Does Walmart Sell Amazon Gift Cards? No, Here‘s Why and What To Do Instead

If you want to buy an Amazon gift card, you won’t find it being sold at your local Walmart. Walmart does not sell Amazon gift cards in any of its stores or online.

This may be disappointing if your first instinct was to stop by a nearby Walmart to grab an Amazon gift card for a friend or family member. But why doesn’t America’s largest retailer sell gift cards for Amazon, the biggest ecommerce site?

The main reason is competition. As the #1 and #2 retailers worldwide, Walmart and Amazon consider themselves direct rivals. Walmart wants to drive customers to spend money in its own stores and online, not fund its biggest competitor by selling Amazon gift cards.

While you can’t buy an Amazon gift card itself at Walmart, you do have plenty of options for grabbing one from other major retailers. I’ll share the best places to get your hands on an Amazon gift card later in this article.

First, let’s take a deeper look at the Walmart vs. Amazon rivalry and how it impacts their gift card offerings and pricing strategies. Understanding the competitive landscape can help you as a consumer make informed shopping decisions among retailers.

Walmart vs. Amazon: Analyzing the Retail Rivalry

Walmart dominated the retail universe for decades after its founding in 1962. But within just 25 years after launching in 1994, Amazon quickly became a serious challenger to Walmart’s retail throne.

Here’s a glimpse of how the retail giants compare across key ecommerce and financial metrics:

Sources: DigitalCommerce360, Insider Intelligence, Fortune

Looking at the data, Amazon has clearly taken the lead in terms of online sales, U.S ecommerce market share, and worldwide retail rank. However, Walmart still maintains a lead in terms of total global retail revenue and has a higher stock valuation.

Walmart also has more physical store locations worldwide, enabling omnichannel initiatives like buy online pickup in store. But Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods has expanded its brick-and-mortar footprint.

On the loyalty side, Amazon Prime membership has grown exponentially while Walmart+ lags behind. And Amazon Web Services gives Amazon a tight grip on the cloud computing sector that Walmart can’t match.

Strategic Implications

Given the dynamics, neither company wants to actively promote the other to consumers and ceded ground in any retail category:

Walmart

• Won’t sell Amazon branded electronics like Kindle e-readers that could take market share from Walmart’s assortment of tablets, e-readers and tech gadgets.

• Doesn’t offer Amazon Prime membership signup/management in stores as it wants signups for its own Walmart+ program.

• Dropped Amazon streaming devices like Roku and Fire TV from shelves to promote its in-house onn. media streamers.

• Sells major gift cards (Starbucks, Apple, Xbox) but not Amazon gift cards to keep gift card dollars in-store.

Amazon

• Focuses on selling its own exclusive Alexa/Fire tablets, Echo devices rather than competing brands.

• Pushes customers to sign up for Amazon Prime credit cards over general Walmart cards.

• Highlights its original content & Prime streaming rather than Walmart‘s Vudu.

• Similarly avoids selling Walmart gift cards to maximize its own Amazon gift card ecosystem.

In this intense battle for retail dominance, every consumer dollar matters. This leads to strategic decisions by each company to stifle the other in favor of their own offerings and ecosystems.

Selling gift cards is just one area where this fierce competition plays out. Understanding this landscape helps explain why getting an Amazon gift card at Walmart is not an option.

What Gift Cards Are Available at Walmart?

Gift cards to other major retailers, restaurants, gaming brands, entertainment services are readily available at Walmart. Options vary slightly by location but tend to include:

Retail

• Starbucks
• Apple / iTunes
• Home Depot
• Best Buy
• American Eagle
• Sephora
• Foot Locker

Gaming

• Xbox
• PlayStation
• Nintendo
• Roblox
• Steam

Restaurant

• Olive Garden
• Outback Steakhouse
• Domino’s
• Starbucks
• Chili’s
• Panera Bread

Entertainment

• Netflix
• Hulu
• Spotify
• Pandora
• AMC Theaters
• Regal Cinemas

Walmart also offers their own retail gift cards, available in customizable amounts from $10 to $200. And you’ll find general purpose Visa, Mastercard, and American Express gift cards that can be used for purchases anywhere those credit cards are accepted.

