For most brands there is no way to see a card's balance without adding it to an account, and once it's added it can't be sold. So check what you can: that the card was activated, that the scratch strip is intact, its region, and where it came from. We check every code with the issuer before paying, and a card that isn't valid costs you nothing.
Why you usually can't check the balance
Steam, Apple, Google Play, Amazon and most other brands only show a card's value when you redeem it: the code is added to your account and the money moves into your balance there. That's the end of the card as something you can sell. Look-up sites that promise to check a code for you are a risk of their own: you'd be handing the code to a stranger.
What you can check
- It was activated. Physical cards are activated at the till. The receipt should show the card and its value.
- The strip is intact. If the code was already uncovered when you got the card, someone may have copied it.
- The region. Printed on the card or named in the email. It has to match the country you pick when you sell.
- It was never added. No one clicked a redeem button in the gift email or typed the code into an account.
- Where it came from. A card you bought or were given is fine. A card bought cheaply from a stranger is a warning sign.
What happens when you sell
We check every code with the issuer. If it's valid, the rate you saw when you submitted is credited to your balance. If it isn't, nothing is charged and you see the reason. More on that in why a code gets rejected.
Questions
Do gift cards expire?
It depends on the brand and the country. Many don't, but check the terms printed on the card or on the issuer's website.
Can you check a card for me before I sell it?
Our check happens when you submit the card. If it's valid, you're paid the locked rate. If it isn't, it costs you nothing and you see why.
The scratch strip was already scratched when I got the card.
Then someone may have seen the code. Ask the person who gave it to you, or the shop with your receipt, before you sell it.
I bought a cheap card from someone online. Is it safe to sell?
Be careful: cards sold far below their value are often stolen or bought with stolen money. Such cards are frozen when we find out, along with the balance they created.