Gift card swapping site lets people trade or donate them to charity

If you received a gift card over Christmas that you don't think you'll use,there is an alternative to tucking it away and forgetting about it.

Frances Ho started the website Cardswap. It allows people to cash in their gift cards for up to 90 per cent of face value of the card, or to simply swap them for a different one.

• Apps could help cut down on $500M US worth of unused gift cards

Ho says the Canadian gift card market is worth about $8 billion and about one in 10 of the cards sold in this country isnever redeemed.

"You know, it's really the thought that counts," she said."But a lot of times you get gift cards you just don't want."

Cardswap has also partnered with the Red Cross this holiday season.

Until the end of January, you can donate unwanted gift cards in support of Syrian refugees.

Calgarian Katherine Gusztak hadn't heard of Cardswap, but found the concept intriguing.

"Yeah maybe I'd do that, switch out some cards for more coffee ones," shesaid.

"I usually just re-gift them to my other friends."