is largely true. However, you can buy certain gift cards for 10% off, including Staples, Office Depot, Neiman Marcus, Since Lands End is there, you could use that to pay for any Sears resales deals you find, or the other top ways to use Sears gift cards per Frequent Miler. […]
[…] The top five ways to use Sears gift cards […]
Thanks Frequentmiler!
@Frequent Miler,
How fast do Plink points get posted? I purchase something but I don’t see any activity on Plink =(. I am worry!
Thanks!
Plink Points usually post a day after the transaction moves from pending to actual on your credit card. If it has been longer than that, contact Plink support for help
Can you buy other gift cards with e-giftcards from sears? Can you use e-giftcards in the store or are they just for online? Thanks!
Yes, in-store at Sears, if you find a cashier willing to do so, you can use e-gift cards to buy other gift cards. It is easier if you print it out first with the barcode, though.