Gift Credit Cards | Review Information And News

The Popularity Of Gift Cards

2008-07-15T00:46:00.002+08:00

Everyone loves receiving and giving gift cards for special occasions. They take the worrying out of what to get for that hard to please someone. They eliminate the fake smile and the "Oh how nice" routine from the person getting the gift. Every year, gift cards are increasing in popularity. Generally, there are three different cards: store-specific gift cards, restaurant gift cards and general-purpose gift cards. Store-specific gift cards are meant to be used at the particular store and usually come with less hidden fees. Some stores like Old Navy and Banana Republic have became partners and allow their customers to use the gift card at either store.

Restaurant gift cards are very similar to store-specific gift cards. They allow you to go and enjoy a nice dinner as a gift. Just make sure you tip the server the same percentage as you would if you were paying the total bill. General-purpose gift cards give the consumer a broader range on where to use the card. These types of cards are typically Visa, MasterCard or American Express and can be used anywhere those major credit cards are accepted. The flexibility is the main benefit of using the general-purpose card. You can fill up your gas tank, go out to eat, buy concert tickets or what ever else you want to do with it.

The sales of gift cards have exploded from $1 billion in 1995 to an expected $80 billion in 2009 in the United States. As of 2007, 73 percent of all major retailers offer some sort of a gift card. The number is probably even greater now that it is 2008. Coffee giant, Starbucks, has estimated that 10 percent of all their sales come from gift cards.

Another reason retailers love gift cards is consumers will pay less attention to sales and they tend to spend more than what they have on the card. Retailers notice that consumers will spend the whole amount on the card and have a small balance of $2 or $3 left on it. Chances are, shoppers will never use the card again and this works to the retailer's advantage.

One more advantage to retailers is instead of having just the holiday rush and then being prepared for holiday returns, they actually get a double rush. Since consumers give gift cards as holiday presents, the gift card holder will usually rush straight to the mall after the holidays to spend their cards. This results in a major cut-down in returned merchandise.

There are a few disadvantages for retailers. Gift cards can cost the retailer for 50 cents to $3 per card, depending on how many are ordered. There are also implementation costs of up to $50,000. Implementation costs cover all start up fees related to producing and tracking of gift cards.

Recently, Internet businesses have created web sites allowing people to sell or swap
unwanted gift cards. EBay got involved in this idea and now has more than 7,500 gift cards listed for sale or auction. This can be a good idea if you receive a gift card to a particular store and you do not like anything in that store. You can exchange these cards on these sites for other cards or even cash. Sites such as SwapAGift.com and CardAvenue.com are good sites that offer this service. On CardAvenue.com, you can even buy gift cards at a discounted rate. For example, you may be able to buy a $25 Office Depot card for $17; that is another way of saving.

For great gift card offers visit:http://www.giftcard-offers.com

4 Reasons Why Retailers Should Honor Gift Cards During Bankruptcy

2008-07-12T01:20:00.002+08:00

What happens to gift cards when a company files for bankruptcy? The recent bankruptcies of Linens 'n Things, The Sharper Image, and Bombay Company have brought the issue of gift card redemption during bankruptcy to the forefront. With the economic situation expected to
worsen in 2008, more retailers are likely to file for bankruptcy, and as expected, consumers
with gift cards will be affected.

When you buy a gift card, you become an unsecured creditor to the gift card issuer until you
redeem the full value of your gift card (unless it expires or is eaten-up by fees). If the gift card issuer files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, federal law allows the company to stop honoring gift cards. However, the company may petition the bankruptcy court to allow the continued redemption of gift cards.