Check your specific Walmart location for all gift card offerings. Inventory fluctuates seasonally and by region. But you’ll generally find hundreds of options beyond just Amazon.

Where To Buy Amazon Gift Cards

Okay, no Amazon gift cards at Walmart. But don’t worry – you have plenty of options for buying Amazon gift cards at other major US retailers:

Grocery Stores

• Kroger
• Albertsons
• HEB
• Publix
• Safeway

Pharmacies

• CVS
• Walgreens
• Rite Aid

Big Box Retail

• Target
• Best Buy
• Lowe’s

Convenience Stores

• 7-Eleven
• Wawa
• Circle K

Gas Stations

• Shell
• Exxon
• Sunoco

Department Stores

• Kohl’s
• Meijer
• Fred Meyer

Amazon also offers digital gift cards directly from their site that you can print out or schedule to be emailed to the lucky recipient.

Of the major players, Target, Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJs are notable exceptions that do not sell Amazon gift cards, likely for competitive reasons.

But you have plenty of convenient options for picking up Amazon gift cards in-store while doing your regular shopping.

Should You Buy Amazon Gift Cards Online or In-Store?

Once you know where you can get Amazon gift cards, should you head to a local retailer or just buy online? Here are some pros and cons of each method:

Buying In-Store

Pros:

• Can buy last-minute for a gift
• Avoid shipping costs/delays
• See options in-person
• Bundle with other shopping

Cons:

• Have to drive to the store
• Maybe out of stock
• Limited selection/denominations
• No virtual or custom designs

Buying Online

Pros:

• 24/7 availability
• Huge selection of designs
• Custom amounts and gifts
• Email/schedule digital delivery

Cons:

• Must plan ahead for shipping
• No gift wrap option in-store
• Cannot see physical card in-person
• Virtual-only retailer selection

For last-minute or routine purchases, buying in-store may be preferable for convenience and immediate use. But for more options and digital convenience, buying directly on Amazon has unique advantages. Evaluate your specific needs and purchase situation to pick the best method.

Can You Use an Amazon Gift Card at Walmart?

An Amazon gift card purchased from another retailer can only be used on Amazon’s site and related services like Audible or Kindle Unlimited. The gift card value or balance cannot be transferred to Walmart.

So while Walmart does not sell Amazon gift cards, it also does not accept or redeem them as payment in its stores or online. Purchases at Walmart must be made using Walmart-issued gift cards, other major credit/debit cards, Walmart Pay, or cash.

When giving an Amazon gift card, be clear to the recipient that it can only be used on Amazon. Some less tech-savvy folks may mistakenly assume it works like a Visa gift card that’s accepted everywhere!

Does Walmart Price Match Amazon?

Here’s some good news – while you can’t use an Amazon gift card at Walmart, Walmart does price match with Amazon.com.

If you find an identical product being sold for less on Amazon, Walmart will match the price at checkout if you present the online listing. Some quick qualifications:

• Must be shipped/sold directly by Amazon, not a 3rd party seller
• Physical item must match exactly – brand, model, size, quantity, color
• At manager‘s discretion and may vary by location

Price matching with Amazon gives you the best of both worlds: physical stores to see/touch items and competitive Amazon-level pricing. Just remember to have the Amazon app ready or printed when a cashier checks you out.

Some limitations to keep in mind:

• Mismatch risk if items differ slightly between sites
• Doesn’t apply to Amazon digital content like ebooks
• Some stores may refuse if understaffed or busy
• Can take extra time at checkout to verify

With a bit of prep, you can feel confident price matching at Walmart to take advantage of any Amazon deals. Just know the limitations and keep your evidence handy!

Does Walmart Sell Any Amazon Products?

