If your loyalty or incentive program distributes eBay gift cards alone, it’s time to choose a replacement.
Starting August 3, 2026, eBay began phasing out sales of its physical and digital gift cards. According to eBay’s public gift card guidance, eBay gift cards are no longer sold on many digital platforms. Some physical and digital cards may remain available from select retailers while supplies last.
Existing cards are not affected. Recipients can continue using their balances on eBay, and refunds for purchases made with an eBay gift card will return to the card balance as usual.
📌 The update at a glance
- eBay began phasing out gift card sales on August 3, 2026.
- Limited inventory may remain at select retailers.
- Existing eBay gift cards and balances remain valid.
- Programs that currently distribute eBay cards will need another reward option.
eBay may not be the first brand every program manager thinks of, but it has particular appeal among specialized audiences.
That can include automotive professionals looking for aftermarket parts, collectors, resellers, repair technicians, hobbyists and small business owners sourcing used, refurbished or hard-to-find items. An eBay gift card can also work well in B2B loyalty programs where participants earn rewards for choosing one supplier over another.
For programs built around these audiences, replacing eBay with a card from one conventional retailer may feel too restrictive. Fortunately, there are more flexible alternatives.
👍 Good to know
- Your gift card incentive program will only be impacted by this change if you specifically rely on eBay gift cards.
- If you give your recipients access to the full catalog, they will simply no longer see eBay among their options. IE, this report doesn't apply to most program managers.
- All Giftbit customers receive dedicated customer support, so anyone impact by this (or other catalog changes) has been proactively alerted.
A prepaid Visa card may be a practical alternative for recipients who still want to shop on eBay.
eBay accepts Visa credit and debit cards for most listings, although the available payment methods can vary at checkout. Giftbit’s prepaid Visa cards can be used online where Visa debit is accepted, giving recipients the flexibility to shop on eBay or spend their reward elsewhere.
Recipients should still check the payment methods shown on the individual eBay listing and follow the terms associated with their prepaid card.
Like they say, the only thing consistent in the world is change. Companies don't have to offer gift cards, and sometimes, as with eBay, they may decide to discontinue their programs.
This was the case with bulk Amazon gift cards recently, when Amazon changed the minimum denomination for their entire distributor network.
Sometimes, there are very specific reasons why a program manager might decide to use just one brand for their incentive program, such as when:
The brand is closely connect to the behavior being rewarded (like a hair stylist using Sephora gift cards to boost client referrals)
The audience shares a specific purchasing need (for example, Walmart cards and other grocery gift cards for food assistance, community support, or employee wellness programs)
A retail partnership is built into the campaign (like a co-branded promotion where customer's earn a retailer's gift card after purchasing a partner product.
But if you don't have to lock your program into one specific brand (or curated short list of brands), you might consider switching to offering a full catalog of choice.
With a full reward catalog, participants can select from the brands and prepaid options currently available to them. For example, someone who previously chose eBay might select a prepaid card, an automotive retailer, a general merchandise brand or something completely different (hint: full choice gift cards are very popular, like our 2026 Incentive Report shows).
Going full choice also makes the program more resilient. Gift card catalogs change: brands can adjust denominations, limit availability or leave the market altogether. When recipients are offered choice, a change involving one retail partner doesn’t have to disrupt an active campaign or negatively affect participants.
Like Giftbit’s Matt Brossard says: “When you send choice, a retailer change mid-project doesn’t have to affect participants.”
If you don't want to go full choice, you've got options.
Of course, no single gift card is an exact replacement for eBay. Part of eBay’s appeal is that one marketplace can serve several very different audiences.
For example, an automotive parts supplier might offer eBay gift cards to shop managers, knowing they can use the reward for tools, specialty parts or equipment. Other programs may choose eBay for collectors, resellers, hobbyists, small business owners or recipients looking for used and hard-to-find items.
The right replacement therefore depends on why your audience valued eBay. At the time of writing, relevant options in Giftbit’s U.S. catalog include:
🚗 For automotive audiences: Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, Pep Boys and Jiffy Lube.
🔩 For tools, maintenance and equipment: Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, Lowe’s and Tractor Supply Company.
🛒 For broad shopping choice: Amazon.com, Walmart and Target.
🪡 For resale, handmade and unique items: Etsy, Poshmark and ThredUp.
🎮 For electronics, gaming and collectibles: Best Buy, GameStop and Fanatics.
Rather than choosing one replacement that serves only part of eBay’s audience, program managers might consider offering a curated selection of these relevant brands.
If your program has been relying eBay gift cards:
Important: if you've offered 'full choice' and some of your recipients chose eBay gift cards for themselves, not to worry. They'll still be able to use them based on eBay's current stated policies.
The end of eBay gift card sales might be an adjustment, but it doesn’t have to be a painful one for your or yourm participants. A broader reward strategy can protect the recipient experience now and make your program easier to manage the next time a retailer changes its offering.