12 Gift Cards That Went Unused for Years
Unused gift cards add up to billions of dollars lost because many remain forgotten for years.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Gift cards are one of the most popular forms of gifts, but a large number are never redeemed. Some are misplaced, others are saved for later and then forgotten, and many simply lose relevance as shopping habits change. This article looks at 12 types of gift cards that stayed unused for years and why people did not spend them.
1. Starbucks Gift Card
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Many Starbucks gift cards were left untouched because recipients did not visit often enough. Some were misplaced at home or placed in wallets and forgotten. People who preferred other coffee shops also chose not to use them. As time passed, the cards held balances that were never spent.
2. Amazon Gift Card
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Amazon gift cards were often saved for a future purchase but never used. Some people misplaced the digital codes in their emails. Others delayed spending the balance while waiting for the right product. Years later, the cards still held unspent amounts.
3. iTunes Gift Card
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iTunes gift cards lost relevance as streaming services replaced digital downloads. Many users stopped buying music through iTunes, leaving cards untouched. Others set them aside and forgot after switching platforms. This left large balances inactive for years.
4. Best Buy Gift Card
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Best Buy cards were often saved until shoppers found the right deal. In many cases, those deals never came, and the cards went unused. Some were lost during moves or while cleaning up old belongings. Large sums stayed unclaimed as a result.
5. Target Gift Card
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Target gift cards were often stored away in envelopes or drawers. Many people intended to use them but kept delaying. Some felt overwhelmed by choices and postponed their purchase. Over time, the cards were forgotten and remained unused.
6. Walmart Gift Card
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Walmart cards were sometimes held for emergencies and never spent. Others went unused because recipients did not shop there regularly. Some cards were tucked away in wallets and overlooked. As a result, balances expired or were left untouched for years.
7. GameStop Gift Card
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GameStop cards were once common among gamers but lost value as digital downloads grew. Many customers stopped shopping in physical stores. Some cards were kept but never used as interest in the brand declined. These factors left many balances idle.
8. Macy’s Gift Card
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Macy’s cards often went unredeemed because shoppers waited for bigger discounts. Some did not want to add their own money on top of the card’s value. Others misplaced the cards and never found them. This made Macy’s one of the retailers with high unused balances.
9. Sephora Gift Card
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Sephora cards were often saved for new product launches. Many recipients postponed spending them, only to forget about the cards later. Others stored them away as a special treat but never returned to use them. This left many balances inactive.
10. Home Depot Gift Card
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Home Depot cards were usually kept for future projects. Many projects were delayed or never started. Some cards were placed in toolboxes or storage areas and forgotten. Years later, the funds remained untouched.
11. Visa Prepaid Gift Card
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Visa prepaid cards could be used almost anywhere but were still often overlooked. Some recipients never activated them. Others used part of the balance and forgot about the remainder. Many cards expired with unused funds still loaded.
12. Barnes & Noble Gift Card
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Barnes & Noble cards declined in use as more readers shifted to digital books. Some recipients did not visit physical stores often. Others read less than they expected and left the cards untouched. Over time, many of these balances were left behind.