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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Google Play Store now sells digital gift cards.
- Cards are available for dozens of retailers.
- You can send the gift card through email or text.
The next time you need to shop for a gift card for someone, you have a new, easier option — the Google Play Store.
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With no official announcement, Google has launched a digital gift card store where you can purchase cards from dozens of different retailers, including restaurants, beauty, entertainment, home, and more.
How to find it
To access the shop, you can go directly to this link or search “gift cards” in the Play Store (you will see some apps pop up if you choose the latter option, but look for a “Find the perfect gift on Google Play” banner). You can only access the store through an Android device, though. When I tried to access it on my computer, I got a message that it wasn’t available.
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I couldn’t find a complete list, but a quick browse through the store showed options like Adidas, AMC, Bass Pro Shops, Chipotle, Disney, Lego, Starbucks, Target, Ulta, and more. There are even several compilation options like “Fun & Fabulous,” which can be used at Nordstrom, Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and Bloomingdale’s, and “Home Sweet Home,” which can be used at Lowe’s, Ikea, Wayfair, Staples, and Macy’s.
The amount you can purchase varies by retailer, but it’s usually around a $15 minimum and $100 maximum. Once you’ve purchased a card, you can share it by email or phone number (where the recipient will receive a link to download) and write a custom message.
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Other limitations
You can purchase up to $250 in gift cards in a single day. Google didn’t mention why, but it’s likely that limit is in place to help fight the gift card scams that are so prevalent.
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Be warned that you can’t redeem a gift card outside the country where it was purchased, meaning you can’t send gift cards to someone in another country, and gift cards purchased through Google Play can’t be resold.
All of these digital gift cards are ones you could purchase on your own through the individual retailer, but having one store to shop them all is pretty convenient.
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