Looking for an easy Christmas present? Gift cards can be a convenient and thoughtful alternative to giving someone cash, while still offering a lot of flexibility. Both Coles and Woolworths offer gift cards that can be used in participating supermarkets and with a wide range of other retailers, such as Bunnings, JB Hi-Fi and Village Cinemas.
What gift cards can I buy at the supermarket?
Coles and Woolworths sell a mix of gift cards you can buy when you're in the supermarket or online. These can be grouped into 2 main categories:
Supermarket gift cards
These cards are designed for spending at Coles, Woolworths and other partner brands. For a Coles gift card, this could include Coles Express fuel outlets, Liquorland and First Choice Liquor. With Woolworths gift card, it could include Big W, Dan Murphy's and participating EG/Ampol fuel outlets.
Just keep in mind that some of these gift cards offer wider acceptance than others, with Coles Group & Myer and Woolworths WISH gift cards giving you the most flexibility.
Store and experience gift cards
Coles and Woolworths supermarkets stock a variety of gift cards for other retailers and brands, including Bunnings Warehouse, JB Hi-Fi, iTunes, Westfield and Uber.
These photos were taken at Coles Edgecliff in Sydney in December 2020.
Comparison: Woolworths WISH Gift Card vs Coles Group & Myer Gift Card
As the 2 biggest supermarkets in Australia, you'll often find Woolworths and Coles supermarkets nearby. So if you're trying to decide which is better for a gift card, here's a side-by-side look at the Woolworths WISH and Coles Group & Myer gift cards.
Key details | Woolworths WISH Gift Cards | |
---|---|---|
Participating stores |
|
|
Expiry | None | 4 years from the date of issue |
Minimum and maximum value | $5 to $500 | $20 to $500 |
Use online | Yes, except at service stations | Only at Myer, Target and Officeworks |
One of the biggest factors this table shows is that you can use Coles Group & Myer gift cards at more stores than WISH gift cards. But WISH gift cards don't have an expiry and can be used online with participating stores – just not for fuel or anything else at a service station.
If you're trying to decide between these 2 gift cards, the main factor will be how many of the participating stores are nearby.
What details should I consider when comparing Woolworths and Coles gift cards?
As well as where you can use these cards, the expiry date, load values and online shopping options, make sure you consider the following factors:
- Purchasing options. Both Woolworths and Coles gift cards can be purchased in-store or online, although the availability and terms and conditions may vary depending on the type of card you want to purchase. If you have a rewards credit card, you may also be able to redeem your reward points for gift cards from Coles or Woolworths, along with other retailers.
- Fees. While these cards can be purchased in-store at no extra cost (other than the value loaded onto the card), there may be other fees for purchasing physical cards online.
- Card theft or loss. These gift cards are treated as cash. This means that if they are lost or stolen, there is little chance of reclaiming the value of the card.
- Paying with a credit card. Gift cards are a type of "stored value card", which some providers include in their definition of transactions that are treated as cash advances. But it does depend on other factors, including details from the business and payment processing system. As Woolworths and Coles are supermarkets, you may want to check first before spending a lot on gift cards with a credit card. Or pay off the transaction straight away just in case cash advance rates and fees are applied.
Pros and cons of using a supermarket gift card
Pros
- Choice. A gift card is more personal than giving cash but still allows the recipient to choose what they want to buy.
- Online facilities. It’s easy to manage your gift card and check your remaining balance. Simply visit the card issuer’s website to access the online tools.
- Customisable cards. Woolworths and Coles gift cards offer a range of design options to suit different occasions.
Cons
- Potential expiry. A gift card may expire after a period of time and any remaining value on the card will be lost.
- Limited acceptance. A gift card can only be used at certain shops and merchants.
- Limited use. Most gift cards can only be loaded with money once and used until that balance is cleared or the card expires (whichever happens first).
Woolworths and Coles gift cards are subject to a range of terms and conditions. So before buying one, make sure you compare the features and acceptance of these cards so that you can choose a gift that offers the greatest value to you and the person you're buying it for.
Compare supermarket credit cards
Frequently asked questions
Pictures: Shutterstock
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Ask a question
Can you track or trace a lost Or stolen gift card
Hi Loresha,
Thanks for your question.
To my knowledge this isn’t possible. You’ll need to get in contact with Woolworths directly to report the gift card stolen. If you have any details such as card number or purchase/redemption information, keep that handy.
I hope this has helped.
Thanks,
Elizabeth
thank you for your clarification re my out of date
gift card.
however there still remains some disappointment
in the result…….”buyer beware” is a term associated with scammers and businesses that have little regard for public relations.
Woolworths has now joined this group so that future gift card dealings will be done with Coles,
with a two year time frame.
GIFT CARDS ARE A SCAM!
Please don’t buy Gift Cards. These are a rort, and these companies pray on vulnerable people who unfortunately mis-place their gift card, and then it expires. If one household in the country had an expired gift card, these companies make billions for nothing. Don’t let them do it. In my opinion Gift Cards should never expire, as the company already has been paid for the transaction up front. They need to honor this to all customers, and it’s time they shouldn’t get away with it any longer. Coles just did this with me, and it’s now goodbye Coles forever. I will never step back into any of their partner stores either.
x Tam