Beyond not selling Amazon gift cards specifically, you also generally won’t find Amazon-branded electronics and devices being sold at Walmart stores.

Examples of popular Amazon gadgets not carried by Walmart:

• Kindle
• Fire TV Stick
• Echo Dot
• Ring Video Doorbells
• Eero Mesh WiFi

However, Walmart does offer “house brand” versions of many Amazon devices:

Rather than directly support Amazon’s product ecosystem, Walmart wants customers buying its competing private label brands.

This extends beyond just electronics to other segments:

• AmazonBasics (Electronics) vs Hyper Tough (Tools)
• Made for Amazon (Clothing) vs Time & Tru (Apparel)
• Solimo (Household) vs Equate (Healthcare)
• Happy Belly (Grocery) vs Great Value (Pantry Items)

You’ll need to shop directly on Amazon if you want their branded hardware and consumables. But Walmart offers their own versions of many products.

Creative Gift Ideas Beyond Amazon Gift Cards

Gift cards make easy, convenient gifts – but they can also feel impersonal. Here are some creative gift ideas beyond just getting an Amazon gift card:

For the Chef

• Air fryer
• Instant Pot
• Quality kitchen knives
• Bamboo cutting board
• Digital meat thermometer
• Cute oven mitts

For the Homebody

• Cozy throw blanket
• Scented candle
• Slipper socks
• Bath bombs
• Face masks
• Adult coloring books

For the Pop Culture Fan

• Funko Pop figures
• Band/TV show merch
• Celebrity memoir book
• Fancy coffee table book
• Streaming service subscription

For the Fitness Buff

• Yoga mat
• Resistance bands
• Smart watch
• Wireless earbuds
• Water bottle
• Gift card for fitness classes

For the Gamer

• Nintendo Switch console
• PlayStation/Xbox gift card
• Gaming headset
• Controller charging station
• Gaming poster
• Funko Pop of their favorite character

For the Techie

• Streaming device (Roku, Fire TV)
• Wireless charger
• Smart home device (Echo, Google Home)
• External phone battery
• Drone
• Digital photo frame

With some thought about the recipient‘s interests, you can likely find fun and personalized gift ideas they’ll appreciate as much as a gift card. And you can conveniently grab many of these at your neighborhood Walmart.

Tips for Selling on Multiple Retail Platforms

As a seller, being present on both Walmart and Amazon can help maximize your ecommerce sales potential. Here are some quick tips:

Walmart Tips

• Use Walmart Fulfillment Services for storage, shipping, and returns
• Promote listings with relevant keywords and quality images
• Maintain competitive pricing by monitoring Amazon prices
• Drive traffic to your Walmart listings via social media and email marketing
• Take advantage of seasonal sales events like Black Friday and the holidays

Amazon Tips

• Enroll in Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) for scalable order processing
• Optimize listings for SEO keywords and integrate promo ads
• Analyze competitors‘ pricing strategies and sales history
• Promote your brand story via Amazon Storefronts
• Feature lightning deals and coupons to inspire purchases

Omnichannel Tips

• Cross-link your store on each platform to maximize visibility
• Offer in-store pickup options for customers wanting fast fulfillment
• Maintain consistent branding, product info, and pricing
• Provide stellar customer service across all channels
• Leverage data insights across platforms to improve inventory and demand planning

With smart omnichannel retailing, you can successfully sell on both major marketplaces and turn the retail rivalry into increased profits for your business.

The Takeaway

While Amazon gift cards aren’t sold at Walmart stores due to competitive reasons, you have ample options for buying them at other major retailers. Know where to shop, navigate price match policies across sites, and think creatively about gift giving to make the most of your shopping experience and budget.

Understanding the Walmart vs. Amazon retail rivalry also provides helpful context for consumers making purchasing decisions. And smart omnichannel selling enables businesses to strategically leverage both platforms.

With the right information and preparation, you can shop savvily at Walmart and Amazon alike this holiday season. Let the retail wars work to your benefit as a smart shopper!