.Com TLD giftcards.com

giftcards.com

December 16, 2025

Key Takeaways

  • What it is: GiftCards.com is a long-running online gift card retailer selling physical and digital cards from hundreds of top brands, plus prepaid Visa/Mastercard options. (Wikipedia)

  • Legitimacy: The site is a real business owned by Blackhawk Network (a large payments firm) and has been operating since 1999. (Wikipedia)

  • Customer experience mixed: There are very polarized experiences — some people report smooth purchases and successful redemption, others complain of non-working cards, poor support, and order issues. (Trustpilot)

  • Fees & costs: Some card types (like prepaid Visa/Mastercard) may carry activation or other fees. (lawscroller.com)

  • Product variety: You can buy gift cards for hundreds of retailers and restaurants, digital and physical. (GiftCards.com)

  • Personalization: GiftCards.com lets you customize cards with photos, messages, and scheduled delivery. (greeting-cards-usa.no1reviews.com)

  • Not purely discount marketplace: It’s more of a direct retailer than a discount exchange site (so big bargains aren’t guaranteed). (Top Ten Reviews)

What GiftCards.com Actually Is

GiftCards.com is an online platform where you can purchase gift cards to send as presents, use yourself, or distribute in bulk (for business gifting). It’s a site that’s been around since the late 1990s and is currently owned by Blackhawk Network, a larger payments company. (Wikipedia)

They sell:

  • Retailer-specific cards — places like Amazon, Sephora, Best Buy, Macy’s, etc. (Wikipedia)

  • Visa/Mastercard prepaid cards — works wherever the brand is accepted (with caveats). (GiftCards.com)

  • Multi-brand or universal cards — some cards let recipients pick from dozens or hundreds of brands. (blackhawknetwork.com)

  • Digital (egift) cards — emailed instantly or scheduled for later delivery. (GiftCards.com)

It also supports personalization: you can upload a photo, write a message, or pick a themed design for birthdays, holidays, corporate rewards, etc. (greeting-cards-usa.no1reviews.com)

So on paper it looks like a simple gift marketplace — buy a card, give it to someone, they redeem and spend.

How It Works (Shopping & Delivery)

You visit GiftCards.com and browse by brand or card type. There’s a mix of physical cards that are mailed and digital ones that are delivered via email. (GiftCards.com)

You decide:

  • Recipient details — email or shipping address

  • Card value — typically $25 up to $500 (sometimes higher depending on card type)

  • Extras — personalization like a photo or message if you want

Then you pay. For digital cards, they usually deliver the code instantly or at your scheduled time. For physical cards, shipping is added and takes a few business days. (greeting-cards-usa.no1reviews.com)

For Visa/Mastercard prepaid cards, there may be additional activation fees (that vary). (lawscroller.com)

Legitimacy: Legit Company, Not a Scam

Here’s the solid part first: GiftCards.com is not a fake or scam business. It’s a real gift card retailer, owned by Blackhawk Network, a major player in prepaid and branded payments. (Wikipedia)

They’ve been in business since 1999 — well before many other online gift card sites existed. That track record and corporate backing mean the business itself is legitimate. (Wikipedia)

But here’s where you can feel cautious:

  • Many customers do complain about redemption issues, refund refusals, or cards not arriving. (SiteJabber)

  • Some online reviewers and forum posts label the experience “scam,” though that’s from dissatisfied buyers, not legal findings. (Reddit)

  • A legit company doesn’t mean every order goes smoothly.

So it’s safe to say: yes, GiftCards.com itself is a real company. But your experience may vary a lot and you have to pay attention to details before you buy.

Why Reviews Are So Mixed

If you check various review sites, the sentiment swings wildly.

On some platforms like certain review aggregators you might see a high star rating — people reporting cards arrived on time and worked fine. (Shopper Approved)

On others like Trustpilot or SiteJabber, the dominant tone is negative — complaints about:

  • Cards that don’t activate or redeem correctly

  • Customer support that’s slow or doesn’t resolve issues

  • Orders cancelled after being charged

  • Extra fees or unexpected deductions

  • Card delivery problems

  • Poor refund experiences (Trustpilot)

That gap often reflects two things in gift card worlds:

  1. Happy customers don’t always leave detailed complaints (they just use the product).

  2. Disgruntled customers are more motivated to tell the world about problems.

So averaged data sometimes looks fine, but the negative reviews tend to be very loud and specific.

Costs & Fees (What You Actually Pay)

People often assume gift cards are free to buy online. With GiftCards.com, that’s not always true.

  • Retailer cards typically carry no extra purchase fee — you pay face value. (GiftCards.com)

  • Prepaid Visa/Mastercard cards often have a separate activation or service fee. (lawscroller.com)

  • Some reviews mention monthly or dormancy fees on certain prepaid cards (though terms vary). (SiteJabber)

  • Physical card shipping adds cost and time. (greeting-cards-usa.no1reviews.com)

Gift card sites aren’t always great for discounts. GiftCards.com is more of a retailer — they don’t guarantee big markdowns like some exchange marketplaces. (Top Ten Reviews)

So financially: you’re buying convenience, variety, and personalization — not always cheap deals.

Pros and Cons — Realistic View

Pros

Cons

When It Makes Sense to Use It

GiftCards.com works best if:

  • You want a quick digital card for a present.

  • You like adding personal touches to gift cards.

  • You aren’t just chasing the lowest price but want convenience.

  • You need a variety of retailer options in one spot.

When You Might Avoid It

You might think twice if:

  • You’re buying high-value cards and want strong customer support safety net.

  • You want deep discounts — there are other places that specialize in discounted cards. (Top Ten Reviews)

  • Past negative reviews make you uneasy — in that case, consider buying directly from the retailer’s own site.

FAQ

Is GiftCards.com a scam?
No — it’s a legitimate gift card retailer owned by Blackhawk Network and operating since 1999. But many customers report bad experiences with specific orders, so “safe” doesn’t mean error-free. (Wikipedia)

Can I trust the gift cards I buy there?
Most people do get working cards, but there are enough reports of failed activations or redemption problems that you should double-check terms and use documented methods to track and redeem. (SiteJabber)

Are there extra fees?
Retailer cards generally have no extra fees. Prepaid bank cards often do, and shipping or customization also adds cost. (lawscroller.com)

What kinds of cards are available?
Hundreds of brands, plus prepaid Visa/Mastercard and customizable digital or physical options. (GiftCards.com)

Do they offer refunds?
Refunds are generally limited — terms vary by card type and once a card is issued it’s often non-refundable. Always check before you buy. (lawscroller.com)

How long does delivery take?
Digital cards can be instant; mailed physical cards usually take several business days. (greeting-cards-usa.no1reviews.com)