A company planning to continue in business should make every effort to honor gift cards while under bankruptcy protection. Refusing to accept gift cards is a bad move and could ultimately work against the company since it will only infuriate the very customers it really needs during bankruptcy reorganization. Below are four (4) reasons why continuing the redemption of gift cards under bankruptcy reorganization is a smart move for a retailer:

Maintain Customer Loyalty: If the company plans to stay in business, refusing to accept gift
cards will only anger customers, who will feel cheated. This will not only turn away current
customers but also drive potential customers to the competition. This is because some aggrieved customers will share their horrible experiences with family members, friends, and coworkers who will likely stay away from the company since they would not like to go through a similar experience. In today's world where emails spread like viruses, the last thing a company needs is for an email to be circulating about the horrible experience gift card holders went through with the company.

Minimize Competitor Actions: When a company suspends the redemption of gift cards during
bankruptcy, it opens the door for the competition to steal its customers. A good example was
seen during the recent bankruptcy of The Sharper Image. At the onset of the bankruptcy, the
company announced the suspension of gift card redemption. As expected, affected customers
reacted negatively to the decision. Brookstone and ThePurePro.com, both competitors to the
Sharper Image saw an opportunity to gain more customers so they announced special discounts
targeted at The Sharper Image gift card holders. It appears The Sharper Image began to feel
the impact of these actions and it later reversed its decision and began accepting gift cards from customers.

Project Business as Usual Image: When a company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it
typically proposes a plan of reorganization to keep its business alive. This plan may include selling, closing, or consolidating some store locations. For the stores locations that remain open, it is important to project an image of business as usual. Refusing to accept gift cards would be the wrong signal to send since it reminds customers that the company is in serious trouble. Customers may begin to wonder if service will begin to deteriorate, especially support for big ticket items. Continuing the redemption of gift cards is a good way to assure customers that their shopping experience with the company will not be impacted negatively by the bankruptcy.

Increase Sales: Research has shown that gift card holders typically spend about 20% more than the value of the gift card. By accepting gift cards during bankruptcy, the company has the
potential to increase sales since people redeeming gift cards would likely spend more than their gift card value, thereby helping the company boast sales and hopefully become more profitable.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kwame_Kuadey

Gift Cards : Get Your Answer

2008-07-09T01:34:00.003+08:00

Gift cards have become a great way to give someone a present. This is especially true if you do not know what the person likes or wants. Some people are hard to buy a present for. They seem to always purchase the things they want beforehand.
Gift cards are also a great way to give children a card that teaches them responsibility. Think of it has a present or gift that is perfect for just about any occasion and does not come with the hassle of sorting through the shelves at your local store to find that present that he or she may not actually enjoy.

This lets the recipient pick out what they want and when they want it. If you are unsure about what is a gift card, what types there are and just how to use them, then this article is for you. We will cover the basics of the present card world and even tackle some of the etiquette questions that might arise.

If I give a gift card, is it considered inappropriate?

When gift cards started to become available, many etiquette books and columns declared them 'tacky" because it was not a personalized gift. Those antiquated notions do no longer hold value.

It is an appropriate present because it can be used in any way the recipient desires. It can be used at a variety of stores and online websites. It is a great present to give someone if you are not sure of what they need, want or like.

Where can I use a prepaid gift card?

You can use a prepaid gift card, whether a regular present card from a store or a prepaid credit card, anywhere that you want. If the card is from a particular store then you must use it to purchase items there. If it is a prepaid credit card then you can use it wherever the logo on the front, such as Visa or Mastercard, is accepted.

Can I get my recipient's name put on the present card?

Most store gift cards do not allow you to put the recipient's name on the card. If you opt for a prepaid credit card then the person can elect to put their name on the front. This helps ensure that if it were lost or stolen, the person would not be held liable for fraudulent charges. There is usually a form to fill out but there is not a credit check.

What do I do if I lose my prepaid gift card?

If you have a prepaid credit card/gift card then the issuing company will replace the card for usually no additional charges. Many also offer protections against fraudulent purchases if you let them know the minute, or as soon as possible, that you have lost your card.

Regular gift cards are the responsibility of the owner and the issuing store will not refund your card should you happen to lose it. This is why many people are choosing to give prepaid credit cards as gift cards as an extra means of security.

Can I add money to a gift card that someone else has given me?

