Gift Card Exchange Kiosks: Do They Still Exist?
A gift card exchange kiosk was a self-service machine that bought an unwanted gift card on the spot and paid you discounted cash. They were handy — but mostly a thing of the past. The biggest operator, Coinstar, discontinued its gift-card exchange kiosks on June 26, 2019, and its machines now state plainly that they "do not exchange gift cards." Dedicated kiosks have largely disappeared since. This page explains what’s actually left and why an online swap is the easier route today.
What gift card exchange kiosks were
You’d walk up to the machine, scan or key in your card, and it would check the balance and show an offer. Accept it and you’d get discounted cash (often a voucher to redeem at the register). Minimums and a short list of accepted national brands were typical, and the kiosk kept part of the value as its margin.
Do they still exist?
- Coinstar’s are gone. The yellow gift-card exchange kiosks were retired in 2019; today’s green Coinstar machines count coins and don’t accept gift cards. (More on our Coinstar gift card exchange page.)
- Independent kiosks are rare. A few third-party or regional machines may still operate in some stores or malls, but availability is limited and varies a lot by area — there’s no nationwide network, and what existed last year may be gone.
- If you do find one, expect the same trade-off as before: discounted cash, a limited brand list, and a physical trip.
Why an online swap is easier now
With dedicated kiosks mostly gone, there’s usually nothing convenient to find — which is exactly why an online exchange wins. FlipGift lets you trade a card you won’t use for one you will, card-for-card, with no fees, from anywhere and at any hour. No kiosk to hunt down, no cut taken, and you end up with a card you’ll actually use rather than a discounted cash payout.
- No fees or commission — nothing is skimmed off the top.
- Full value retained — ratios follow live supply and demand; popular brands trade close to 1:1.
- Lower scam risk — balances verified before codes release, codes swap simultaneously, no money moves between accounts.
Kiosk vs FlipGift
| Gift card exchange kiosk | FlipGift | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Rare — Coinstar’s shut down in 2019, few remain | Online, everywhere, 24/7 |
| You walk away with | Discounted cash (if you find one) | Another gift card you’ll use |
| Cost to you | Keeps part of the balance | No fees / no commission |
| Value retained | A percentage of face value (for example, often well below it) | Full value, ratios set by demand |
| Brands accepted | Limited, popular only | Wide range — see the live pool |
When a kiosk (or resale site) is the better choice
If you need cash and happen to find a working kiosk, it’s instant in person — but it pays a discount, and FlipGift can’t give you cash at all (it gives you a card). With kiosks so scarce, an online resale buyer like CardCash or GiftCash is usually the more reliable way to get cash. If you’d spend that cash at stores you already use, a swap keeps the full value instead.
How a FlipGift swap works
- List your card — brand, balance, and code, encrypted with AES-256 and shown only to a verified match.
- Pick the brands you’d accept — more options, faster match.
- Get matched and verified — both balances checked before any codes move.
- Receive your new card — codes release simultaneously, with a 48-hour dispute window.
Swap a card for free
Frequently asked questions
Are gift card exchange kiosks still around?
Mostly not. Coinstar ended its gift-card kiosk program in 2019, and dedicated machines have largely disappeared. A few independent kiosks may still operate in some areas, but availability is limited and varies.
Does Coinstar still have a gift card exchange kiosk?
No — Coinstar discontinued those kiosks in June 2019, and its current machines don’t accept gift cards (they count coins).
How much do gift card exchange kiosks pay?
Less than face value, since they resell what they buy. The exact amount varied by brand and machine, so you’d always check the on-screen offer — but with kiosks now scarce, it’s often a moot point.
What’s the best alternative to a gift card exchange kiosk?
An online exchange. FlipGift swaps your card for one you’ll use at full value with no fees, and works anywhere — no kiosk required. If you need cash, an online resale buyer is the better bet.