Gift Card Giveaways for Friday, August 6, 2010

Hello Mercardi.com fans! Boy, what a week it's been. I have been busier than a one-armed paper hanger, how about you? Sock it to me baby, tell me all about your week and your plans for the weekend.

In the meantime, here's a wonderful list of gift card giveaways. Have fun signing up and good luck!

Life360 is giving away a $100 Amazon gift card every week. All you need to do is comment on any post on the blog and you are entered. The drawing is random, so get busy commenting.

Mommy PR is giving away a $20 iTunes gift card to one lucky person who visits Math Girl and writes a comment about it on the blog. Very interesting site for parents, both sites, that is!

Who knew Safeway had a delivery service? Thrifty NW Mom did, tried it, and reviewed the service on her blog. Now all you have to do to win a $50 Safeway gift card. Just comment on the blog, letting NW Mom know which number one product you would buy from Safeway and you have a chance to win. THIS ONE ENDS SUNDAY, AUGUST 8th, so get over there now and do your thing.

I don't know one woman who doesn't love perfume. This one is for you gals. The Find is giving away a $50 gift card to FragranceNet, a great place to get deals on your favorite summer smells. I am all over this one, so some smell good might be all over me!

Never let it be said that Mercardi.com doesn't give equal time to the guys. Coupon Dad is giving away a $100 gift card to Threadless.com, an online design community where users can score designs, offer comments and critiques, and post about whatever is on their minds. Threadless is also an ongoing open call for tee shirt design submissions.

Friday Gift Card Giveaways for July 23, 2010

It's Friday! Yay! And that means the weekend, boating, swimming, beside the pool, cooking out, or just relaxing in the cool AC. And it also means another list of great gift card giveaways.

Here you go, and have a wonderful weekend!

This one's a biggie from Woman's Day. 10 lucky winners will receive a $125 gift card from TruGreen Lawn Care Service, the nation's biggest provider of lawn care. Fill out the entry form here.

Mommy Blips is giving away a $25 Target gift card. All you need to do is follow her on Twitter.

Thanks, Mail Carrier is in the business of giveaways exclusively, so be prepared to salivate when you click on the link to enter the contest for a $50 Amazon gift card giveaway.

Talk about salivating! A $25 Joe's Crab Shack gift card is up for grabs at Shop with me Mama. All you need to do is select your favorite item from the menu and comment, extra entries for Tweeting and liking on Facebook.

Mireyah Wolfe is a writer of urban fantasy, but this gift card giveaway is total reality! Ms. Wolfe is giving away a $50 gift card to CSN stores. Just fill out the entry form here.

Sweeties Sweeps has a link here to the big O's, (that's Oprah for those of you who don't live on planet earth!) Summer Sweepstakes Extravaganza where 100 folks will win $100 Land's End gift cards. I like those odds!

I really like this one. Vivala Blogette is giving away a $40 gift card to her shop, where you will find some very tasty stationary and greeting cards, high dollar and quite unusual.

I hope one of our readers wins, but whether or not you do you always win when you purchase discount gift cards or sell your unwanted gift cards to Mercardi.com!

Congress Extends Transition Deadline for Gift Card Rules

With a resounding "Yay!" I post today about one of the smartest things Congress has done in a very long time. They passed the ECO-Gift CARD Act, which will avoid the destruction of over 100 million plastic cards, ensuring that consumers can access these cards during the busy holiday shopping season.

"The act extends the August 22nd gift card implementation deadline, as mandated by Federal Reserve regulations pursuant to the 2009 Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, to Jan. 31, 2011. This would allow the industry to sell existing gift cards, gift certificates, store gift cards and general-use prepaid cards produced prior to April 1, 2010."

This is a reason for celebration not just for retailers but for consumers as well. So let's raise a hearty cheer of "Great!!, knowing that we can shop this coming holiday season without interruption. At a time when we are having so many second doubts about the actions of government, it is really refreshing to run across news like this.

Here is the full article from PRNewswire.com.

