Can You Transfer Your Macy's Gift Card Balance?

Last updated: March 2026

Can You Transfer Your Macy's Gift Card Balance?

So you've got a Macy's gift card sitting in your wallet — maybe it was a birthday gift, maybe you got it as a return — and you'd really rather just have the cash. Or maybe you want to move that balance onto a different card. I get it. I've been in that exact spot, staring at a $47 Macy's gift card and wishing I could just Venmo myself the money instead.

Here's the honest answer upfront: Macy's does not officially support gift card balance transfers. You can't call customer service and ask them to move your funds to a Visa gift card, another person's Macy's card, or your bank account. That's just not a thing they offer. I've looked into this pretty thoroughly (last verified: March 2026), and nothing has changed on that front.

But that doesn't mean you're completely stuck. There are some real, legitimate options worth knowing about — and I'll also be upfront about the ones that are more trouble than they're worth.

Why Macy's Doesn't Allow Balance Transfers

I'm not 100% sure why major retailers almost universally block this, but my best guess is a combination of fraud prevention and, well, keeping money inside their ecosystem. If gift card balances could be freely transferred to cash or other cards, it would open up a pretty obvious lane for money laundering and stolen card exploitation. Retailers have gotten burned badly by gift card scams over the years.

There's also the business angle. Macy's obviously wants you to spend that money at Macy's. A gift card balance that gets converted to cash is revenue they lose. So don't expect this policy to change anytime soon — it's not really in their interest to make it easy for you to walk away.

That said, I've found that Macy's customer service reps are generally helpful if you have a legitimate issue — like a damaged card or missing balance. They can look things up with your card number. But "can you transfer this to another card" is a request they're going to decline, every time.

What IS Possible: Your Real Options

1. Just Use the Card (Seriously, It's Not a Bad Option)

I know this sounds obvious. But hear me out — a lot of people underestimate how broadly Macy's gift cards can actually be used. You can use them in-store at any Macy's location, on macys.com, and even for things like furniture through Macy's home department. Last time I had a leftover Macy's card from a wedding gift, I ended up buying kitchen stuff I actually needed. Not glamorous, but practical.

One thing people don't always realize: Macy's gift cards never expire and carry no fees. There's zero pressure to spend the balance by any particular date. If you've got $23 left on a card, it'll still be worth exactly $23 in five years. So if you're not in a rush, you can just wait until you actually need something from Macy's.

2. Buy Merchandise and Resell It

This is the workaround I see recommended most often, and honestly? It works — it's just not exactly convenient. The basic idea is:

1. Buy something in-demand from Macy's (think brand-name items, small appliances, fragrance gift sets, or clothing from popular brands)
2. Sell that item on a platform like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, or OfferUp
3. Collect the cash from your buyer

You won't recover 100% of the card value this way — expect to net somewhere around 70–85% after platform fees and the inevitable "can you take a little less?" negotiation. But if you genuinely need cash and have a significant balance on the card, this can be worth it.

The trick is buying the right stuff. Avoid anything too trendy or seasonal. I'd go for things with broad, stable appeal — a KitchenAid mixer, a well-known perfume, a name-brand handbag. Things that sell themselves. Don't impulse-buy a weird decorative lamp and expect to flip it easily.

3. Pay for Someone Else's Purchase (Informal "Transfer")

Here's something simple that people overlook. If a friend or family member is already planning to buy something at Macy's, offer to pay with your gift card and have them pay you back in cash or Venmo. This isn't a formal transfer — it's just you covering their purchase.

I've done this at least twice. Once I used a leftover gift card to cover part of my sister's coat purchase while she was standing right next to me in line. She sent me the cash on Venmo before we even got to the parking lot. Easy. No one needs to call customer service, no one needs to explain anything to anyone.

The only real limitation here is trust — make sure you're doing this with someone who's actually going to pay you back.

4. Gift Card Exchange Platforms (Tempting, But Read the Fine Print)

There are websites — Cardpool, CardCash, GiftDeals — that let you sell your Macy's gift card for cash or trade it for another gift card. I'll be honest: I have mixed feelings about these.

The concept is legitimate. You sell your Macy's card, they give you cash (usually 60–75 cents on the dollar, depending on the current demand). But the payout is pretty rough if you have a large balance, and I could be wrong but I've seen some complaints about delays in payment or cards being flagged after the fact.

If you go this route, stick to well-established platforms with clear reviews. Don't just Google "sell gift card" and click the first sketchy result. And be aware that Macy's gift cards don't tend to fetch the best rates — they're not as universally desired as, say, an Amazon card.

How to Check Your Balance Before You Decide

Before you make any moves — whether you're planning to use the card, sell it, or hand it off to someone — you need to know exactly what's on it. Here's how:

1. Online: Go to macys.com/giftcard, enter your 16-digit card number (older cards may have 15 digits), and use the PIN found under the scratch-off panel on the back
2. By phone: Call 1-800-289-6229 — the automated system will read your balance
3. In-store: Walk up to any register or customer service desk and ask them to check; no purchase necessary, no PIN needed
4. eGift cards: Use the link or code from the original email you received — it'll take you directly to your balance

Personally, I find the phone method the fastest when I'm not near a store. The automated line is quick and you don't have to hunt for your PIN.

What About Splitting a Balance Across Cards?

Can you consolidate two Macy's gift cards into one? Nope — that's another thing that sounds like it should be possible but isn't. Macy's doesn't have a card-merging feature. You can, however, use multiple gift cards in a single transaction (both in-store and online), which at least means you can burn through smaller leftover balances without carrying a bunch of cards around indefinitely.

Why don't they just let you consolidate? I genuinely don't know. It feels like a feature that would be easy to build and nice to have. But here we are.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

Here's the honest summary: Macy's gift card balance transfers, in the traditional sense, simply aren't an option. The company doesn't support it, and no amount of calling customer service is going to change that. But "stuck" isn't quite the right word either. You've got real choices — use the card on something you actually need, hand it to a friend and collect cash, sell it on an exchange platform (with realistic expectations about the discount), or buy something resellable and flip it. None of these are