Useless gift cards and *insane* prices

[Alex Franke]

I got a gift card to Sacks Fifth Avenue nearly 10 years ago. I haven't used it because I can't seem to find anything to buy that costs less than $100 -- at least anything I think is worth its price.

I rediscovered the gift cards recently and decided to try searching online inventory. (When I got the cards, there wasn't much online at all.) We have a couple of friends who are expecting babies, so I though, "Surely I can find some reasonably prices baby clothes!"

I'm a little shocked by what I found -- like this infant dress that costs nearly $200, and this baby "cape" that costs the same.

$200 for an infant's dress? There's also a $300 baby blanket, $135 onesie, and $65 footie PJs. There's a $75 scarf and a $60 swimsuit, not to mention the $350 stuffed animals.

And my favorite is this: A $152 infant's jogging set. Yes -- it's true -- it's an infant jogging set.

Good grief. You'd think for those prices they'd at least say "Made in the USA" or go for a good cause...

[Alex Franke]

OMG, Sack's is selling the same toy caterpillar that we have!

Sack's price = $135: http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/...8525&ev19=1:12

Elsewhere = $10: http://www.geniusbabies.com/tinkle--...aby-gund-.html

That's just insane...

[kirkroy]

It's possible your gift card has lost value, possibly all of it's value. Believe it or not some gift cards lose value over time...

[Alex Franke]

Good point. We called them, though, and it still has value -- at least they told us it did. I think we got the gift card before they started penalizing people for holding on to them too long.

[kirkroy]

Yeah, they gave me some gift cards at work as an award. They were good at a local mall that included a sears and would have just about covered getting a 21829 on sale. Turns out they'd lost about 40% of their value by the time I got them (the office had bought a bunch to give out over the course of a year or two).

[MilDoc]

If you make enough to shop at Saks and others routinely, you probably don't need to compare prices .....

[LCHIEN]

I don't know if this helps, I can't recommend it or anything but if you google "gift card exchange" or "gift card trade" then you will come up with any number of organizations/web sites that purport to help you trade or sell giftcards; some charge fees, and what your gift card may be worth is negotiable depending upon locations and desirability of the card issuer. I assume since cards expire and or decline in value with time and can be used online without the physical card to beware that you don't get traded a card that has been "depleted" or expired after the sale to you, I guess buyer beware.

There's always craig's list if you just want to sell it but I assume you won't get face value for it.

[kirkroy]

I actually bought sears gift cards with the mall gift cards and then bought the saw at a store closer to home. Also, the sears gift cards maintain their value...