Gift Cards are the Best Choice

Over the last few months, as I have researched subject matter for the post here at the Mercardi.com blog, I have run across different articles complaining about the use of gift cards. These pundits' only real gripe was that giving a gift card takes away from the personal touch an in-the-hand gift offers. Today I would like to point out the obvious; that consumers AND the receivers of gift actually PREFER getting a gift card rather than a gift.

It's like the old folks who don't want to advance into the 21st Century complaining about how cell phones have made our lives more impersonal, the same hogwash. Wake up and smell the coffee, people! We live in a very fast paced, hectic world and rather than complain about it we should embrace it. Change is inevitable, and 85% of the people can't be wrong. That's how many consumers are now buying gift cards.

No more do we have to pretend to be happy about the polka dotted tie that Aunt Millie gives us for Christmas, even Aunt Millie is savvy these days, because she's giving gift cards for cash! That way we can buy what WE like. Ask any college student whether they'd rather have a gift or a gift card at graduation. The gift card will win with a resounding percentage.

Embrace gift cards. They are here to stay, and they truly are the easiest and most sought after gift available today. Start with the Mercardi.com search engine, which lets you quickly choose the perfect gift card. And for those of you who get a gift card you don't want, you can sell that gift card for up to 90% of its value. Now THAT'S good business!

Freedom to Buy and Sell Gift Cards and a History of the 4th of July

On this distinctly American holiday, those of us at Mercardi.com, where you can buy and sell unwanted gift cards at deep discounts, we thought it appropriate to post a link to this great article at the Daily Beast. The article notes how even though our country can be extremely divided on issues, for this one day, the 4th of July, we put our issues aside and celebrate America's freedom.

Enjoy, and be sure to pass this article along. It offers an in-depth history of the 4th of July, complete with reactions from citizens to their impending freedom in 1776. A wonderful, educational and enjoyable read.

Happy 4th of July Americans!

Friday Gift Card Giveaways for July 2, 2010

Hurray! It's Friday again and time for another great list of current gift card giveaways. I have always loved Friday but now I have two more reasons to love it even more. One is getting to post and enter these contest for free gift cards by simply commenting or tweeting. So easy and quick! Another reason today is that it's the Friday before the 4th of July!

This Independence Day have a great time but be sure to practice safety on the water and with fireworks.

Now, without further ado, here is a great list of current gift card giveaways. Many are time sensitive, so don't hesitate, follow through with these links today!

Engineer a Debt Free Life has a $50 Amazon gift card giveaway running right now that is ending soon, so jump on this one. They also have several other great contest running.

The Mommy Files has a $25 iTunes gift card up for grabs. All you need to do is comment.

Starting yesterday, Free Grechen, a blog that's purpose is to find contest and giveaways for women who love fashion, has a link to 31 days of Giveaways from McCauley's. This is a biggy!

A Few Shortcuts has a contest for a $60 CSN gift card. CSN sells everything from dining ware to furniture, and the prices are unbelievable!

Yoga Gal has a contest running for a $25 Pottery Barn gift card. Just follow her on Twitter or befriend her on Facebook. She also has a link to a giveaway directory where bloggers list their current offerings. That's a treasure trove, guys and gals!

It's Serious This Time is giving away a $25 Walmart gift card for simply commenting on this post and telling her which Febreze Home Collection fragrance you like best.

Fundraising Ideas for Summer

Although many people consider fundraising as something reserved for school groups during the educational season, there are many ways that your group or organization can raise funds for your cause during the summer. Even your school group. There are no set rules that require you to only raise funds during the school season.

Church groups, private clubs, and other organizations can raise a great amount of money toward your cause and make it a summertime fun event. Like the girls with the lemonade stand in the image above, all it takes it a little ingenuity. Mercardi.com can supply that in spades with our gift card fundraising program.

