Gift card vs bank transfer for redeeming, what do you use

[plano_paula]

Want to settle something for myself. When you redeem SC, do you take the gift card option or the bank/ACH transfer, and why?

I've gone back and forth. Gift cards have been noticeably faster for me, usually next day, and the minimum tends to be lower (somewhere around 10 to 30 SC depending on the site). Downside is obvious, it's store credit, not cash in my account.

ACH gets me actual money but it's slower, 1 to 5 business days in my experience, and the redemption minimum is higher, more like 50 to 100 SC.

Lately I've been leaning gift card just for the speed, but I feel like I'm leaving flexibility on the table. What's the room doing? Trying to figure out if there's a smarter way to think about it.

[corpuschristine]

I'm a bank transfer person, full stop. The whole point for me is cash, not a gift card to a store I'd shop at twice a year. If I wanted credit at one place I'd just buy a card.

That said, I get the speed argument. My move is, if it's a small amount and I want it gone quick, fine, gift card. Anything over say 100 SC I want it in the bank where it's actually flexible. Value-wise the cash is just worth more to me even if it's slower.

[brisket_n_blackjack]

honestly i mostly do gift cards and i know that's probably not the optimal call. it's the speed thing, and also there's a part of me that treats it like fun money so a card to somewhere feels right, keeps it separate from the real bank account.

back when i used to drive over to louisiana the winnings were just chips to cash and done. this is a different animal. cmq for me gift card most of the time, bank when it's a bigger hit.

[skeptic_in_dallas]

Worth flagging the tax angle nobody mentions. Redemptions can be reportable income depending on amounts, and how you take it doesn't change that. Gift card winnings still count. Keep your own records.

On the actual question, I default to ACH. The gift card speed is real but I don't like value locked to a retailer, and some of those cards have their own fine print. Cash to bank, slower, cleaner. And only ever redeem what you set out to, don't chase it back into more play.