Gift cards seem like a lovely present for many and an easy solution for those friends who are simply too hard to buy for.
Pros
Buying a gift card seems a more thoughtful Christmas present than stuffing a banknote or two into a card. It guarantees a win-win for Christmas Day, letting them pick their own gift and make the most of the boxing day sales.
When purchasing your gift cards it’s important to remember a few things about them before giving them to others. Before you choose one, you should think about the person you are giving the card to and consider their likes and dislikes. Try to select a card that will be appreciated, and used.
Date and expiry
The majority of gift cards expire between one to two years. While research suggests half are spent within a month, and 98.6% within a year, we still throw away tens of millions of pounds worth of out-of-date cards.
The terms and conditions will be different for every retailer, usually written in the small print on the back, just make sure to take a look at the back of each card you buy to find out how long you have to spend it.
Easy to lose
Make sure you get the gift receipt. Christmas Day is full of wrapping paper and envelopes flying everywhere, and if by chance your gift card has slipped away into one of those paper recycling bags, it may always be helpful to keep a receipt yourself.
Gift receipts are also helpful as they provide proof of purchase. During the Christmas season, it’s understandable that sometimes retail workers are put under a lot of pressure and make small mistakes. Whilst this is annoying for the customers, it’s nothing a gift receipt can’t solve to ensure the gift card is working properly and redeemable.
Shops going into administration
Research the shops before you buy your card and make sure they’re not at the brink of closure. As the pandemic has taken its toll on many High Street brands, recent news has revealed that some shops are close to going into administration. Gift cards are therefore either being made redundant or have new terms and conditions attached, leaving many shoppers understandably nervous as they see big brands at serious risk of closing their doors.
For example, the Arcadia group went into administration on Monday, creating new T&Cs for their gift cards use, as cardholders have now been told that they will only be valid for half of an order. To use a £100 card in full, you will need to spend £200 at one of Arcadia's stores, such as Topshop.
Overall gift cards can make great Christmas gifts, just ensure you have backup receipts in place and expiry dates noted before gifting. Merry Christmas!