That is the great thing about gift cards. Unlike present certificates, a gift card can be reused. If you run low on funds and you know that you will shop there often, add money to the card. Gift cards can be a great way to control your budget by letting you know exactly how much you can spend in a given month on certain purchases.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Selvon

Used Your Visa Prepaid Gift Credit Cards Globally

2008-07-07T02:08:00.004+08:00

Visa prepaid gift credit cards are available for various years. Due to debt problem has become common, these cards came in light and drawn a lot of attention. This article is basically come with answer of diverse questions such as what is visa prepaid gift credit card, how it works, how it helps when comes to debt and spending, et cetera.

Similar to gift cards are available with diverse uses and more options. These credit cards have more capability compared to gift or phone cards. Prepaid gift cards are similar to other credit cards but there are some differences that include credit card holder uses his/her loaded amount. Apart from much safer and convenient than ordinary credit cards, gift credit cards can be used according to the users' requirements either online or person.

There is no need to deal with interest rate as individuals are using their own prepaid money.Besides brick and mortar retailers, hotels, and online merchants, these cards can be used in number of places. Nowadays, due to advancement of technology, these cards can be used globally. Credit cards can be used any retailing shops where visa or master cards are accepted. Individuals can use a single prepaid card, for instance shopping online, booking plane tickets, reserving motels, hiring rental cars, transferring money to friends or family, withdrawing cash from an ATM anywhere on the globe, paying bills, buying gas or groceries, topping up the minutes on your cell phone, and so on.

Owing to flexibility, These cards are very popular as one can load money according to his/her requirements from anywhere in the globe. Individuals also have facility to transfer money from bank account or credit card to visa prepaid gift credit card. Excess use of credit cards may force you in debts problem that is why; load amount in prepaid gift credit card and feel free from financial burden. Now, visa prepaid gift credit cards can be used anywhere in the world with any retailers either online or offline retailers. There is no chance of overspending as one uses his/her loaded amount. So, use visa prepaid gift credit card without having fear of sinking in debts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elisa_Donna

Find Out What Are Branded Gift Cards?

2008-07-05T16:05:00.002+08:00

Discovering the ideal present for family and friends is a continuing test of patience and perseverance.

You want to get something that will please the receiver of the gift but nowadays that can be complicated.

Just looking at your calendar can remind you of the many occasions that gifts call for: birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, births, bar mitzvahs and other holidays.

Gift cards have become progressively more well-liked and in fact desired as the gift of choice. Based on a Coinstar survey, more than 75% of BOTH men and women would like to receive gift cards when they get a gift.

The most popular gift cards now are one that offers the consumer more flexibility in how they are used, some protections if they are lost or stolen and widespread usability.

This type of card is a “branded” gift card - most commonly known as Visa Prepaid Gift Cards, Mastercard Gift Cards and American Express or Discover Gift Cards.

You can get these branded gift cards online and also at some retailers and banking institutions.

People who receive these types of gift cards have the power to use them anywhere that accepts VISA, Mastercard, American Express or Discover – that even includes online retailers and vendors that provide services – this flexibility makes these gift cards very desirable. Much more so than the gift cards that are only good for a single retail store.

Branded gift cards give the user protection if the card is lost or stolen and some of them will even credit back money if there is illicit use of the gift card.

Since you can use a branded gift card at multiple locations and numerous types of different purchases – you can’t go wrong giving a Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover Gift Card. There is a really good chance that the person for whom you buy the gift card will be thrilled!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Helton

A Gift For All Seasons

2008-07-03T08:00:00.002+08:00

Credit card gift cards have six magic qualities, explaining their popularity and explosive growth:

1. Flexibility: A gift credit card is usually for an amount ranging from $10 to $500. Some corporate gift cards go as high as $2,500. This is much more exciting than the formulaic $25 for Olive Garden or Borders, and provides true versatility.

2. Convenient: Most prepaid credit card gift cards are Visa cards, making them acceptable in millions of locations. This avoids the stereotypes and limitations inherent in store gift cards. Don't be so sure your Administrative Assistant shops at Target!

