As a fellow super shopper, I know you love scoring deals at both Amazon and Target. But if you have some Amazon gift cards stashed away, you may be wondering – can you use them at Target to buy stuff too?
It‘s a great question!
The short answer is: Unfortunately, no. You can’t use Amazon gift cards to buy items at Target’s stores or website. I know, I know…it stinks!
But don’t worry – in this detailed guide, I’ll explain:
- Why Amazon gift cards only work on Amazon
- How to get around this limitation
- Tips to maximize both your Amazon and Target gift cards
As a shopping addict myself, I’ll make sure you have all the insider info you’ll need to get the biggest bang for your Amazon and Target gift card bucks. Let’s dive in!
Why Can’t You Use Amazon Gift Cards at Target?
I know it’s disappointing, but Amazon gift cards can only be used on Amazon‘s own website and stores.
You can’t take an Amazon gift card to Target and buy that new vacuum cleaner or Lego set you had your eye on. The funds on an Amazon gift card stay in Amazon‘s ecosystem and can‘t be transferred.
But why is that? There‘s a few key reasons Amazon gift cards are limited to just Amazon:
Amazon Wants to Keep Your Business
Amazon wants to keep all your spending on Amazon!
By making their gift cards exclusive to Amazon, it helps ensure your gift card funds are reinvested into more Amazon purchases. Pretty strategic, right?
It Prevents Revenue Loss for Amazon
If you could take a $100 Amazon gift card and spend it at Target, Amazon would miss out on $100 of business. No way they want that!
Keeping gift cards restricted to Amazon maintains their revenue stream.
Competitors Like Target Don‘t Want to Support Amazon
Big retailers see Amazon as major competition. So places like Target have zero interest in selling or supporting Amazon gift cards.
Target won’t help fund their biggest rival’s business! Makes total sense when you think about it.
The Logistics Would Be Challenging
Allowing gift card use across different retailers would be an operational headache! Keeping funds restricted to one site is much simpler in terms of tracking balances and redemptions.
So in summary, while restricting gift cards is a bummer for us shoppers, Amazon and Target both have very compelling reasons for their exclusive gift card policies. Darn!
But you still have options…
Buy the Target Item on Amazon Instead!
While you can’t use an Amazon gift card directly at Target, you may be able to buy that same Target product on Amazon instead.
Lots of popular brands like Apple, KitchenAid, LEGO, Fisher-Price, Crest, and Hanes sell products at both Target and Amazon.
Plus, Amazon has its own generic product lines like AmazonBasics that offer similar products to Target‘s brands:
| Target Brand | Similar Amazon Brand |
|---|---|
| Threshold (home goods) | AmazonBasics (home goods) |
| Room Essentials (dorm/apartment) | AmazonBasics (dorm/apartment) |
| Up&Up (health and household) | AmazonBasics (health and household) |
| Cat & Jack (kids clothing) | Simple Joys by Carter‘s (kids clothing) |
And many third-party sellers distribute their stuff on both Amazon and Target too.
So chances are good you can use your Amazon gift card to buy that same awesome Target product you wanted directly on Amazon‘s site or app instead. Win!
Where to Find the Most Overlap Between Amazon and Target
Based on my own shopping experience, here are some of the top product categories where Amazon and Target overlap the most:
- Electronics – TVs, headphones, smart home devices, etc.
- Toys – Lego, board games, action figures, plushies
- Books – bestsellers, new releases across all genres
- Kitchen – appliances, cookware, utensils, glassware
- Furniture – sofas, beds, desks, shelving, and more
- Clothing & shoes – popular brands like Champion, Levi‘s, and Under Armour
- Beauty – makeup, skincare, hair products from L‘Oreal, Olay, and more
- Baby items – diapers, wipes, feeding supplies, safety gear
- Pet supplies – food, beds, leashes, toys, etc.
Check Amazon first if you‘re eyeing something at Target in any of those categories – I bet you‘ll locate the exact same product or a very close match. It‘s an easy win to then use your Amazon gift credit on that item instead of paying out of pocket at Target.
Can I Buy Amazon Gift Cards Using My Target Gift Card?
Okay, time for more bad news…you can’t use a Target gift card to directly buy Amazon gift cards either. I know, I‘m full of disappointing info today! 😞
While Target sells tons of third-party gift cards, they don‘t offer Amazon gift cards for sale. No major retailer does – Amazon is the enemy, after all!
You’ll need to buy Amazon gift cards directly from Amazon itself or other online sellers instead.
