No, Walmart Does Not Sell TJ Maxx Gift Cards Directly – Here‘s How To Buy One In 2023
As an experienced ecommerce business owner, I often get asked if major retailers like Walmart sell branded gift cards from competitor brands. One common question I receive is "Does Walmart sell TJ Maxx gift cards?"
The short answer is no, Walmart does not sell physical or digital TJ Maxx gift cards directly to consumers. But don‘t worry – with a little planning you can still easily purchase a TJ Maxx gift card, even if you‘re a dedicated Walmart shopper.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share insider tips on buying TJ Maxx gift cards based on my decade of experience in ecommerce and retail. You‘ll learn:
- Why Walmart doesn‘t sell competitor‘s gift cards like TJ Maxx
- The best gift card alternatives to buy at Walmart for TJ Maxx
- Where to buy an official TJ Maxx gift card
- The pros and cons of general gift cards vs retailer-specific ones
- What you can buy with a TJ Maxx gift card
Let‘s start by understanding why you won‘t find TJ Maxx gift cards being sold at America‘s largest brick-and-mortar retailer.
Why Doesn‘t Walmart Sell TJ Maxx Gift Cards?
Walmart choosing not to sell TJ Maxx gift cards primarily comes down to direct competition. As the #1 and #3 discount retailers in the US respectively, Walmart and TJ Maxx aggressively compete for a similar customer demographic seeking deals.
Both stores make the majority of their revenue selling discounted home goods, apparel, accessories, beauty products, toys, and more. Over 75% of TJ Maxx‘s sales come from apparel and home goods alone.
According to Walmart‘s 2021 annual report, around 56% of their net sales also come from grocery, general merchandise, and health/wellness categories. This substantial overlap in product selection makes the two brands direct competitors.
Walmart wants to keep consumer spending focused within their own stores. By not offering branded gift cards from TJ Maxx, Target, Kohl‘s, or Best Buy, Walmart reduces opportunities for customers to shop at competitor retailers.
Based on my experience running branded Shopify stores, this is a common tactic merchants use to maximize repeat business. You will often see complimentary, non-competing brands selling gift cards cross-store. But direct rivals do not.
For example, Starbucks sells Panera Bread gift cards but not those from Dunkin‘ Donuts. Or AMC Theatres gift cards are sold at Regal Cinemas, but not vice versa.
In 2021, around $170 billion was spent on gift cards in the US. With this huge amount of "pre-spent" money up for grabs, retailers want to capture as much as possible within their own brand.
Gift Card Alternatives To Buy at Walmart for TJ Maxx
Now just because Walmart doesn‘t directly sell TJ Maxx gift cards doesn‘t mean you‘re out of luck. Walmart still offers plenty of flexible gift card options that can be used at TJ Maxx for your shopping needs:
Walmart Gift Cards
One easy option is to simply purchase a Walmart gift card instead.
While TJ Maxx may have better deals on certain designer brands, there is actually a decent amount of overlap between Walmart and TJ Maxx products. Especially for everyday basics like:
- Home goods and kitchen items
- Toys, games, books, movies
- Basic apparel and shoes
- Health and beauty products
- Pet supplies
- Arts and crafts items
- And more
The chart below shows examples of popular spending categories and product types that are offered at both Walmart and TJ Maxx:
Product Category | Walmart Examples | TJ Maxx Examples |
---|---|---|
Home Goods | Furniture, kitchenware, pet supplies, storage items | Furniture, kitchenware, pet supplies, storage items |
Apparel | T-shirts, jeans, underwear, athleticwear, shoes | T-shirts, jeans, underwear, athleticwear, shoes |
Accessories | Handbags, sunglasses, jewelry, wallets | Handbags, sunglasses, jewelry, wallets |
Beauty | Makeup, skincare, hair products | Makeup, skincare, hair products |
Electronics | Headphones, speakers, batteries | Headphones, speakers, batteries |
According to 2021 sales data, TJ Maxx earned around $4.3 billion from home goods while Walmart sold over $36 billion. But there‘s still ample chances a Walmart gift card could be used effectively at TJ Maxx stores.
The main advantage of a Walmart gift card is flexibility. The recipient isn‘t limited to just TJ Maxx, giving them more options. Walmart gift cards can be purchased in denominations from just $10 up to $500.
Visa/Mastercard Gift Cards
For even greater flexibility, Walmart shoppers can purchase reloadable or single-use Visa and Mastercard gift cards.
The major benefit is these can be used for purchases anywhere that accepts credit cards – both online and in-store. So a Visa gift card from Walmart could be spent at:
- TJ Maxx (online, in-store)
- Walmart (online, in-store)
- Amazon
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- And any ecommerce or brick-and-mortar retailer!
No need to commit all the funds to just TJ Maxx.
From my own gift card usage, I‘ve found Visa and Mastercards to provide the most convenience and options when shopping across multiple merchants. The recipient can essentially treat it like a pre-paid credit card.
At Walmart, these reloadable gift cards are available with amounts ranging from just $25 up to $500.