3. Anonymous: What does (former) Governor Spitzer want for Christmas? With a prepaid credit gift card that ugly paper trail would never have existed. The truth is financial institutions collect and report vast amounts of financial data about citizens every day. Give a buddy the gift of staying under the wire.

4. Warm and Personal: Unlike cash, a gift credit card can be personalized and packaged to include all the sweetness of a Hallmark card. Lots of them allow you to choose a design and even a message. Of course the ultimate personal touch is that the lucky recipient can choose to purchase whatever they want with their gift card.

5. Public Relations and Marketing: Business prepaid gift credit cards can include your corporate logo.

6. Functional: Nobody likes to talk about it, but with the credit crunch really taking hold, many of our friends, family members, employees, customers, and co-workers have damaged credit, and restricted access to traditional credit cards. Yet the need for credit cards, for example for online transactions, has never been greater. What better gift than to make credit available again?

How do credit card gift cards work?

Think prepaid credit cards. The gift cards work just like conventional Visa cards, except that as they are not linked to the recipient by name, there are a few restrictions. And unlike some prepaid credit cards, gift cards cannot be reloaded with more cash. The gift card is used once or several times, until the balance is exhausted and the card hits zero.

In fact credit gift cards have so many uses that it is quicker to say what they cannot be used for than what they can. There are four common restrictions:

1. As these cards are not attached to an individual identity they cannot be used for airline tickets.

2. Most of the time they cannot be used for car rentals either.

3. Generally they cannot be used to get cash back when shopping, or for withdrawing cash from an ATM.

4. Also, prepaid credit gift cards cannot be used with PayPal. According to PayPal: PayPal does not recommend adding a gift card, prepaid card, virtual card, or one time use credit cards to your PayPal account. Although some of these cards may be accepted, most will not function correctly with our system due to the security checks we have in place. PayPal is not an online store, where these types of cards were intended to be used, and in order to properly facilitate our service, the traditional credit card or debit card is preferred.

So next time you are shopping for the perfect gift, consider credit cards gift cards. The cost will be whatever value you load onto the card, plus a purchase fee of anything from $3.95 and up, depending on the card issuer, the card value, and any shipping fees. The reward will be a delighted and grateful friend, family member, or business associate, who can shop until they drop, but still stay under the radar.

by Meredith Carter

How To Choose A Better Gift Giving Credit Cards

2008-07-02T03:29:00.004+08:00

Gift giving credit cards can truly take away the hassle of looking for a gift. A gift card would especially be appropriate if you are not very familiar with your recipient. It is also a good option if your recipient has nearly everything imaginable and you can't think of anything else to give.

There are however a couple of different gift credit cards out there. Sometimes the task of choosing the right card can be as difficult as choosing an actual gift. How do you choose the right card? Here are some great tips.

- There are a wide range of stores that sell and accept gift cards. You can find gift cards for coffee shops, bookstores, fashion outlets, home improvement stores and more. The key is to find a store where your recipient is a frequent patron of. That where you should get her a gift card for.

- You may not be very familiar with your recipient. If this is the case, you can always ask mutual friends to give you hints on the kind of things your recipient would love to have. You can get her a card from a niche store or you could get her a set of cards for several stores.

- You can also opt for a gift card that can be used for a number of different stores. There are cards that are valid across stores. This type of card is a good option if you know next to nothing about your recipient or if you are giving gift cards away to co-employees.

- Gift giving credit cards should be chosen based on how easily you can order and pay for them. Read the guidelines for ordering and paying and go for the gift card option that offers you the most convenience. Some cards can be easily ordered online. If you have an existing credit card, you could contact your company and ask if you can order cards and have them charged to your credit.

- You don't want your recipient to wait for gift card activation. Choose a card that can automatically be used once your recipient gets it. Do remember though that many gift cards have expiration dates. Don't buy cards ahead if the occasion you are buying it for is still months away.

