| I enjoy giving gift cards, especially to
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| | purchase, a small fee is deducted each
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| those hard to shop for people on my list.
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| | month. The fee is small, not usually more
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| I, like nearly everyone else, have at
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| | than $1.50 or $2. This is similar to a
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| least one person on my shopping list that
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| | dormancy fee, but the difference with a
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| I either don't know what to buy or I
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| | balance fee is that even if the card was
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| can't find what I think they would like.
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| | used within the first 6 months (or
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| When that happens I consider their likes
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| | whatever time frame is specified) a fee
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| and then purchase a gift card I think
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| | will be assessed each month for still
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| they will enjoy using.
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| | having a balance on it. This is to
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| For example, I give my restaurant loving
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| | encourage people to use their gift cards
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| friends gift cards to their favorite
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| | in a reasonable amount of time and not
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| restaurants; gas station gift cards to my
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| | leave them sitting on a shelf somewhere
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| teenage nieces and nephews who drive;
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| | collecting dust.
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| shopping mall gift cards to my daughter;
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| | If you purchase a gift card that has a
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| and massage gift certificates to my
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| | balance or dormancy fee, try to purchase
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| sister-in-law because I know she loves
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| | it as close to the time you are going to
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| getting massages.
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| | be giving it away as possible.
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| Although gift cards are great and I buy
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| | Also be aware that the gift card could
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| them frequently, there are a few things
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| | have an expiration date. Most of the gift
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| to be aware of. The main thing is to make
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| | cards from large companies don't have an
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| sure the recipient knows the gift card is
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| | expiration date or allow a lengthy amount
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| like carrying cash and needs to be
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| | of time before the card expires, such as
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| safeguarded in the same way cash is. For
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| | five years. Shorter time periods to use
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| the most part, lost or stolen gift cards
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| | gift cards and gift certificates, usually
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| cannot be replaced.
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| | not less than 12 months but occasionally
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| Another thing to be aware of is hidden
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| | as little as 6 months, are more likely to
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| fees, well not really hidden fees, but
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| | be found with smaller companies and
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| fees detailed in very small print - that
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| | independent business owners.
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| size "one" font that's nearly impossible
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| | I think it's perfectly fine to give gift
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| to read!
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| | cards and gift certificates with an
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| One charge that will be apparent right
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| | expiration date. Just make sure the
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| away is a possible upfront processing fee
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| | recipient is aware of the expiration
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| to defray the cost of producing and
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| | date. An expiration date shouldn't cause
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| distributing the gift cards. Most
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| | you to not buy a gift card. After all,
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| companies try to avoid charging an
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| | you don't want people to hang on to the
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| upfront fee. But some, like my local mall
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| | gift card and not use it.
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| charges a small fee to purchase a gift
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| | And, remember that although gift cards
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| card. It's nominal, $1.50 per card.
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| | may carry some fees, the majority of them
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| Some companies and stores charge a
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| | will never be a problem if the card is
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| non-use or dormancy fee on their gift
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| | used within six months, which most gift
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| cards. If a card is not used for a
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| | cards are. So feel free to give gift
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| specified period of time, a small amount
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| | cards whenever you think it is an
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| is deducted from the value of the card
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| | appropriate gift.
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| every month. For example, $1 or $2 may be
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| | One interesting note: even though some
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| deducted from the balance of a gift card
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| | gift cards have started adding fees to
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| every month if that gift card is not used
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| | their gift cards such as dormancy fees,
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| within six months of purchase.
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| | balance fees, or maintenance fees, some
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| Another type of charge some gift cards
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| | states are starting to pass legislation
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| have is a balance fee. If a gift card has
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| | banning those fees as well as banning
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| a balance on it after a certain amount of
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| | expiration dates. This is good news for
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| time, typically six months after
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| | consumers.
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