Here’s a quick list of where you CAN reliably buy Amazon gift cards:
- Amazon.com
- Amazon physical stores – Amazon Books, Amazon Go, etc.
- Online resellers – PayPal, CardCash, Raise, etc.
- Grocery stores – Safeway, Kroger, etc.
- Drug stores – CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid
- Gas stations
- Mass retailers – Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot
So with a Target gift card, your best bet is to buy a third-party gift card from Target to cover what you really want to buy on Amazon later. For example, grab a Visa gift card instead.
Or, buy yourself a useful Target item like groceries or household supplies with the Target card to free up cash to then get an Amazon card.
A bit more work, but this shopping pro always has clever workarounds!
Why Doesn‘t Target Sell Amazon Gift Cards?
You‘re probably wondering why Target refuses to sell gift cards for its biggest competitor, Amazon. There’s a few strategic reasons why:
-
They don‘t want to support a rival: Target obviously doesn’t want to help fund Amazon’s business by making Amazon gift cards easily available.
-
Don‘t want to divert sales: Selling Amazon gift cards would steer purchases away from Target and to an arch competitor instead. No good!
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No incentive to help: Target gains nothing by promoting Amazon gift cards. There‘s no upside for them, only downside of losing sales.
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No room to stock: Target locations have limited gift card rack space. They‘d rather feature their own higher-margin Target gift cards.
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Maximize own gift card sales: Target wants to push shoppers to buy more Target gift cards, which can only be spent at Target. Promoting Amazon cards would undermine this.
So by not selling Amazon‘s gift cards, Target tries to keep you spending your money in Target‘s stores and website instead of directly helping their biggest rival.
It stinks for us shoppers, but makes total sense from Target‘s financial perspective. Oh well!
Will Target Price Match Amazon Items?
Okay, finally some good news! 🎉
While you can’t use Amazon gift cards at Target, Target does offer price matching on identical products found on Amazon. Here‘s how it works:
- The item needs to be the exact same product and model number as on Amazon.
- You have to show proof of the current Amazon price via their app or website.
- Amazon must be selling it directly, not a third-party seller.
- The Amazon price can‘t require a paid membership like Prime to access.
- No coupons or special discounts – Target will match the everyday list price.
- Price matching is always at the store manager‘s discretion.
But if everything checks out, Target will match a lower Amazon price on an identical product.
This price match policy is a great way for Target shoppers to get Amazon‘s low prices even when shopping in person. Hello, best of both worlds!
Here’s a real example:
I wanted to buy a Dyson air purifier that Target had on sale for $349. But I found it on Amazon for only $299. I showed the manager the lower Amazon price on my phone, and she happily matched it! I got my Dyson for $50 less without having to wait for shipping.
Moral of the story: Always compare Amazon and Target prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal!
Tips to Maximize Amazon and Target Gift Cards
As a shopping pro, I‘ve mastered how to get the most out of any Amazon or Target gift cards that come my way. Here are my top insider tips:
If you have an Amazon gift card:
- Check Target for items first, then buy comparable version on Amazon
- Buy other third-party gift cards on Amazon to gain flexibility
- Save for a big, higher-value purchase rather than small items
- Re-gift unwanted Amazon cards to family and friends
- Sell unused amounts over 80% value on sites like CardCash
If you have a Target gift card:
- Use it for Target grocery or household items to free up cash for Amazon
- Buy a third-party gift card at Target to ultimately use on Amazon
- See if any family or friends want to trade their Amazon card for your Target one
- Ask for price matches on Amazon items to leverage the Amazon price at Target
- Don‘t let it sit unused! Even small amounts can buy essentials like toothpaste.
With some creative thinking, you can maximize the value of any Amazon or Target gift cards that come into your hands as a smart shopper. It just takes a few extra steps!
The Bottom Line: Can You Use Amazon Gift Cards at Target?
I know all the restrictions around using Amazon and Target gift cards at the wrong retailer are super frustrating. Believe me, I get it!
But the bottom line is:
- You can’t directly use Amazon gift cards at Target to shop
- You can’t buy Amazon gift cards at Target stores either
However, with price matching and buying similar items on Amazon instead, you can still maximize the value of gift cards from both retailers with a little strategizing.
At the end of the day, we have to play by Amazon and Target’s rules. But this shopping expert always has some tricks up her sleeve to make the most of any gift card that comes her way!
I hope this guide gave you all the insider tips you’ll need to use Amazon and Target gift cards like a pro. Happy smart shopping! Let me know if you have any other gift card questions.