- Gift cards don't all have the same values. Pick one that is appropriate for your recipient's age. It may be too much for example if you choose to give a kid a card worth $200.

- Some cards can be used a couple of times over. You need to read the guidelines about this though and inform your recipient about them. Your recipient may be asked to pay an amount if he chooses to reuse or load more credit to the card.

- There are cards that will allow the recipient to receive the remaining balance in cash. It would be to your recipient's advantage if you gave him such a card type.

The variety of gift giving credit cards can give you a headache. It isn't impossible though to find the right card. All you need to do is to simply put your recipient's interests and preferences in mind.

Learn more about credit cards visa gift card and other gift giving credit cards. Get information now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Tempest

Gift Credit Card Is Not A Credit Card

2008-07-01T03:07:00.004+08:00

Althought gift credit cards can be useful and much-appreciated gifts, it is important to understand what they are and how they work, and to check the terms and conditions of yur particular gift credit card. Each issuer has different gift credit card terms and conditions, and some of the clauses in the fine print can be costly.

Gift credit cards are actually not credit cards in the traditional sense of the word. A holder of a traditional credit card makes purchases on credit, and pays the bill later, when it falls due. A gift credit card is a stored value card, or debit card. A certain amount of money is deposited into the gift credit card by the purchaser at the time the gift credit card is issued, and only that amount of money may be spent using the gift credit card.

If you think about the old-fashioned paper gift certificate still issued by many major retailers, you will have a more accurate notion of the nature of gift credit cards than if you think about credit cards in general. Gift credit cards are not really credit cards at all - they are more like plastic gift certificates.

Some retailers have switched from using paper gift certificates to issuing gift credit cards. While these store-specific gift credit cards have the disadvantage of being limited to use in a particular store, this is offest by the benefit that generally charge lower fees than more general gift credit cards.

Gift credit cards are issued by major credit card providers, such as Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express, both directly and through banks. Each gift credit card issuer has their own particular set of terms and conditions.

Some issuers limit gift credit cards to use within the USA. Others will not allow gift credit cards to be used for certain purchases, such as air tickets or hotels. American Express will not issue gift credit cards to the residents of five US states, because, according to American Express, “restrictive legislation” makes it prohibitively expensive to do so.

It is important to be aware of the benefits of gift credit cards. If you have chosen the right gift credit card, you will be able to give a gift which is as flexible as cash, but as personalised as a gift certificate. If you have received a gift credit card, you have no choice about the issuer, so make sure you read the fine print, so you can avoid any unwanted fees or complications.

Gift Card - The Perfect Gift or Not?

2008-06-30T14:26:00.005+08:00

A Gift Card is the perfect gift! We have all read that somewhere; everywhere, actually. They are being sold all over the internet and offline, as well. Yet, is it really the perfect gift? In this article we will give the pros and cons of giving gift cards.

A gift card comes in many forms. There are pre-paid or pre-loaded credit cards like a Visa gift card or American express gift card. There are specific dollar value gift cards that can be used at a select number of stores, for instance a restaurant gift card that can be used at chain restaurants. There are cards for specific stores like Macys or a Toys R Us gift card. The choice of the type of gift card is huge and that is one area that makes giving gift cards a bit dicey.

Choosing who you give a gift card to should be well thought out. For example, if you give your wife a Lowes gift card and she has not specifically asked for one, you may be in hot water! Yet, if you choose to give her a Victoria's Secret gift card, packaged in a box of yummy chocolates, you could receive a great big kiss.

Alternatively, giving co-workers a Starbucks gift card would be a very nice gesture and appreciated. Personal, deep thought usually is not required for co-worker gifts. You see, that is where gift cards can get you in trouble. Some people feel that a gift card is an "easy way out," and not much personal thought has not gone into the giving.

So, are gift cards a safe bet as a gift? Most of the time, yes. Yet, if the person receiving the gift card is a close friend or relative, you may wish to add something extra to it. Plus, take extra care in the choice of the type of card you give.

