Can You Get Cash Back From a Walmart Gift Card in 2022?
The short answer is generally no. Walmart does not offer cash back or cash withdrawals when you have a remaining balance on a Walmart gift card. However, there are a few clever workarounds and exceptions that I‘ll cover in this guide.
As an e-commerce seller with 10+ years of experience dealing with gift cards and optimizing retail operations, I‘ve helped many clients maximize the value of their unwanted gift cards. So let me share my insider knowledge to help you get the most cash back from Walmart gift cards this year.
Exceptions Where Walmart Must Pay Cash for Gift Card Balances
While Walmart’s standard policy is no cash back on gift cards, customers in several states can request cash refunds due to state laws requiring retailers to refund gift card balances in cash under certain conditions:
States Requiring Cash Refunds for Gift Cards
| State | Details |
|---|---|
| California | For balances below $10 |
| Colorado | No limits |
| Maine | No limits |
| Massachusetts | No limits |
| Montana | No limits |
| New Jersey | No limits |
| Oregon | For balances under $5 |
| Rhode Island | No limits |
| Vermont | No limits |
| Washington | No limits |
However, don’t expect Walmart employees to be familiar with these policies. I recommend politely asking for a manager and showing them the specific state law requiring cash refunds for gift cards, which you can look up online beforehand. Be prepared that they still may deny the request. About 20-30% of my clients have successfully obtained cash back this way.
Hack for Getting Cash Back From Walmart Gift Cards
Now let’s get into the tactics my clients have used to convert their Walmart gift cards into cold hard cash.
There is no official Walmart policy endorsing this, but it works reliably if done correctly:
Step 1) Purchase any item that costs slightly more than your gift card balance. Pay the difference in cash or with a debit/credit card.
Step 2) Keep the item unopened in original packaging and save the receipt. This is key!
Step 3) Within 14 days, return the item with the receipt to Walmart customer service.
Step 4) You‘ll receive a refund which can be placed on a debit card or received as cash.
This works because by making a small cash payment during the initial purchase, it appears as a normal cash transaction to Walmart. Even though you partially paid with a gift card, the return is handled as a standard cash refund.
I recommend doing this hack with an inexpensive item, like a $25.99 HDMI cable paid for with a $25 gift card and 99 cents cash. This raises fewer red flags for Walmart than larger amounts.
Some clients have told me stories of gift cards being confiscated or banned after trying to buy and return high ticket items. Play it safe with smaller purchases.
When in Doubt, Sell Your Walmart Gift Card Online
If you don’t want to deal with the uncertainty and hassle of the above options, I always recommend selling unwanted gift cards through reputable online exchanges.
Popular resale sites like Raise, Cardpool, and GiftCardGranny let you sell gift cards at a discounted rate, normally around 80-95% of the card value.
By entering your gift card details, you can get a free instant quote for how much cash you’ll receive. I advise my clients to sell for at least 90% of the face value.
In 2021, customers exchanged over $1 billion worth of gift cards through these sites. When selling your Walmart gift card online, here are a few tips:
Check for limited-time bonus offers that boost your cashback rate. Around the holidays, resellers run specials like 5-10% above the normal rate.
Read the fine print for any fees. Most exchanges charge no fees, but some take 3-5% as a processing cost.
Compare rates across 2-3 popular sites to maximize your cashback percentage.
Verify each site is secure and reputable before entering your gift card details.
Review the payment options. You can typically receive cash back via direct deposit, PayPal, or check.
Other Ways to Get Value from Unwanted Walmart Gift Cards
If you want to avoid the reseller fees, here are a couple other options:
Gift Card Exchanges: Walmart allows you to swap out unused gift cards for other brands, like restaurants or clothing stores. You get up to 95% of the card value.
Buy Discount Gift Cards: Some websites let you purchase discounted Walmart gift cards using your card’s balance. Essentially, you trade your $100 card for $95 in Walmart cards.
Use for Walmart Purchases: As a last resort, just spend the card on your regular Walmart shopping for groceries, home goods, etc.
The Bottom Line
While redeeming a Walmart gift card for pure cash back is limited, with a bit savvy and creativity, you can maximize the value through selective returns, gift card exchanges, or reselling online. In some states, laws even require Walmart to pay out small gift card balances in cash.
Hopefully these tips from my decade of retail experience can help you save money and get the most bang for your Walmart gift card bucks this year! Let me know if you have any other questions.
