Buy a Giftcard, Get a Freebie
As we come down the Christmas home stretch, some of us still have a little shopping to do. *looks around sheepishly* One easy present is always gift cards and at this time of year, stores are offering freebies on top of them! Below, I’ve compiled a list of every such joint that I could find.
Most of these freebies are a “bonus card” instead of a “gift card,” which basically means that they’re one-time use only. As opposed to a gift card, a bonus card doesn’t carry a balance. So, for instance, if you had a $5 bonus card, you’d want to use it on a purchase that was over $5, so that you could use the entire card. If you tried to use it on a purchase of $3, then your purchase would be free, but you’d also be losing out on $2.
And as always, please make sure you read the fine print. Most of these have expiration dates as soon as February and March. Also, many of the rewards cards have the stipulation that they cannot be used to purchase alcohol.
Oh yeah, this list is pretty repetitive and boring. I realized halfway through that most of the stores were offering only slight variations of the same freebies, so they all read more or less the same. You may want to simply scan the list and look for any stores you might be interested in buying a card from.
Abercrombie – Make a $100 purchase in-store and get a $25 gift card! They’re also running a $200/$50 offer.
Applebee’s – Buy $50 in gift cards and get a $10 bonus card.
Benihana – Buy $50 in gift cards and get a $10 bonus card.
Bonefish Grill – Buy $100 worth of gift cards and you’ll (A) get a $20 rewards card and (B) be entered into a contest to win $5,000.
Bruster’s – They have a few different deals going: a free $5 gift card with the purchase of a $25 gift card, as well as $10/$50 and $20/$100.
Buca Di Beppo – Get a $25 reward card for every $100 in gift card purchases.
Buffalo Wild Wings – Buy a $25 gift card and get $5 back (though I can’t tell if this is in cash or reward card form).
California Pizza Kitchen – Purchase $100 in gift cards and get a $20 rewards card.
Carrabba’s – Buy $100 in gift cards and get a $20 bonus card.
Chick-fil-A – Buy a $20 giftcard and get a free 2010 calendar, which contains over $20 in of coupon. [via Freebies 4 Mom - thanks!]
Claim Jumper – Buy $50 in gift cards and get a $10 bonus card. This is getting a little repetitive, huh?
Corner Bakery Cafe – Buy a $25 gift card and get a $5 bonus carzzzzzzzzzzz. Whoops. I fell asleep there after putting myself into a trance by writing the same thing over and over.
Cosi – Buy $50 in gift cards and get a $10 bonus card.
CVS – Get a $5 eGift Card for every $25 you spend.
Denny’s – Buy a $25 gift card and get a $5 Denny’s card.
DSW – Buy a $50 gift card, get a $10 bonus card between now and 12/24. [via Melody - thanks!]
Fandango – If you purchase a gift card, you’ll receive a special thank you rewards valued to to $100. I have no idea what the reward is, however I’d guess it’s free movie tickets or something.
Fazoli’s – Buy a $20 gift card and get a $5 off coupon.
Flanigan’s – Buy $100 in gift cards and get a $20 gift card.
Friendly’s – Buy a $25 gift card and get a $5 Bonus Card.
Half Price Books – Buy a $25 gift card and get a $5 coupon.
Hollister – Make a $75 in-store purchase and get a $25 gift card. They also have a $150/$50 offer.
IHOP – Buy a $25 gift card and get a $5 coupon for your next visit.
Kohl’s – They have quite the ladder system set up, where the more you spend, the more Kohl’s Cash you get. It starts at $50/$10 and goes to $250/$50 with coupon increments increasing with each $50 purchase thereafter.
Margaritas – Buy $25 in gift cards and get a $5 rewards card.
McCormick & Schmick’s – Buy a $50 gift card and get a $10 dining certificate. Hey, look! It’s not called a reward card here! They also have a $100/$25 option available.
Moe’s Southwest Grill – Buy a $25 gift card and get a $5 Moe Buck for yourself.
Ninety Nine – Buy a $25 gift card and receive $5 off your next meal.
O’Charley’s – Buy a gift card for as little as $20 and get a $5 reward card.
Outback – Purchase $100 in gift cards and receive a free $20 bonus card.
