gift card
Here's Why Gift Cards Are the Best Gift Idea
In a survey by Consumer Reports, gift cards or gift certificates were the #1 gift desired by women and the #3 gift desired by men! Whether you are considering a gift for Christmas, birthday's, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, corporate thank you, a wedding or an anniversary, its popularity is no surprise, since it allows the recipient to choose the gift that they want the most. However, there are major problems to look out for. Not all gift certificates are created equal but I will steer you to what I believe is the best one.
Find a card that has no expiry
Many cards expire without being used. Some expire in less than 6 months! In 2006, the estimated value of unused cards in the U.S. was $8 billion. Best Buy, one of the top electronics retailers, revealed that they were going to profit from over $43 million worth of unused and expired cards in 2006! Beware of cards with expiry dates, or you may be wasting your hard-earned dollars!
Find a card that has no fees
Gift certificates with monthly fees can only be described as one of the most dishonest forms of retailing ever invented. The monthly fees can be as high as $10/month! Some cards even charge you for buying the card - as high as $12. That's akin to charging you $2 for the right to buy a $.50 apple at your grocery store! Bank and credit card companies are the worst offenders for charging fees. Never buy a card with fees, when there are many cards that have no fees.
Find a card with a great online selection of products
The same Consumer Report survey found that 58% of people did not use their cards because they didn't have the time to go shopping at the store for a gift. 35% of the people receiving cards couldn't find anything they liked to buy. That's the problem with giving a card from a brick-and-mortar store. Your recipient has to drive to the store to find a gift. The best gift certificate is one that offers online internet shopping with free shipping.
Another problem is giving a gift certificate from a specialty retailer such as a clothing, book or electronics store. What if they don't want clothes, books or electronics? What if they don't like that particular store brand?
That's why you need to find a gift card from an online retailer that offers multiple product categories such as books, electronics, clothing, home improvement products, music, DVD movies, jewellery, groceries, health and beauty, and automotive products. The absolute best gift card that offers no expiry, no fees, free shipping, hundreds of product categories and millions of products to choose from, is the Amazon gift card. Amazon is the world's largest and most trusted online retailer.
