QUESTION Cash or GiftCards: Which do you prefer?

[Sprite1950]

I would choose to take cash payments so I can choose whatever it is that I need to buy.

The only thing with that is we get such a big deduction. If I choose an Amazon gift card from my own currency I get the full amount. After the conversion to pounds I get £3.91 out of $5 and then there is often a paypal fee too so it wouldn't buy much at all.

 

[InvadeZIMM]

Cash obviously. I'll only cashout a gift card if there is something specific that I want to purchase

 

[Fred W]

Ah, yes. That all-important question when you work for beer money - do I prefer cash or gift card as a reward? There was a time when I was adamant about getting only cold hard cash for all the tasks and surveys I would accomplish online - and get it as fast as possible, too. It got so that it actually influenced which GPT and paid survey sites I would sign up with. If it didn’t offer cashing out, I wasn’t interested.

But when I received and tried out Amazon gift cards and saw for myself how valuable and handy they could be, I became a little more open-minded about the kind of sites that offered them (alongside the cashing out option if they had it). So now I widened my criteria for the kind of sites I think are worth my while. Tier one belongs to those that offer both cash and (Amazon) gift cards as rewards, tier two includes those where I can cash out via PayPal in a decent amount of time, and tier three offers gift cards, but preferably with Amazon GCs on the menu. So far I have several sites that make it to one or all of those tiers: SwagBucks , GrabPoints , PrizeRebel , InstaGC , and PointsPrizes to name a few. So yeah, it’s mostly Amazon GCs for me aside from getting cash, but maybe I’ll change my mind. Who knows.

 

[Amos]

As I’ve mentioned several times in my older reviews (shameless plug: please give them a read! Lol), I’m totally a cash type of guy. Cash simply offers me more flexibility than other rewards methods. And think about it: why would I get an Amazon card when I can always use cash to buy the same items?

But with that said, I do know that it’s a case of different strokes for different folks. I think it all boils down to what you need your rewards for, and your own personal spending style. Like I mentioned above, I like the flexibility of cash. But when I really think about it, I can find some uses for gift cards:

- You can give them as gifts. You can give money, true, but it’s a bit impersonal. And to some people it might even come across as tacky. If you’re on of those people, gift cards give you the option of giving gifts that the recipient can use however they please.

- Gift cards keep you disciplined. If you absolutely need to save up for a specific shopping day, have a gift card for that shop might help you avoid impulse purchases elsewhere, since you’re forced to go to that shop!

 

[vrimee]

I always prefer cash via PayPal or Skrill. Amazon is also acceptable.

 

[jipsyjo30]

I prefer PayPal but most of my GPT/survey income is Amazon codes. I discovered that Amazon has a big selection of merchant gift cards (physical and digital). So I am constantly converting my Amazon gift card balance into gift cards for food. It basically pays for all my groceries and eating out at places. I regularly order Safeway, Jason's Deli, Uno Chicago, and Cracker Barrel gift cards. It's been a huge help with my monthly food bill.

 

[Rodolfo Flores]

My friend has recently been awarded as 'Employee of the quarter' and she received a gift card instead of cash (PayPal). Based on her experience (what she shared!) I think cash is better than a gift card.

 

[Kanvi]

I prefer cash as in PayPal even though their damn fees are bordering on the ridiculous as of late. I like the gift cards also but the problem is always the indirect tax of you having a leftover balance that you're not able to use. For a penny pincher like me that's pure murder haha.

 

[earnthatbuck]

Chalk me up for Paypal cash. It's just easier and more convenient. As Kanvi mentioned, the fees are a little ridiculous and some GPT sites also pass over the fees to you - so this is one of the downsides.

If I'm needing something on Amazon and can use the money right away, I'll redeem an Amazon gift card.

 

[LADYBASH1778]

WELL I USED BOTH PAYPAL OR AMAZON BECAUSE I BUY THINGS FOR MYSELF, MY FIANCEE OR OUR KIDS..

 

[alexa_ot]

PayPal here but if unavailable I usually opt-in for Amazon gift cards as I shop quite a bit there.

 

[vedz82]

I prefer cash because I am saving money to invest. It is a great way to earn now.

 

[MorrisS]

I Love the cash because I really need it.