Raise.com Review: Save Money With Discounted Gift Cards

Used Raise.com yet?

Discounted gift cards can save you hundreds a year.

Just by buying a gift card at a discounted site, you save 20-30% at your favorite restaurant or clothing store.

Raise.com is a very popular site.

I use Raise.com more than other discounted gift card sites because I can always use a portal like TopCashback.

The other discounted gift card sites either are not on cashback portals or only offer 1%.

There are so many portals for Raise.com that I can always get at least 5% cash back.

TopCashBack, Be Frugal, and Mr. Reabtes are three sites that always have 5% cashback rates at Raise at different times.

Always check cashbackmonitor.com first though.

TopCashBack sometimes has a 10% rate.

It only lasts 24 hours, so get it quickly if you will shop at Raise.

Follow me on Twitter or Facebook for this and other deals.

So, again, Raise.com is one of my favorite gift card sites.

Here is our review.

What is Raise.com?

Raise.com is a discounted gift card site.

You can buy and sell gift cards.

You can usually save 1-30% on your favorite retailers.

Restaurants and clothing stores tend to have the highest percent saved at around 20% or higher.

Grocery stores and gas stations tend to be the lowest rate at 1-4%.

This is true on all discounted gift card sites.

Both gas and grocery store cards tend to be out of stock too.

You can set an alert for both those categories though I never can get a gas gift card.

Without using a portal, grocery stores and gas stations may not be worth your time though.

Credit card bonus categories on rewards cards like the American Express Gold give 4% for groceries, so I would use a reward card for those two categories instead of Raise.

The Blue Cash Preferred even rewards 6% for groceries.

Remember, you will not be able to use bonus categories on credit cards in areas like groceries or gas if you use Raise.

Your purchase will be categorized as “other” instead of groceries.

However, reward cards are only as high as 4-6%, so if you save more on Raise, go with them.

You can use a card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited to pay on Raise to get the most points from credit cards.

This card gives 1.5 % on all purchases. .

Raise is not only where you buy used gift cards, you can also sell your own gift cards.

You won’t get full price, but you will get something.

If you want an unused gift card, Raise does that too.

I have not had a use for this yet, but maybe others will.

This feature is called “Raise Cash,” and it gives you cash toward a future purchase.

I will explain how it works later.

RELATED: How To Save Hundreds A Year With Discounted Gift Cards

How to buy discounted gift cards with Raise.com?

It is easy to get started with Raise.

Steps To Get Started Buying Used Gift Cards With Raise

1. Sign up for a free Raise.com account here
2. Choose “Buy Gift Card”
3. Enter store name
4. Filter card by “highest to lowest” discount percent or other filters like amount if you need a certain amount
5. Select “+”
6. Click Shopping cart and finish purchase

Stores Found On Raise.com

• Walmart
• Target
• Best Buy
• Kroger
• Safeway
• Sarbucks
• Lowes
• Delta
• Applebee’s
• Olive Garden
• Shell
• Old Navy

Like I said earlier, restaurant and clothing stores tend to save you the most money.

This is true on all discounted gift card sites.

Three kinds of gift cards you can purchase at Raise

Raise.com sells three different kinds of discounted gift cards:

• Physical gift cards
• E-gift cards
• Vouchers

It is important to pay attention to which gift card you are buying.

Most will be e-gift cards.

Some of these cards can only be used in-store while some can be used online only.

I have made the mistake of buying a card that could only be used online for a purchae I meant to make in the store.

I got around it, but it was a big enough deal.

Here is an explanation of all three gift cards:

1. Physical gift cards

Physical gift cards can only be shipped through the mail.

There is no charge for shipping.

They will take 3-7 days to receive.

These are the kinds of gift cards you are probably used to seeing in stores.

Places like Whole Foods only sell physcal gift cards, so you will have to time your purchase in advance to receive the card.

2. E-gift cards

E-gift cards are for online use only unless they also say “voucher.”

A lot of e-gift cards will be “vouchers” too, so you can use in- store.

3. Vouchers

Vouchers are only for in-store use.

You most print them out which can be a hassle if you are in a store and want to buy something right then.

I was honestly surprised that they have no other way of doing this.

Again, a lot of cards that are vouchers can be used both in store and online as long as they say both.

This is important to note again.

Money back guarantee

Gift cards are know for high risk.

These are used gift cards at that.

How do you know the seller won’t spend the money?

Raise has a one year money back guarantee.