Walmart ‘"Your Gift" Choice Card‘
If you want a happy middle ground between a single-retailer gift card and an open-ended Visa card, Walmart also offers the "Your Gift Choice Card".
This can be used at over 150 different brands, including TJ Maxx, Marshall‘s, HomeGoods and other major retailers.
The choice card provides a nice taste of flexibility while still limiting options compared to a standard credit card. From the gift buyer‘s perspective, you can ensure the funds go towards a shopping trip rather than other expenses.
The Your Gift Choice Card selection includes categories like:
- Apparel stores like TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, American Eagle
- Restaurants like Outback, Panera Bread, Buffalo Wild Wings
- Entertainment brands like GameStop, Regal Cinemas, AMC Theaters
- Gas stations like Exxon, BP, Sunoco
- Grocery and drug stores like Kroger, Albertsons, CVS
- And more!
At Walmart, you can load values between $25 to $200 to be used across any eligible brand. This provides easy one-stop shopping for a flexible gift card.
Where To Buy an Official TJ Maxx Gift Card
Okay, so now we‘ve covered the various gift card options you can buy at Walmart to use towards TJ Maxx. But what if you specifically want to purchase an official TJ Maxx gift card?
While Walmart doesn‘t sell them directly, TJ Maxx gift cards are readily available through other major retailers. Some top options include:
Kroger
Kroger supermarket locations all sell physical TJ Maxx gift cards in denominations ranging from $25 up to $500. This makes it easy to add a gift card to your regular grocery shopping trip.
Dollar General
At over 18,000 locations across the US, Dollar General is a convenient place to stop and pick up a $25 or $50 TJ Maxx gift card off the rack.
CVS
CVS pharmacy stores sell TJ Maxx gift cards at the register in $25, $50, and $100 amounts. Check your local CVS for availability.
TJMaxx.com
For fast digital delivery, TJMaxx.com offers e-gift cards that can be emailed to a recipient or scheduled up to a year in advance. You can choose any whole dollar amount between $5 and $500.
Other Grocery & Convenience Stores
Retailers like Rite Aid, Safeway, Winn-Dixie, and Circle K often carry TJ Maxx gift cards seasonally around big holidays like Christmas and Mother‘s Day. Call your local stores ahead to check.
The benefit of the official gift card is ensuring your gift can only be spent at TJ Maxx stores and websites. This "locks in" the gift rather than providing flexible spending options.
Official TJ Maxx Gift Cards vs General Gift Cards
Now that we‘ve covered where you can buy TJ Maxx gift cards, let‘s compare the benefits and drawbacks to more general gift cards:
Gift Card Type | Benefits | Drawbacks |
---|---|---|
TJ Maxx Branded Card | Can only be spent at TJ Maxx, Marshall‘s, HomeGoods | Limited to one retailer |
Walmart Branded Card | Open-ended spending at Walmart | Limited to Walmart |
Visa/Mastercard | Spend anywhere | Not retailer-specific |
Choice Card | 150+ brand options | Still some limitations |
TJ Maxx branded gift cards are best when…
- You want to ensure funds go specifically towards TJ Maxx shopping
- The recipient doesn‘t need flexibility across other retailers
- You want to maximize TJ Maxx rewards benefits and discounts
General gift cards are best when…
- You want to give the recipient spending flexibility
- Unsure if recipient has a TJ Maxx nearby or prefers other stores
- You need a last-minute gift card from Walmart specifically
Speaking from my own gift card usage habits, I tend to prefer Visa/Mastercard combos for myself. But for gifts, I tailor the card selection based on where I know the recipient prefers to shop. Branded retailer gift cards make great gifts for loyal customers.
What You Can Buy With a TJ Maxx Gift Card
TJ Maxx gift cards can be used to purchase any products at TJ Maxx stores or online at TJMaxx.com. This includes:
- Women‘s, men‘s, juniors, and children‘s apparel
- Shoes and accessories like handbags, sunglasses, jewelry
- Home goods like furniture, kitchenware, pet supplies
- Toys, games, books, movies
- Health and beauty products
- And much more!
Plus, the card balance can also be used at TJ Maxx‘s sister discount stores:
- Marshalls – Similar assortment to TJ Maxx with more focus on family apparel
- HomeGoods – Brand name home furnishings at discount prices
- Sierra Trading Post – Offers deals on outdoor gear, clothing, footwear
So a TJ Maxx gift card essentially opens up discounted shopping across all these stores.
Some key benefits of using a TJ Maxx gift card:
- Cardholders get exclusive discounts like $10 off a $50+ purchase
- Buying a gift card enrolls you in the TJ Maxx rewards program
- Makes returns and exchanges easier by going back on the gift card
- Can be combined with other coupons and promo offers
Just check gift card balances and expiration dates, as policies vary by state.
The Bottom Line
While Walmart does not sell TJ Maxx competitor gift cards directly, you do have convenient options to purchase a TJ Maxx gift card elsewhere, like Kroger or CVS. Or choose a flexible Walmart Visa card.
Hopefully this guide gave you insider tips for finding the perfect TJ Maxx gift card solution while shopping at Walmart. Let me know if you have any other specific brand gift card questions!