May 25, 2010 | Add a Comment
Read MoreMay 10, 2010 | 1 Comment
Free gift card promotions are great, but some can require more work than the cards are worth.
The trick is to pick the offers that provide the best value on products you already want with the least amount of time and effort. While it's true you'll have to look at several offers before you find the right one, the pay off in savings is worth the effort.
Read MoreApril 29, 2010 | 1 Comment
Gift card cons have circulated via e-mail for years but con artists now are flocking to Facebook to perpetrate their dirty deeds. In recent months, Facebook groups with too-good-to-be-true gift card offers have popped up all over the social networking site.
Many of these pages have fake posts recommending the giveaways, but the sites typically lead to affiliate marketing websites that try to collect your data and generate Web traffic for advertisers. The best defense against these con artists is a good offense. Check Snopes.com before you click on anything. Here are the top seven types of Facebook and email frauds currently circulating.
April 23, 2010 | Add a Comment
Mother's Day is May 9 and you still haven't the faintest idea what to buy your ever-patient, ever-loving and ever-the-best mom. She gave you life: The least you can do is get her a decent gift.
Some moms are just impossible when it comes to finding the right gift and living at a distance can make it even more difficult. Here's a tip: Gift cards for your mother's favorite stores make a great gift but discount gift cards from Gift Card Granny can save up to 30 percent if you want purchase the perfect gift yourself. Wouldn't mom be so proud of your frugal ways?
Here are 13 discount gift card suggestions that will save you money while giving your mother everything she deserves.
1. Barnes and Noble
Mom will appreciate a Barnes and Noble gift card even if she doesn't have time to read. B&N also sells games, movies, music, magazines and merchandise for the home. At BarnesAndNoble.com he'll find product descriptions, reviews and recommendations. Tip: Barnes and Noble's Nook book reader is available for $259 guaranteed for free delivery by Mother's Day.
2. Best Buy
We tend to think of Best Buy in terms of computers and high-tech toys but BB offers so much more. In addition to audio equipment, televisions, cameras, camcorders and phones, mom could use her discount Best Buy gift card to buy movies, music, books or small and large appliances. Tip: BestBuy.com and all Best Buy stores are presently selling the Avatar Blu-ray disc for just $22.99 and the DVD for $15.99. Gamester mom's might prefer James Cameron's Avatar Game for just $19.99.
3. Macy's
Whether mom shops via Macys.com or at one of their more than 800 department stores, she'll have a hard time deciding what to buy with her discount Macy's gift card. In addition to trendy and classic clothes and accessories, Macy's sells cosmetics, perfume, jewelry, purses and products for the home. Moms who love to cook should check out online sales of Macy's kitchen supplies.
March 24, 2010 | Add a Comment
The Federal Reserve issued new gift card rules March 23 that, beginning Aug. 22, will help shelter American consumers from a flurry of unexpected fees and restrictions that have gradually turned into a financial snowstorm.
Gift cards have become so popular in recent years -- particularly with the advent of discount gift cards -- more than 95 percent of Americans have received and/or purchased them.
With increased usage have come increased complaints from consumers surprised by fees that devour the value of the cards and restrict how long they may be used. Public concern had grown to such an extent that the Fed received more than 230 letters weighing in on the proposal, originally unveiled in November. Many urged the banning of all fees and the elimination of expiration dates.
The Board's proposed rules generally cover retail gift cards, used to buy goods or services at a single merchant or affiliated group of merchants, as well as network-branded gift cards redeemable at any merchant that accepts the card brand.
According to the Associated Press, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who championed the gift card crackdown in Congress, wants faster implementation of the rules.
"Now that the new rules are finalized, we will work with the Fed to speed up the effective date rather than keep consumers at risk of being ripped off until next summer," Schumer said.
Here's what you need to know about the new rules.
February 24, 2010 | 2 Comments
1. If it looks like too incredible a deal, it probably is: Consider how the above-detailed site could afford to sell $1,000 worth of product for $149.95. Why would a seller take such a loss?
2. Verify the merchant: If you’re not familiar with the merchant selling a gift card, verify it is a valid business. Call the phone number listed on the site and ask detailed questions about their policies. You also can check with the BBB or visit Snopes.com for verification.
January 5, 2010 | 1 Comment
You may wonder why people buy gift cards on eBay when they can pick them up at stores or order them online. The fact is you can save 5 percent, 15 percent or more than 50% through the popular online auction site. However, safely purchasing cards on eBay requires a bit of knowledge as to how the process works. We've compiled 13 answers to the most commonly asked questions about buying gift cards on eBay.
1. How can people afford to sell gift cards for less than face value?
Some sellers receive cards they can't use or don't want and would prefer the cash. Others buy gift cards in bulk to receive a discount, so if they buy a $100 gift card for $80 and sell it for $90, they make a $10 profit. Others are professional eBay sellers who handle transactions for people who have one or two cards to sell.
December 29, 2009 | 2 Comments
Both women and men said they wanted gift cards more than any other gift for Christmas, which explains why experts anticipated the little plastic cards would be the number-one present for the sixth consecutive year, with 64 percent of consumers saying they'll give or receive them. Yet many consumers fail to cash in their cards, creating a windfall for many merchants. How gift cards are used, not used and expected to change make for some anticipating trends in this growing industry.
Here are the 15 hottest gift-card trends of 2010.
HOW GIFT CARDS ARE USED
1. While consumers are purchasing more gift cards, for a total of nearly $80 billion a year, the average value of cards is down by $6 to $46.
2. Nearly one-third of consumers are redeeming gift cards for necessities, as opposed to discretionary items.
3. Many state and national parks now offer gift cards you can purchase online and use for campground fees, accommodations in lodges, concessions or park admission.
4. Most customers who use gift cards spend some of their own money to buy merchandise that is more expensive than the value of the card.
5. Gift cards for the upscale department stores Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus are redeemed faster than big-box store cards.
December 8, 2009 | 1 Comment
Amazon.com sells millions of items in every category, from automotive to watches, so when they offer a holiday deal on gift cards, consumers really sit up and take notice.
The e-commerce web site recently announced a holiday offer of $5 off with every purchase of one or more Amazon gift cards totaling $50. Best of all, Amazon gift cards have no fees and no expiration date.
You can order Amazon.com gift cards via e-mail, printed on your home computer or mailed to the recipient with a free, personalized greeting card. E-mail orders can be delivered immediately or on your scheduled date.
December 1, 2009 | Add a Comment
They're called “gift cards" so it’s logical to think the main function of these little plastic darlings is to give as presents. But what do you do with gift cards once they've been spent? Gift Card Granny has 16 off-beat ways to use your gift cards after the holidays.
1. Ninja star: These puppies really fly when you fling them. Sharpen one up and whip it out next time you're faced by a herd of Bruce Lee wannabees; which happens every day, of course.
2. Haut couture: Costume designer Lizzie Gardiner wore a dress made entirely of American Express cards to the Academy Awards in 1994. Not only did Lizzie win the Oscar but she was the most photographed C-list celebrity on the red carpet that night. Be the talk of your own town with home-made jewelry and fashion couture made entirely of gift cards.
3. Prison shank: You've just been falsely arrested and tossed in the slammer overnight. Your cellmate is making Mongo grunts in your direction. What do you do? With the panache of James Bond you sharpen a gift card on the cell bars and defend yourself pronto.
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