If you gift cards is inactive, has an inaccurate balance, or you don’t receive your physical gift card in 30 days; they will refund your money.

Make sure to read the full guarantee though.

What is Raise cash?

Raise Cash is where you can buy new gift cards and get a discount.

I don’t plan on using this unless they offer some big discount, but you can.

You get “Raise Cash” toward a future purchase.

How Does Buying Discounted Gift Cards Save You Money?

Let’s say you want to buy groceries at Walmart and spend $100 in this particular trip.

Let’s say that TopCashback has a 10% discount on Raise.

First, you would check Raise to see if they have the gift card you want.

Then, you would go through the TopCashBack portal, and type in Raise.com

Last, when you get to the Raise.com site, just log in and pick your card, and finish your purchase.

Raise cards can disappear quickly at times, so that is why you need the first step.

I don’t add my Raise purchase until I go to the portal in the second step.

Savings:

• 10% at TopcashBack
• 1-2% credit card rewards
• Whatever savings at Raise

This example was Walmart which tends to be around .5% like other stores that sell groceries.

You just saved 10-12% on groceries.

The TopCashBack 10% does not happen often, so you need to catch it when it happens or expect at highest 5% back on portals.

Either TopCashBack, Be Frugal, or Mr. Rebates always offers 5% again.

Again, just know that you will not be able to use a credit card that gives higher bonuses for groceries like the American Express Gold card or American Express Blue Cash Preferred.

You can’t use those at Walmart anyway.

You can use a card like the Freedom Unlimited at 1.5 % though.

Honestly, except for the 10% deal, I would just use a rewards card for groceries for hassle.

You do the math though

Look for our post on how to maximize credit card categories later.

If you do not have a rewards card or one that gives at least 4% on groceries, then Raise would still be the best choice though.

This is great for people who want rewards but are still building credit, or people who don’t like credit cards.

You get the same rewards with no credit card.

If you don’t have a credit card, use a debit card that gives 1% back for the final purchase at Raise.

Since groceries are not the best rate on discounted gift card sites, here is another example:

Second example.

Let’s say you want to eat dinner at P.F. Change.

You go to Raise, and see discounts around 20% on Raise for P. F. Change.

As soon as you find the discount card you want, then go through a portal.

Go to Cashbackmonitor.com to see which portal has the highest rate.

At time of writing, Mr. Rebates and Be Frugal had the highest rate at 5%.

Make sure you are comfortable with when the portals pay as well.

My three favorites portals are TopCashBack , Swagbucks, and Rakuten.

TopCashBack and Swagbucks pay quicker.

They take only a month.

Rakuten only pays every quarter (three months), but I am ok with that.

Not everyone is though.

I hear a lot of people like Be Frugal and Mr. Rebates too though.

I will review those later.

Then, just type Raise.com into the portal.

Go to Raise, and buy the card.

Don’t forget to use a rewards credit card too.

Savings

• 5% at portal Be Frugal
• 20% Raise.com
• 1.5 % rewards credit card

That is 26.5% saved.

It is best to buy a higher denomination like $50 at discounted gift card sites because they usually give you a higher percentage off.

You don’t want to waste time buying $5 and $10 gift cards.

I don’t buy too high though on one gift card.

That could just be me though.

Selling Gift Cards

Raise.com also allows you to sell your gift cards that you are not using.

In the past, I think I got offered $35 for a $50 gift card.

It will vary by card category though.

New Member promotion

New members usually get $5 off a purchase of $25 or more.

There is also usually an offer for $10 off your first purchase of $100 or more.

If you do not see this at Raise, the portal you use will have it.

Just get the coupon code.

This is only for your first orders again though.

Refer your Friends

You also get $5 in Raise cash for referring your friends.

This will count toward a future purchase.

Tips

• Use a cashback portal like TopCashBack
• Pay with a rewards credit card
• Use coupons
• Use email alerts for hard to get cards
• Sort by highest percentage
• Refer your friends & get $5 off
• Understand price guarantee
• Be aware that you may want to protect large purchases with a credit card
• Only buy cards to places you frequent

Summary

Discounted gift cards can save you hundreds a year.

Raise is my favorite gift card site mainly because they allow me to get cashback from portals in addition to my savings at Raise.

I have had no problems using Raise.

I think you will like it.

It is the most popular discounted gift card site for a reason.

Remember, the real deal comes in combining reward credit cards, cash back portals, coupons, etc.

As usual, you are not getting a deal unless you are saving on things you would buy anyway.