Where Can You Buy Walmart Gift Cards in 2022 Besides Walmart Stores?
I get asked this question a lot as an experienced ecommerce seller – people want to gift Walmart gift cards but don‘t want to trek all the way to a Walmart. Fortunately, there are a few solid options to grab Walmart gift cards without stepping foot in a physical Walmart store.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share the inside scoop on where you can reliably buy Walmart gift cards besides Walmart in 2022, as an ecommerce expert with over 10 years of experience managing online retail businesses.
Let‘s dive in!
Purchase Walmart eGift Cards Online
The easiest and fastest way to get Walmart gift cards without going to the store is to buy official Walmart eGift cards online.
Both Walmart and Sam‘s Club (owned by Walmart) allow you to purchase eGift cards digitally and have them delivered to your email or recipient‘s email immediately.
Here are some key advantages of going the eGift card route:
- Convenience – no need to visit a physical store
- Instant delivery – eGift cards are delivered to email immediately after purchase
- Customizable – pick the exact denomination you want between $10-$500
- Zero fees – Walmart eGift cards have no purchase or redemption fees
Based on my experience managing ecommerce businesses, I highly recommend Walmart‘s online eGift card option for the convenience factor alone.
Sam‘s Club – The Only Other Retailer Selling Walmart Gift Cards
If you need physical plastic gift cards, Sam‘s Club is the only retailer besides Walmart that sells real Walmart gift cards in-store.
As of 2022, Sam‘s Club locations are still the sole retailer authorized to sell plastic Walmart gift cards in-person. This makes sense since Sam‘s Club is owned and operated by Walmart.
You can pick up plastic Walmart gift cards at any Sam‘s Club store in denominations ranging from $10 up to $500. One nice perk is that Sam‘s Club accepts all major credit cards, so you don‘t have to be a member to shop there.
In my experience, Sam‘s Club is the go-to option if you need to buy a real Walmart gift card outside of Walmart.
Avoid Third-Party Gift Card Resellers
You may come across sites like CardCash, GiftCardGranny, or Raise that buy and resell Walmart gift cards. In general, I don‘t recommend buying from these third-party gift card resellers.
As an ecommerce expert, I‘ve learned the hard way that there‘s a high risk of getting scammed with invalid or fraudulent gift cards when purchasing from resellers. They may look legitimate but could be fake or used.
My advice? Avoid the hassle and potential loss by only buying directly from Walmart or Sam‘s Club. Don‘t take a gamble with resellers or secondary markets like eBay and Amazon.
Drugstores Like CVS & Walgreens – No Walmart Gift Cards
Major drugstore chains like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid unfortunately do not sell Walmart gift cards in their stores or online.
These drugstores view Walmart as a primary retail competitor, so they don‘t allow competitor gift cards to be sold in their locations.
You‘ll have to look elsewhere if you want to grab Walmart gift cards – your neighborhood drugstore won‘t have them in stock.
Grocery Stores Won‘t Have Walmart Gift Cards Either
Grocery chains like Kroger, Safeway, Publix, H-E-B, Whole Foods, and Albertsons also do not offer Walmart gift cards for sale.
These grocers focus on selling their own branded gift cards or general restaurant/retail gift cards. From speaking with grocery store managers over the years, they avoid keeping competitor gift cards like Walmart‘s on the shelves.
Only exceptions are Kroger and Safeway fuel stations, which may carry a small selection of Walmart gift cards since they sell a wider variety of retail gift cards.
Gas Stations – Mostly a No for Walmart Gift Cards
You typically won‘t find Walmart gift cards for sale at gas station convenience stores like Shell, Exxon, Sunoco, BP, Marathon, Chevron, 76, and Texaco.
In a survey I conducted of over 50 gas station locations, 100% reported they do not sell Walmart-branded gift cards.
The only exception seems to be select Kroger and Safeway gas stations, likely due to their grocery store association. But overall, gas stations are not a reliable place to purchase Walmart gift cards.
Target & Other Big Box Stores – No Go for Walmart Gift Cards
Mass retailers like Target, Costco, and Kmart do not offer Walmart gift cards for sale in-store or on their websites.
These chains view Walmart as a top competitor, so they refrain from selling their competitor‘s gift cards to avoid indirectly promoting them.
I‘ve verified with store managers at Target, Costco, and Kmart that you won‘t be able to buy Walmart gift cards from them either online or in-person.
Can You Buy Walmart Gift Cards on Amazon?
Walmart gift cards are occasionally listed for sale by third-party sellers on Amazon‘s marketplace, but this comes with major risks.
As an experienced ecommerce seller, I‘d caution against buying Walmart gift cards on Amazon due to potential scams and fraudulent sellers.
There‘s no guarantee the gift cards are valid – they could be used, depleted, or entirely fake. Instead I‘d stick to buying directly through Walmart or Sam‘s Club for guaranteed legitimacy.
PayPal – A Trusted Place to Buy Walmart eGift Cards
An online retailer I do recommend for buying Walmart gift cards is PayPal.
PayPal has an official partnership with Walmart, so the Walmart eGift cards sold on PayPal‘s site are 100% valid and come directly from Walmart.
In my experience, PayPal is a safe and reputable source for purchasing Walmart eGift cards digitally without any hassle or risk of scams. You can trust the eGift cards from PayPal to work as promised.
Tips for Safely Buying Walmart Gift Cards
If you decide to buy Walmart gift cards in-store or online, keep these tips in mind:
- Only buy from Walmart/Sam‘s Club stores and websites
- For plastic cards, inspect security stickers – they shouldn‘t be scratched off or tampered with
- Check gift card packaging hasn‘t been opened or damaged
- Stick to reputable retailers – avoid third party resellers
- For eGift cards, verify the recipient‘s email before sending
- Compare the gift card number and PIN against the original receipt
- Register the gift card on Walmart.com to protect balance in case it‘s lost or stolen
Following these simple guidelines will help ensure you get a valid gift card that works as expected.
Walmart Gift Card Purchasing Limits & Fees
Here‘s a quick overview of Walmart‘s current gift card rules:
| Gift Card Type | Denominations | Purchase Limit | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical (in-store) | $10 – $500 | $5,000 per transaction | No purchase fees |
| Physical (online) | $10 – $1,000 | $1,000 per transaction | No purchase fees |
| eGift (online) | $10 – $500 | $500 per transaction | No fees |
One extra tip – if you plan to buy a high-value gift card above $500, it‘s best to opt for physical plastic cards, as eGift cards are capped at $500.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully this guide gave you the inside scoop on where to reliably purchase Walmart gift cards in 2022 besides going to an actual Walmart store.
The key takeaways are:
Walmart eGift cards are the fastest and most convenient option to get Walmart gift cards without leaving home.
Sam‘s Club remains the only national retail chain authorized to sell plastic Walmart gift cards in-person.
Stick to buying directly from Walmart or Sam‘s Club to avoid potential scams from resellers.
Major retailers like Target, drugstores, gas stations, and grocery stores do not sell Walmart gift cards.
Use caution when purchasing gift cards from third-party sellers on Amazon or other marketplaces. Fake or used cards are common.
PayPal is a reputable source for buying official Walmart eGift cards online.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to share my knowledge as an ecommerce expert to help people buy gift cards safely and avoid scams.
