Turn Canon AMEX Rebate into cash $$

Just wanted to note that I was able to use my paypal account and "Paypalhere" the rebate card. It charges 3% aprox if using their card swiper or almost 4% for manually entering.. so it was a total of $146 cash transferred to my bank account. Not bad considering I get cash instead of a gift card I could potentially lose. For ppl that would rather have the cash instead of a gift card. FYI....

se7enxn9ne wrote in post #17482173
Just wanted to note that I was able to use my paypal account and "Paypalhere" the rebate card. It charges 3% aprox if using their card swiper or almost 4% for manually entering.. so it was a total of $146 cash transferred to my bank account. Not bad considering I get cash instead of a gift card I could potentially lose. For ppl that would rather have the cash instead of a gift card. FYI....

Better idea: Call the number on the back of the card and request a check. Will take 2-3 weeks to receive it.

I have not reviewed PayPal terms lately, but I remember something about them not wanting you to transfer money to yourself. What you're suggesting might get your account locked.

I see... well, by them receiving a cut from the fees, they might not be so strict. I would not want to wait another 2-3 weeks after waiting a month and a half from canon whereas this method, it takes 3-5 business days

I have also done this a few other times with other gift cards and have not had a problem. I will keep you updated on whether my account gets locked or not. I've had paypal for 10 years now.

DiMAn0684 wrote in post #17482310
Better idea: Call the number on the back of the card and request a check. Will take 2-3 weeks to receive it.

Not true. There was report on Dan's Deals back in 2010 that you can liquidate your Amex Gift card and reward card by waiting until after the valid thru date, and request a check.

Q: Does my Gift Card have an expiration date?
A: No. While there is a "valid thru" date indicated on the front of the Gift Card, the Available Funds on the Gift Card do not expire. The "valid thru" date is simply required to ensure that the Gift Card can be used at Merchants that request and/or require customers to provide a plastic expiration date during the transaction process. You may not use the Gift Card after the "valid thru" date, but can request a replacement to use any Available Funds that remain on the Gift Card. Contact us at the Customer Service Number to obtain a replacement Gift Card or for instructions on how to redeem the Available Funds. We will issue you a replacement Gift Card free of charge if your "valid-thru" date expires. If you ask us to issue you a check for the amount of any Available Funds remaining on the Gift Card after the "valid thru" date, we may hold the Available Funds for ten (10) business days after you request a check to ensure that all transactions have posted to our system. We reserve the right to decline to issue a replacement Gift Card

However, Amex has since changed their terms and conditions and won't issue you a check if you ask for it. They'll issue you a new gift card or reward care instead.

Source: Amex
https://www.americanex​press.com …terms-and-conditions.html


Q: Is the Card a debit card or credit card?

A: The Card is a prepaid payment device with a dollar value that is either printed on the front of the Card or a “variable load” amount that is selected at the time of purchase. The Card is not a credit, charge or debit card. Except where required by law, the Card is not redeemable for cash. The Card is not transferable. The Card may not be used for unlawful purposes. The value on the Card at any time is its “Available Balance.”


Anyhow, for manufactured spending and liquidating gift cards, there are other forums with a lot of useful and up to date info.

cuongduong wrote in post #17482428
Not true. There was report on Dan's Deals back in 2010 that you can liquidate your Amex Gift card and reward card by waiting until after the valid thru date, and request a check.

Sorry, but you are wrong here.

You CAN request a check for the full amount of the rebate card from Canon. The trick is, you can ONLY do it for the full amount - if you use it at all, then you can not request a check.

I have personally done this 3 times in the last year without issue, and will be doing it again when my 6D rebate card comes. As DiMAn said, it takes about 2-3 weeks for the check to arrive. Don't waste the 3-4% of your rebate, and just request the check for the full amount for free.

It's probably a YMMV scenario, as I couldn't do it for the $250 Amex gift card I got from Canon.
When I called them, they actually assigned me a case number and told me that they'll send me a check. Then the next day, I got a call from another CS, stating that Amex cards cannot be refunded by check.

You can DiMann got more luck that I did.

BTW, Amazon payment and Amazon registry work great for liquidating.

se7enxn9ne wrote in post #17482383
I see... well, by them receiving a cut from the fees, they might not be so strict. I would not want to wait another 2-3 weeks after waiting a month and a half from canon whereas this method, it takes 3-5 business days

The idea is to prevent fraud. It's sort of similar to the concept of credit card networks not allowing you to run your personal cards through your merchant account. The fees they collect are not worth the liability fraudulent activity might cause.

cuongduong wrote in post #17482428
Not true. There was report on Dan's Deals back in 2010 that you can liquidate your Amex Gift card and reward card by waiting until after the valid thru date, and request a check.

I had personally done this multiple times day after receiving the rebate card.

cuongduong wrote in post #17482448
It's probably a YMMV scenario, as I couldn't do it for the $250 Amex gift card I got from Canon.
When I called them, they actually assigned me a case number and told me that they'll send me a check. Then the next day, I got a call from another CS, stating that Amex cards cannot be refunded by check.

You can DiMann got more luck that I did.

BTW, Amazon payment and Amazon registry work great for liquidating.

When did you do that? I've done this a few times and it worked. Countless other people succeed as well. Amazon Payments has been dead since last fall.

FYI.... Im not the only one doing it, and this article agrees with me. Im sure paypal would red flag this issue..if they didn't want people to transfer to their account.


http://www.robynsonlin​eworld.com …s-to-your-bank-or-paypal/

and an article adding funds from a visa gift to paypal and then to your bank account..

http://www.ehow.com …count-visa-gift-card.html

I am not sure about Canon, but the last few times I have got the T Mobile prepaid Visa / MasterCard cards, i was able to bring them to my bank and directly deposit for full amount via the teller - i plan to do the same with these Canon ones.

One needs to activate the cards and then bring them to the bank teller - pretty simple and no loss of money.

What is the process on that, starlights?

in december i did the printer deal. i called the number and they told me they were no longer doing the check thing.

so i just sent my self and invoice thru square.

^ that tip is genius, thanks!

my square card reader doesn't work, and if you manually punch it in it's a higher percentage....but if you send an invoice and punch it in, then it's the lower of the two fees.

bigcountry wrote in post #17483111
in december i did the printer deal. i called the number and they told me they were no longer doing the check thing.

That's unfortunate; I guess the 3% fee is not that bad.