Patent ID: 8024272

Claim:
A method for exchanging prepaid gift cards for value, the method comprising: providing a consumer operated kiosk having a card reading device and a user interface; receiving gift card information from a user via at least one of the card reading device and the user interface, wherein the gift card information is associated with a first gift card for making purchases at one or more retail establishments; verifying a gift card balance based on the gift card information; displaying first and second transaction options to the user, wherein the first transaction option corresponds to exchanging the first gift card for cash value and the second transaction option corresponds to exchanging the first gift card for a second gift card; receiving a user selection corresponding to at least one of the first transaction option and the second transaction option; when the user selection corresponds to the first transaction option, dispensing the cash value to the user in the form of at least one of cash and a redeemable voucher; and when the user selection corresponds to the second transaction option, dispensing the second gift card to the user.