There is absolutely no cost to you, and we even have free marketing material to help you make your fundraising venture a big success. You can download the sales material for free before you sign up to help you make your decision. It's easy and fun to make money for your organization using the Mercardi.com fundraising program. Simply collect donations of unwanted gift cards from your donors, and we'll take care of the rest. We'll announce the program to your donors, we'll help you collect the donors' information, we'll resell the gift cards for you and then we'll send you a check. We can even email tax receipts to your donors for you! There is no cost and no risk for your organization.

Here is how to process works:

People have gift cards lying around that they will never use. Mercardi can turn those gift cards into cash, giving your organization a new source of revenue, in just 4 simple steps:

Step 1: Get the word out! Tell your organization about the upcoming gift card collection.

Step 2: Collect unused gift cards

Step 3: Submit the cards to Mercardi

Step 4: Receive your payment check

So what are you waiting for? Now is the perfect time to set up your fundraising program and have some summer fun in the process!

Wacky Gift Cards and Gift Ideas

It's Memorial Day Weekend so let's have some fun! Put away all your troubles, work, worries, and concerns and spend the next few minutes reading some of the wackiest, funniest, and oddest stuff gift card and gift ideas.

Now go out there this weekend and proceed to relax!

"For years, Missouri districts actually made money offering summer school because of the way the state funded it. Some districts offered incentives — like gift cards — so students would attend in greater numbers." (REALLY?)


South Carolina ministers offer Walmart gift cards for guns to rid streets of violence. (NRA members will pull their hair out but I think it's a good idea!))

Drug dealer accepts gift cards for crack. (capitalism at it's finest!:( )

Here's a sure fire way to end up in the dog house; give your wife a gift card good for plastic surgery.

Don't know what to buy for Father's Day for the guy who has everything? How about some bacon dental floss? Yep, you read that right! Or how about bacon bandages?

Here is a great Squidoo lens with some really wacky gift ideas, (not necessarily gift cards, but I couldn't resist) You'll find a beer belly, reservations for heaven, and moon real estate, to name a few!

**Here are the sources for the above, in order:

Gift cards for summer school

Gift cards for guns

Gift cards for drugs

Gift cards for health care, (facelift)

Bacon dental floss

Bacon bandages

10 Great Gift Card Giveaways for Monday, May 24, 2010

Good morning, Mercardi Blog Readers! Today I have a treat for you to ease your way into the work week. Here are 10 great deals and/or contests gift cards from across the internet today!

Good luck and have fun!

1. Like Freebie Finder on Facebook and be entered to win an Amazon gift card.

2. Comment to win a $20 Fashion Playtes gift card, ends Thursday.

3. Win a $100 Hanes gift card. Easy, easy entry, just tweet, leave your email or become a Facebook fan, not all three, only one required.

4. Open a Key Bank checking account and get one of these gifts; an ipod touch, a $25 itunes gift card, or a $225 cash bonus.

5. Leave a comment to win a $10 coffee gift card.

6. Leave a comment to win a $10 CVS gift card, ends May 31st.

7. Hip Mama's Place has a great list of contests and giveaways!

8. Comment, subscribe or tweet and be entered to win a Home Depot Gift Card.

9. Another great list of gift card giveaways at Review Retreat.

10. Comment to win a $25 TJMaxx gift card.

For those of you who are bloggers and are trying to build readership and back links, entering the above giveaways by commenting is definitely killing two birds with one stone, so get busy!

Have a great Monday! :)

Talk About Strength in Numbers!

Mercardi is having a fantastic promotion going on over at Facebook right now that I simply must tell you about! It's called THE MERCARDI TWENTY20 REFER A FRIEND PROGRAM.

Here is the skinny:


THE MERCARDI TWENTY20 REFER A FRIEND PROGRAM

Mercardi is pleased to announce it's Twenty20 Refer a Friend program where you can now benefit from being a fan and liking the Mercardi Fan page.


It's simple, refer the Mercardi Fan page to your friends and for every 20 new fans that "like" the page, everyone receives a $0.20 discount. For example, if on Monday next week we have 500 additional users liking our page, all of you receive $5 towards your next gift card sale or purchase on www.mercardi.com.

Today 450 people like the Mercardi Facebook page and we look forward to grow this number quickly while rewarding all of you!

