| There's little doubt gift cards make good gifts. In | | | | to issue gift cards with expiration dates, but it |
| fact, they may be the "perfect" gift. Why? | | | | does still happen. If possible, avoid buying cards |
| Because, by giving a gift card, you allow someone | | | | that must be used within a certain amount of |
| to choose something that they actually want. No | | | | time. And if you DO buy one be sure the person |
| guessing. No mistakes. No bad gifts that get | | | | you give it to is well aware of that time limit! |
| buried in the closet, never to be seen again. In the | | | | 2. Watch out for fees -- Be aware that a few |
| past several year gift cards have become a very | | | | companies sell gift cards that have "dormancy |
| acceptable and desired gift option. | | | | fees" that kick in after 6 months or so. These |
| However, not all gift cards are created equal. | | | | fees can reduce the value of a card by up to $5 |
| Some are actually much better than others. | | | | per month. Make sure anyone you give these |
| Because of their popularity (they are now one of | | | | types of cards to is aware of this fee. There's |
| the most-purchased gifts in the United States) gift | | | | nothing worse than going to a store and finding |
| cards are offered by hundreds of different | | | | out your gift card is worth half of the face value |
| retailers as well as credit card companies. It's very | | | | due to dormancy fees. |
| important that you take your time, read the fine | | | | 2. Stick with established retailers -- It seems just |
| print, and find out exactly what type of cards | | | | about every little store and restaurant now offers |
| you're buying. Remember, several types of gift | | | | some type of gift card or gift certificate. |
| cards can actually "go bad" within just few | | | | However, little stores and restaurants go out of |
| months of purchase, so it's important to do your | | | | business, have computer problems, get new |
| research and be careful. | | | | ownership, and have all types of other problems |
| Here are a few tips for buying gift cards will | | | | that may keep them from honoring a gift card or |
| make everyone happy: | | | | certificate in the future. It's best to stick with the |
| 1. Watch out for expiration dates -- Some gift | | | | big, well-known, and well-established retailers. |
| cards expire in as little as 6 months after | | | | When you buy a gift card from your local "Best |
| purchase. Almost all cards issued by credit card | | | | Buy" store, you can be certain it will be honored in |
| companies have expiration dates. So no, they're | | | | the future -- not just in that store but in any of |
| not "as good as cash" like many people believe. | | | | the hundreds of stores around the country. |
| It's becoming less and less common for retailers | | | | |