How To Shop Store Gift Cards And Prepaid Debit Gift Cards

Gifts Card Shopping And Packaging Tips

With the cost of gas doubling over the past few years, inflation on our heels and the growth in family reunion attendance, it makes sense to offset the growing cost of gift giving. Thus the growing popularity of gift cards.

The National Retail Federation anticipated $17.24 billion worth of merchant sales last year in gift cards. The reasons gift cards are so frequently bought in place of other items are numerous. No one wants to give a gift that is not appreciated. In addition, who wants to burden down an aging relative with having to drive several miles to a store she nevers shops in order to exchange the gift.

Still, gift card giving like all other aspects of giving requires some forethought and personal consideration. For example, what if you give a gift card from a sporting goods store to someone who’s not into sports? Or a gift to shop a jewelry store to someone who lives too great a distance from the store to even bother to shop there.

On a positive note 60 percent of gift card issuers, offer the gift card holder the option of obtaining a replacement card, with the remaining balance, if the original is lost or stolen. But getting a replacement may require the original receipt and the card number. Some companies may accept other proof of purchase. The gift card recipient would have to have all the papers to obtain a replacement. No wonder a significant percentage of gift cards have gone unredeemed. That said, remember these important steps before purchasing a gift card.

1. Look carefully at the pre-purchase disclosures of terms and conditions on the web site and the packaging in the store.

2. If terms are not given or appear too cryptic to be complete don’t buy.

3. Check for expiration dates

4. Get a reciept of purchase

5. Mail the reciept of purchase to the recipient along with the card

Companies like Sears announced it is eliminating expiration dates from all gift cards issued beginning December 17, 2003. Other card issuers have been quickly following suit.

In addition to less expiration date worries there are now a hand full of companies dedicated to redeeming major retail gift cards for recipients of unwanted, unredeemed gift cards. One site, thegiftassistant.com, offers gift card ordering, redemption programs as well as gift card exchanges. Many of these companies offer services for such card issuers as Best Buy Starbucks and Outback SteakHouse. Still with all the recent changes in favor of the recipient losing the impersonal commercial stigma associated with gift cards has been a challenge.

Some issuers compensate for this by upping the monetary value of gifts cards. Some cards values far outweigh any large dominating boxed gift. From $200 to $300 or more. With the advent of prepaid debit gift cards from VISA, MasterCard, American Express and DiscoverCard folks can give a gift card valued at $500 to as much as $3000 dollars depending on the provider. Perhaps big things do come in small packages.

And speaking of gift card packaging. To offset the glamour less presentation of gift cards one site at www.greetingcards.fimark.net has designed an online order system for personalized greeting card designed especially for gift cards complete with glittering card face, gift wrap and bow to add that spectacular touch to an otherwise wee-sized gift.

With all the attention gift cards have been given these past few years it would seem they are here to stay. Just make sure you can find them once you’ve put them away. And above all exchange or redeem the non-debit kind.

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