Before handing a gift card to a clerk write your name on it

Gift cards are a multi-billion dollar business, and yet consumers don't treat the cards like the cash they represent. We would never hand an unknown amount of money to a store clerk and say, “Please take the right amount and give me back the rest.” Yet, that is exactly what many do with their gift cards.

Received as presents, some do not have their cash value displayed, so consumers don't know if they have a card worth $10 or $100. What's to keep the clerk from replacing your card with one worth less or nothing at all?  There are reports of that happening. Consumers hand a card to a clerk, only to be told the card has already been used and is worthless. So before handing using a card, know what it is worth. Go online and check the balance by registering the card.

Also, write your name on the card, that way you will know if a dishonest clerk has replaced your card with one that has already been used.

Comments

[GC]

This exact scenario happened to my sister a few years back. The clerk swapped out her card (that had ~$300 on it) for another card during the transaction. When my sister tried to use it the next time, it only had a few dollars on it. Luckily she called the company headquarters and they replaced the value. Another time I used two gift cards to pay and the clerk gave me back the card that had no balance left on it. I became suspicious when she put the card she kept into the drawer. I asked her if I had the right card and she said yes. I took it to customer service and the balance was $0, so I went back to the clerk and she gave me the card back, pretending she didn't know what was happening. I told the store manager.

Now, I always write my name or something on the front with a big Sharpie pen. I also keep the receipt with the most recent transaction and balance wrapped around the card so I remember how much I have left on the card.

[gift to the Philippines]

If are you making this as a gift,this absolutely adorable so cute i love this. Will certainly visit your site more often now.

zaijan