Gift card exchange kiosks and associated methods of use
The present disclosure is directed to gift card exchange kiosks and associated methods of use. In one embodiment, for example, a consumer operated kiosk can receive a gift card identifier associated with a gift card via a user interface and/or a card reader, verify the gift card's activation status and/or face value, and display exchange options for a consumer. The exchange options can include exchanging the gift card for cash or a redeemable cash voucher. The kiosk can also store exchanged gift cards for later sale at the kiosk or at a remote location.
1. A method of exchanging gift cards for value with a consumer operated kiosk, the method comprising:
receiving, at the consumer operated kiosk, a gift card identifier via a card reader associated with the consumer operated kiosk, wherein the gift card identifier is associated with a gift card received from a user;
verifying, by the consumer operated kiosk and via interactions with a remote server and at least one database, a card activation status and a gift card value associated with the gift card identifier;
displaying one or more exchange options to the user via a display associated with the consumer operated kiosk, wherein at least one of the exchange options includes returning the gift card or exchanging the gift card value for a redeemable cash voucher having a buy-back value, wherein the buy-back value is less than the gift card value;
receiving, at the kiosk and via the display, a selection from the user corresponding to at least one of the exchange options; and
when the user selection corresponds to exchanging the gift card value for the redeemable cash voucher, issuing, by the kiosk, the redeemable cash voucher to the user.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user is a first user, and wherein the method further comprises reselling the gift card value to a second user for a price less than the gift card value and more than the buy-back value.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein issuing the redeemable cash voucher to the user comprises electronically sending the redeemable cash voucher to the user via an email and/or to a mobile device via a smartphone application.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
scanning a government issued I.D. from the user via the card reader; and
associating the government issued I.D. with user and at least one of the gift card identifier or the redeemable cash voucher in a database.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving user identification information via a user input device of the consumer operated
kiosk, wherein the user identification information associates the user with the gift card identifier; and
determining whether the user identification information meets a preset condition before issuing the redeemable cash voucher to the user.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein determining whether the identification information meets the preset condition comprises comparing a total value of gift cards tendered by the user within a preset period of time to a preset limit on total gift card value.
7. A method of exchanging gift cards for value with a consumer operated kiosk, the method comprising:
receiving, at the consumer operated kiosk, a gift card from a first user via a card reader associated with the consumer operated kiosk, wherein the card reader reads a gift card identifier from the gift card;
verifying, by the consumer operated kiosk and via interactions with a remote server and at least one database, a card activation status and a gift card value associated with the gift card identifier;
displaying one or more exchange options for the first user via a display associated with the consumer operated kiosk, wherein the one or more exchange options include returning the gift card or exchanging the gift card value for a buy-back value in the form of cash and/or a redeemable cash voucher, wherein the buy-back value is less than the gift card value;
receiving, at the kiosk and via the display, a selection from the first user corresponding to at least one of the exchange options;
when the user selection corresponds to exchanging the gift card for cash and/or a redeemable cash voucher, issuing, by the kiosk, the selected cash and/or redeemable cash voucher to the first user; and
reselling the gift card value to a second user for a price less than the gift card value and greater than the buy-back value.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein issuing the redeemable cash voucher to the first user comprises electronically sending the redeemable cash voucher to the first user via an email and/or to a mobile device via a smartphone application.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving the gift card in a card input slot at the consumer operated kiosk and retaining the gift card in the consumer operated kiosk prior to issuing the selected cash and/or redeemable cash voucher to the user.
10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
scanning a government issued I.D. for user identification information via the card reader; and
associating the user identification information with the gift card identifier in a database.
11. A method of exchanging gift cards for value with a consumer operated kiosk, the method comprising:
receiving, at the consumer operated kiosk, a first gift card identifier via a user interface at the consumer operated kiosk, wherein receiving the first gift card identifier includes reading the first gift card identifier from a first gift card via a card reader at the consumer operated kiosk, wherein the first gift card identifier is associated with a gift card received from a user;
verifying, by the consumer operated kiosk and via interactions with a remote server and at least one database, a first activation status and a first gift card value associated with the first gift card identifier;
receiving, at the consumer operated kiosk, a second gift card identifier from the user via the user interface, wherein the second gift card identifier is associated with a second gift card;
verifying, by the consumer operated kiosk and via interactions with a remote server and at least one database, a second activation status associated and a second gift card value with the second gift card identifier;
maintaining the first activation status while the second gift card identifier is received and the second activation status is verified;
displaying one or more exchange options to the user, via a display associated with the consumer operated kiosk, wherein the one or more exchange options include returning the first gift card, returning the second gift card, and exchanging the gift card value for a redeemable cash voucher;
receiving, at the kiosk and via the display, a selection from the user corresponding to at least one of the exchange options; and
when the user selection corresponds to exchanging the gift card value for the redeemable cash voucher, issuing, by the kiosk, the redeemable cash voucher to the user.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the gift card value is equal to a first value of the first gift card plus a second value of the second gift card.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the user is a first user, and wherein the method further comprises reselling at least a portion of the gift card value to a second user for a price less than the gift card value.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein issuing the redeemable cash voucher to the user comprises electronically providing the redeemable cash voucher to the user via an email and/or a smartphone application.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the first gift card has a first gift value and the second gift card has a second gift card value, wherein the redeemable cash voucher has a voucher value, and wherein the voucher value is based on the sum of the first and second gift card values.
16. The method of claim 11 wherein displaying one or more exchange options includes displaying a first buy-back offer associated with the first gift card value and a second buy-back offer associated with the second gift card value.
17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
scanning a government issued I.D. from the user via the card reader; and
associating the government issued I.D. with the user and the gift card identifier and/or the redeemable cash voucher in a database.
18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving, via a card input slot, the first and second gift cards in the consumer operated kiosk when the user selection corresponds to exchanging the first gift card and second gift card for a redeemable cash voucher.
19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising reselling the gift card value from a location remote from the consumer operated kiosk, wherein the gift card value is resold for a price less than the gift card value.
20. The method of claim 11 wherein receiving the second gift card identifier associated with the second gift card comprises receiving gift card information associated with a virtual gift card.