Give a gift card that means something to the person receiving it. If the person loves to shop at Macy's, then a Macy's gift card would be appropriate. Package it inside a pretty wrapped box with a personal note that says something like: "I know how much you love to shop at Macy's, have loads of fun with this gift!"

As long as you make an extra effort to make it a personal gesture in choosing a gift card, it can be the perfect gift.

By Anne K. Dixon, Copyright 2008. Want to learn how to find all types of gift card discounts and gift cards lower than face value cost? Then visit Gift Card Way.com. You will find Gift Card buying tips, discounts and more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Dixon

Alternative Credit Card By Visa Gift Cards

2008-06-29T09:16:00.003+08:00

A visa gift card is similar to a debit card and represents money deposited with the issuer (Visa). This card can be used for purchases up to the limit on the card at all outlets where visa card is accepted. The difference between debit card and visa gift card is that debit card is usually issued in an individual’s name where as visa gift card is issued without any name. Further there is a PIN in debit cards where as for visa gift cards there is no PIN. The amount varies from $25 to $2,500. There are two types of visa gift cards, domestic and international. Domestic can be used only within the US while international visa gift cards can be used internationally.

The visa gift card looks just like any debit card. It has a magnetic strip embedded in it on which the number is encoded. The remaining value in the card can be assessed by radio frequency identification. There are other ways, like entering the printed number on the card into a telephone or other numeric keypad. The simplest way to know the balance on your visa gift card is to call the toll free number on the card and give the card number.

The visa gift card can be given as a reward or gift on various occasions. Some visa cards are automatically activated whereas some have to be activated. The instructions for activation are written on the card. It is important to sign on the back of the card to prevent unauthorized people using your card. The purchase receipt has to be signed on every purchase.

The usage of the card is very simple and similar to using a credit card. The card has to be swiped through the keypad and the credit button has to be pressed. The amount spent on purchases is automatically deducted from the account. However unlike credit card the amount of purchase is limited to the amount in the card and no overdrawing is possible. If the amount of purchase is more than the amount in the card, the card is declined. Therefore it is necessary to know the balance amount in the visa gift card before hand. In case one wants to purchase an article of value more than the amount in the card, the difference amount can be paid by cash, check or credit card.

If a card is lost or stolen, dial the toll free number given on the card or the number in the back of the card materials. To issue a fresh card the card provider will need the visa gift card number. Hence it is better to note the card number and the toll free number in a separate paper and keep it in safe place. When gifting the visa gift card the gift card materials should also be given with the visa gift card.

Visa gift cards are available quite easily and at many locations. To purchase a visa gift card online, or to know the locations where it is available, visit usa.visa.com.

Get Free Gift Cards From ...........

2008-06-28T15:26:00.007+08:00

You always hear that the best things in life are free, so why should it be any different when it comes to gift cards. The popularity of gift cards has been the ease that you can use them either online or in real life. You don't have to carry around cash or need a credit card, instead all the money you need is on the card and can be used at your favorite store. It doesn't matter if you want to use a gift card for buying electronics, clothing, or food, if you can imagine it then there is a gift card for you.

Now what if I said that there are websites that will give you free gift cards for not doing anything, you probably wouldn't believe me. There are however ways you can get free gift cards that take no effort on your part, instead all you actually need is an email address. You are probably thinking there is a catch to all this and are saying to yourself, "How can I get a free gift card from just putting in my email address?" Well it comes down to the fact that you will most likely just have to fill out a short survey to claim your free gift card.

All of these websites are trustworthy and work with reputable businesses. The free gift cards you can receive range from $200 iTunes gift card, $500 Visa gift card, all the way to a $1500 Old Navy gift card. Find what one best suits you and fill out the simple form. When you get the email just follow the directions and claim your card.

I have received over $2000 in free gift cards from just entering my email address and filling out a survey. Find the best free gift card offers by visiting GetAGiftCard.info

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Sacco