I gotta know- what is with overpaying for gift cards at auction sites?

**khaski** · 07-31-2010, 08:03 PM

Was surfing the 'big one', you know, that super power of online auction shopping, looking at gift cards to find some discounted for gifts (got a $25 Gamestop card for DS for $21.01 shipped) and it blew my mind to see people bidding for MORE than the cards were worth. I'm not kidding- Amazon cards are NUTS- people bidding $57 for a $50 card. Am I MISSING something here or do people really turn their brains off in the heat of 'needing' to win an online auction?!?

**dcompton** · 07-31-2010, 08:06 PM

I didn't know there were gift card auctions. And yes, apparently their brains do have an off switch. That's crazy.

**Syn D** · 07-31-2010, 08:16 PM

Never heard of getting gift cards this way..

As for the over bidding, some people get way in to winning it seems, I have seen it at different auctions..

**brainyblonde** · 07-31-2010, 08:23 PM

Someone told me that it makes it easier for those in other countries to buy items.

**Inkstain82** · 07-31-2010, 08:46 PM

Some of them are likely stolen credit cards bidding to launder their gains.

**Momto5RN** · 07-31-2010, 09:34 PM

there are several theories
somealready said.

another is that someone sells on ebay -etsy etc makes some money doesnt have a CC doesnt feel safe using a debit card so uses that money in their paypal acct to buy GC's to shop online with so is willing to pay a little more to win it .

**Momto5RN** · 07-31-2010, 09:55 PM

also if its hard for you to get out -say you dont live near a target ...they may not want to waste time and money to drive an hour to get to one -- so you say why not use the target site to buy one

#1 they dont trust using a CC on the web you can use your CC thru paypal and have dbl coverage because they dont give out your exact # to target .

#2 say there is also just 2 days left in the sale -you get paid friday - buy on friday and target wont get you the GC in time to order online- pay via paypal and the seller will most likely email you with the cards # if you ask ( as well as mail it with delivery confirmation if smart sellers ) and you can buy before the sale ends .

#3 also sometimes ebay gives people coupons 10% off a purchase - 20% off - 10$ off 50 - its rare but it does happen and they may well be using one of them at checkout .you wouldnt see that in the actual auction info.

there are actually many non criminal reasons people do it - sometimes its a matter of convienence sometimes its a bidding - i have to win thing- sometimes theres a hidden deal involved.

**porembam** · 08-01-2010, 08:09 PM

I love buying giftcards on ebay because they give back a little cash for something I would buy anyway.
I noticed yesterday that people had higher bids then the value - I think some people have to "win" and are definitely not frugal.

**savvy_sniper** · 08-02-2010, 07:56 AM

eBay has a program called eBay Bucks. When you win/buy things on eBay you earn dollars for future purchases. I don't buy much on eBay any more, but I recently had $3.47 in eBay Bucks.

I bought a new bra for $8.99 with free shipping (regularly $28 at the store plus tax and used my eBay Bucks. So the bra cost $5.52.

Also Bing offers discounts on items when you go through them to buy things on eBay. Plus there are credit cards that offer cashback (1-5% usually). So these scenarios can help explain why people pay more than face value.