So as you can see, this is all about group effort. Now get busy inviting all of your friends to join Mercardi, the Gift Card People's Facebook fan page today and become a part of the huge, shared savings from THE MERCARDI TWENTY20 REFER A FRIEND PROGRAM!

What Does YOUR Graduate Want?

Oh what a wonderful time of year! The flowers are in full-bloom, the birds are singing, love is in the air, and young adults are GRADUATING! As most old foggies do, when I think of graduation I want to give advice. I want to warn these young people about the perils of life, or put some humor in it and have them listen to The Sunscreen Song, or get really deep and serious and offer up the wise words of Desiderata.




But I am wise enough to know that this is not what our future leaders, teachers, and parents would like for graduation. What they want are GIFTS! They are up to their ears in advice; from teachers, guidance counselors, friends and family. So let's leave all that serious stuff to those who know best and get right to the heart of the matter; what to get the graduate in your life.

With deeply discounted gift cards available from over 200 retailers, Mercardi.com is the smart choice for graduate gifts. How about a gift card from Chili's, allowing that hard working student to take themselves and their friends out for a night of great food? And hey!, instead of buying them an awful shirt that they'll never wear, you could get them a gift card from Target and let them shop for what THEY want. You could even give them a gift card to Whole Foods so they can stock up on healthy goodies of their choice.

The possibilities are virtually endless, as is the future of these bright, shining stars on their way to the future.

Congratulations, Grads!

Helpful Sites for Gift Card Users

I was really excited this morning when, via the comment section of a New York Times article I was reading about how consumers should not hold on to gift cards, but spend them, or--as we here at Mercardi.com like to suggest, sell them--when I discovered a new gift card watchdog site called Scrip Smart.

Here is the latest blog post from Scrip Smart, advising consumers about the new laws that will go into affect in August, 2010, protecting them from losing the value of their unspent gift cards. This site is all about keeping up with the laws involving gift cards and also letting you know about businesses that may be closing their doors that you may very well be holding a gift card for and need to redeem, and they even have a free program that let's you list the gift cards you have and will send you an alert when that card is about to expire.

As I was checking out Scrip Smart I also ran across another gift card watchdog site called Gift Card Advocate.Org. This site makes it their job to keep up with impending bankruptcies of businesses that you may hold a gift card for, legal info, tips for gift card buyers and sellers, gift card scams, and more.

Sites like this are worth their weight in gold for the gift card industry and the consumers like you who buy and sell gift cards, so check them out and bookmark them. Tell them Denise from MERCARDI.COM sent you!

5 Great Ideas for Sprucing up Your Gift Cards

Although there is no argument--$90 billion was spent on gift cards last year--that giving gift cards for special occasions is THE preferable thing to do, there are those of us who miss the old-fashioned tradition of wrapping gifts, or at least presenting our gifts in a way that says I took the extra time to show I truly care.

If you see yourself in the above statement, then you will really enjoy the following list. I have rounded up, from across the internet, what I feel are the coolest, most beautiful and/or unique ideas for dressing up a gift card. (If you have an idea that isn't mentioned here, by all means leave a comment and I will add it!)

I really love some of these simple but elegant gift card holders and wrap from The Essential Packaging Store Blog




This article from E-how offers some very cool and unique ideas for disguising your gift cards. One really great example is to buy a cheap paperback for your book lover friend or family member and place the gift card somewhere between the pages.

Here is a great post from Giver's Log, 5 Ways to Wrap a Gift Card. A few of the items used are a milk carton and a pillow box.


Of course Martha Stewart would have the best idea for putting your gift cards on your Christmas tree. What would wrapping ideas be without something from Martha?




Last but certainly not least is the old 'box inside a box inside a box' idea. All you need are empty boxes that will fit inside each other and the gift card be inside the last one. Wrap the last one with ribbons and bows, but make sure and put some paper or other material inside to make the box have a sound when shaken and not be so light. Of course, you can always just buy gift bags and place the gift cards inside.