Gift Cards (A RANT)

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Dec 23, 2004 | 09:24 AM

#16

oldhalftons

Postmaster

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 3,439

Likes: 6

From: Spokane WA

Remember every time you buy a gift card or gift certificate, you are basicly giving the company an interest free loan for that amount. Money that goes into an interest bearing account. If they sell 1000, or better yet 5000, thats some real money. then they sometimes charge a small fee $1-$2 to use it (making the holder pay a fee to recieve payment of the original interest free loan). lots of those gift card expire and most will have some small amount of money on them when they do, even if it is less than $1(they count on this). Some charge a maintainence fee if you Don't use it (deducting principal right off the loan amount).

Companies can make alot of money on gift cards.

Last edited by oldhalftons; Dec 23, 2004 at 09:30 AM.

Dec 23, 2004 | 10:48 AM

#17

dono

Gone but not forgotten.

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 6,521

Likes: 2

I've had great luck with my gift cards from Lowes, Home Depot, Cheesecake Factory and numerous resturants. just like cash with no extra charges. I have a few in my pocket right now.
Dono

Dec 23, 2004 | 11:21 PM

#18

bigrigfixer

The Pacifier

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 8,245

Likes: 7

From: Cloverdale, BC

I got my sister a gift card to a chain called Sport Mart. She's supposedly going to use that, and the one my brother is giving her to buy snowboard boots during the big Boxing Day sale. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.