Are Gift Cards As Good As Cash For A Cash Contest Blog?
Hello all cash contest lovers! You know who you are 
. But then again, who isn’t?
This is a very important question, to which I would appreciate a LOT of opinions. It’s super important because it could mean a lot more contests on this blog!
Since it’s inception, my USP (unique selling point) to this particular contest blog is the simple fact that every contest listed, must have at least one cash prize included.
Recently this has led to an interesting question…
Are Gift Cards As Good As Cash?
Now I’m not referring to Visa Gift Cards because those ARE as good as cash, accepted everywhere Visa cards are accepted. (I swear this isn’t a Visa commercial. LOL)
I’m referring to individual store gift cards – Sears, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, etc, etc., you get the idea. There’s hundreds of them.
Lately, in making my rounds looking for awesome cash contests for everyone, I’ve run into a considerable amount of gift card contests; and some pretty good ones too, like $200-$500+. That’s not too shabby if you ask me, but I’m not competing for them. You are.
So with that in mind, what’s your opinion – are store gift cards and gift card contests worthy of this contest blog?
Sharing this post would be greatly appreciated 
.
Dennis
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Tags: Cash Contest, cash prize, contest blog, gift card contests, store gift cards, Visa Cards, Visa Gift Cards
January 7th, 2009 at 3:22 am
It’s your site so do what you want
My opinion is that it would depend on where the gift card is for…
Nick’s last blog post..Housekeeping – January 2009
January 7th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Hey Nick, that’s why I need as many general opinions as possible. Being world-wide, there’s obviously no-way everyone can possibly shop at the same places.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I don’t see the problem – money is money. And there are places to sell or trade gift cards if it can’t be used online.
Henry-seowordsmith’s last blog post..How to Spot and Fight Duplicate Content
January 7th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Unless it’s a gift card to Amazon.com
Aside from that and other “online” type gift cards, if you do decide to allow gift cards, probably things like gasoline, target, walmart, and other similar “universal” ones…perhaps pass on the gift cards to Cabelas and Victoria Secret (unless of course they are both offered in the same promo because then it again becomes more universal)
Nick’s last blog post..I’d go solar if the cells were cheaper and more efficient
January 7th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
@ Henry – Hmm, maybe I should have only gift cards that can be used online; that’s a thought too. Where can you sell and trade the others?
@ Nick – As universal as possible, thanks!
January 7th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
You know, I’ve never really looked into gift-card selling because I’ve never needed to. But a Google search comes up with a place like http://www.swapagift.com/. Can’t vouch for it but there are a lot of these places.
Henry-seowordsmith’s last blog post..How to Spot and Fight Duplicate Content
January 8th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Hey Henry, thanks a bunch for that. I’ll have to check it out.
January 9th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Hi Dennis,
Joe here with Create Liberty I wanted to let you know about a project we’re doing. It doesn’t have a name yet (you can help with that!) but we are asking for your “definition of success”..
This is how it works and whats in it for your and your readers if you pass it on.
At the end of February I’ll complile the results and create a PDF format digital book. It will be free.
Anyone who participates will have a spot within the book and a link to their site.
I’ll do a fancy cover and you can give the book away as a free gift for subscribing or whatever. I’ll just ask that it remain free.
Sound Fun?
Head on over. (I linked to it in my siginature)
Feel free to edit this comment.
Definition of Success’s last blog post..Best Autoreponder Service. Do Auto Responders Work?
Dennis Reply:
January 10th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
@Definition of Success, I’ll email you as soon as I get a chance.
January 10th, 2009 at 6:39 am
The problem with those types of gift cards is that not everyone has those stores where they live, and not all online sites accept all types of gift cards. That, plus it wouldn’t work so well with a specialty store, so it would have to be a store that offers different types of things. And the last thing, of course, is that the amount has to be something that actually helps someone get something. Offering a $10 gift card for Sharper Image is pretty useless.
Dennis Reply:
January 10th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
@Mitch, the first part is why I’m looking for many opinions. The value aspect is not really an issue. I wouldn’t post any less the $100-$200+, unless it was something like a Visa GC which is as good as cash anyway.
Mitch Reply:
January 10th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
@Dennis, Read that second part, not quite sure I fully understand what you’re saying. If you’re saying the value of the card would be between $100 and $200, all I can say to that is,… wow!
By the way, sorry to hear about the health problems.
Mitch’s last blog post..Antivirus 2009
Dennis Reply:
January 10th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
@Mitch, thanks I appreciate it.
Actually, I meant minimum $100-$200. Like I posted, I see a lot of GC contests between $200-$500, which is why I want to know if many people would go for that.
January 11th, 2009 at 3:05 am
[...] An important question awaits on EasyCashContests! [...]
January 16th, 2009 at 6:21 am
[...] haven’t gotten many responses to my post regarding gift card contests, mainly referencing store gift cards. Since it is online and a good $100 I’m posting it . [...]
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:54 am
As long as its a generic gift card I think its fine, if its for a US store that only deliver to the US, then you may lose some interest from readers elsewhere in the world. A prise is a prise in any form. It may be interesting to have a pole on your next competition page asking a few questions aimed at both those who enter the competition and those that dont. i.e. why didn’t you enter the competition, would you have been more likely to give it a try if the prize was cash. (just provide a few options for each question) That way you should get your answer.
Dennis Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
@khaled, I don’t think there are totally global gift cards, but i see what you mean…as wide as possible.
I really like the poll idea, thanks.
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:22 pm
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February 23rd, 2009 at 11:29 pm
For me, it depends on the gift card. Sears, Walmart, no. But if its for Whole Foods, Bloomingdales, Amazon or a few other stores that I’m drawn to, then yes. So I guess it depends on the person and their preferences, where they live (are the stores online accessible) and so on.
Dennis Reply:
February 24th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
@Carla, Thanks for the input.