If you are have someone in your life who is hard to buy for then a gift card might be the right option for that person. The same can be said if you are short on time to find the perfect gift. With the holidays upon us more and more people will be flocking to the malls and shopping online for gifts. When you give gift cards it provides flexibility for you as the sender and also for the recipient of the gift. When it comes to gift cards everyone is happy.
You might be surprised to know that retailers are in love with gift cards as well. Their reason for loving them is not the same as yours. Gift cards are often tucked away in a drawer somewhere and forgotten or they get lost or become less important over time. According to Consumer Reports approximately one quarter of all gift cards that are purchased do not get redeemed for at least 10 to 12 months after they are purchased and an estimated seven percent are never used at all. This means that the stores do not lose any money. In fact unredeemed gift cards add up to an estimated eight billion dollars yearly for the retail industry.
The last thing you want is the money you spend on a gift card or cards to go to waste. But how do you know if a gift card is right for the people in your life?
Before you rush out to purchase a variety of gift cards for your family members and friends it is important for you to realize that not all gift cards are exactly the same. They are not created equally. For instance some retailers have stores as well as websites from which they sell merchandise. They make it possible for customers to purchase and redeem gift cards in both places. However some retailers do not offer this or simply choose not to.
Picking the Best of the Bunch
If you wish to have a gift card sent to someone in your life then some retailers will charge you a shipping fee for this while others will not. Some retailers will accept redemption’s at all of the locations they have while others will accept them at only a few. Expiration dates are practically nonexistent for retail store gift cards but many restaurants still have expiration dates on their cards so this is something that you need to be aware of when you make this type of purchase.
As the holiday season gets close more and more people are contemplating which gifts are the best choices for their loved ones. The website ScripSmart has come up with their latest ratings for the superior choices of gift cards. If you are looking for the greatest value for your dollar when it comes to gift cards then look no further than these cards:
Leading the pack is the fishing and camping retailer Bass Pro Shops. Customers are able to purchase and redeem gift cards both in the store and online. Balances for cards can be checked over the Internet. There are no expiration dates or hidden fees to contend with.
Other Top Cards
Other gift cards that are tops include American Eagle Outfitters which has very liberal redemption policies and even allow customers to do so by telephone. The Gap, and its sister companies Banana Republic, Old Navy and Piperlime are also good bets. Customers are able to reload their cards as they spend on them and they offer plenty of benefits. Disney is also another excellent choice for gift card as they have no hidden fees and refunds are available for cards that are unused.