P.F. Chang’s – Buy a $50 gift card and get a $10 Be Our Guest Card.
Pappas – Buy a $50 gift card and get a $10 gift card.
Pedro’s Mexican Resautante – Buy a $50 gift card and get a $10 gift card or $100/$25.
Potbelly Sandwich Works – Buy $25 in gift cards and get a ticket good for an originals or skinnys sandwich.
Qdoba – Buy a $25 Q-Cash Card and get a $5 voucher for yourself.
Red Robin – Get $5 in Bonus Bucks for every $25 in gift cards purchased.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House – Buy $250 or more in gift cards (holy crap!) and get 10% back.
Spring Creek Barbeque – Buy a $25 gift card and get a $5 holiday bonus card to use on your next visit.
Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes – Buy $100 in gift cards and get a free meal pass.
Steak n Shake – For every $20 eGift cards purchased, you’ll get a $5 eGift card.
T.G.I. Friday’s – Buy a $25 gift card and get a $5 Bonus Bites card.
Taco Bueno – Buy a $25 gift card and get a bar of gold. Haha, just kidding, you’ll get a $5 gift card.
Ted’s Montana Grill – Buy $100 worth of gift cards and get a free $20 Bonus Card.
The Container Store – Purchase $100 in eGift Cards and get a free $25 eGift card for yourself.
Unos Chicago Grill – Buy a $25 gift card and get a $5 Holiday Bonus Voucher.
So, do you know any I missed? Let us know in the comments!
The Buffalo Wild Wings $5 back is in the form of a certificate that can only be used in the store that you purchased the gift card in. I hope this helps!
SmashBurger is offering a free $5 gift certificate with purchase of a $25 gift card.
branns has a great deal buy $25. gift card get $10 gift cert for free
Papa John’s – buy $25 gift card, get a $5 card free.
Granite City Food and Brewery is offering gift card savings.
Buy $30 to $299 in gift cards and receive a 10% Discount
$300 to $999 in gift cards and receive a 15% Discount
More than $1000 in gift cards and receive a 20% Discount
Macaroni Grill–get a $5 bonus card for every $25 in gift cards you purchase. Get a free combo meal with purchase of a $20 gift card at Arby’s.
If you buy a $ 25.00 gift card from Papa Gino’s, you get a certificate for a large cheese pizza (worth about $ 12-13) that can be redeemed during a time period in mid-January through mid February — not sure about the exact dates of the redemption period.
Thanks for such a great list. I really enjoy reading your witty blog!
AMC Theatres have various offers depending on which market you’re in. Most are either a $5 concession bonus card with purchase of a $25 gift card, or $10 concession card for a $50 gift card.
If you buy a $25 gift card from Ruby Tuesday, I believe you receive a $5 bonus card.
PACSUN – buy $50 gift card, get $25 in pacloot, whatever that is. http://www.pacsun.com
I did the Chik Fil a one and it was easy. gave the calendar as a gift.. and gave the gift card away.. 2 for 1, whatta deal
Sizzler steakhouse is doing a similar deal. Purchase a $25 gift card and get $5 goft card to use with your next visit. I think you have to go to a Sizzler restrauant to get this deal and the $5 has to be used in January 2010.
La Madeline gives you $5 gift card for a $25 gift card purchase
Very cool thanks
Be sure to check the valid dates on the bonus cards. A&F is giving $25, but can’t be used until January…when they won’t be running sales. I have found a few more to be the same way and saw small print on one website (sorry, I can’t remember which one) that said purchase had to be $50 to use the bonus card of $10.
Oops, I was confused — it’s not Papa John’s but Little Cesar’s that has buy $25 in gift cards, get $5 free. Too much pizza is affecting my brain.
I’m not sure if it’s all Qdoba’s or only Wisconsin ones. Right now if you buy a $25 gift certificate you get a $5 voucher for use in January and February.
Thanks, these are great! I’ve been around the deals sites but haven’t seen many of these.
smokey bones- Buy $25 get $10
Maggiano’s is doing buy a $100 gift card and receive a $20 bonus card. The food is excellent there too!!
Actually I just used my A&F gift card, didn’t have to wait till jan. to use it. It worked fine!