Are Gift Cards the perfect Gift for all Occasions

With today's fast pace world, our lives are constantly busy and we find ourselves having a difficult time buying a gift for a love one. Possibly your employment or other commitments are holding you back from buying that special gift. Or maybe you are not a shopper. Are you having problem finding high-quality present ideas? Then perhaps a gift card is the answer.

However, a decision to make when buying a gift card is whether to buy and give a store gift card or a branded-logo (Visa, Mastercard Logo) gift card. With a store card, your love one or family member can redeem the card at fewer locations, and may not have to be concerned jokercard  about expiration dates or hidden fees. With a branded-logo card, it may be redeem at numerous retailers but it is more probable to have hidden fees that will diminish the balance if the card is not within the year.

While most cards do not expire, shoppers may get stuck with inactivity fees if not used by a certain period of time. With new laws passed recently, the law requires the issuers not to assess an inactivity fee for at least 12 months of inactivity. So sound advice, use your gift as soon as possible. One fee to look for is a purchase fee. At time of a purchase or after the purchase, the issuer may hold up to a dollar or a nominal fee upon the transaction. There after various cards return the fee to the balance but some do not. Read the terms and conditions and see if there is a purchase fee will be implied.

If you do not live close to the person you are giving the card to, you might want to look for a card that offers free shipping or an e-card option, which means you can e-mail the gift card. Numerous department store cards offer e-card service. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the process because some e-cards allow the receiver to only shop online at the store's Web site. One great feature that all cards have is the gift card balance may be checked online at the card's Web site.

Retailers bank on buyers purchasing something for a few dollars less than the value of the gift and not bothering to cash in the rest. On thing to keep in mind, if the purchase is greater than the amount of the balance, make up the difference with cash. Merchants earn millions of dollars from people who loss, misplace or never use their gift cards.

If you have concerns that your family member may lose the gift card, you might want to look for a card that has lost or stolen card protection. A majority of the cards offer to replace the card or funds after a loss. Take advantage of this opportunity, but limitations may vary and fees could apply. Write down the ID number or card number that is printed on the card and keep it in a safe place. You will also need the store's receipt in order to get a refund or a replacement card.