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What is a gift card? A gift card is a card similar to a credit card except that it is usually only good for the store that is designated on the card's design. A person goes into a shop or even online, purchases a plastic card and then loads money onto it, either through a bank account or cash, and then the amount able to purchase at the store is set. For example: a twenty dollar gift card is purchased from Wal-Mart. That gift card is only accepted at Wal-Mart stores and the items purchased will only be covered up to the amount of twenty dollars. Additional funds can be loaded onto the card. Unlike a gift certificate, the gift card usually does not have an expiration date. If I give a gift card, is it considered inappropriate? When gift cards started to become available, many etiquette books and columns declared them 'tacky" because it was not a personalized gift. Those antiquated notions do no longer hold value. It is an appropriate gift because it can be used in any way the recipient desires. It can be used at a variety of stores and online websites. It is a great gift to give someone if you are not sure of what they need, want or like. What types of stores have gift cards? Most popular stores and outlets offer the ability to purchase a gift card. There are also restaurants that offer gift cards. In recent years many online websites also have gift cards to purchase and you can redeem some gift cards at a variety of places. If you are unsure of a store have gift cards available, ask managers to help you. At that time you can also find out if there are other stores within the same network that accept the same gift card. What is the difference between a gift card and those new prepaid credit cards? A gift card is much like a gift certificate. It can only be used at specified stores. The new prepaid credit cards work exactly like a debit card except you do not have to have a bank account. They work and are given in the same way a gift card. Many people elect these types of gift cards because they can be used anywhere Visa, Mastercard or American Express is used. Each of the prepaid gift cards are controlled by one of those companies. You load money onto the card and then the recipient can use them at any store accepting that type of credit card. They can even be used to buy items online. The additional benefit is that many people elect to keep the card and reload it so they can have a credit card without any of the hassles of credit card payments and have to rely on having a bank account. Where can I use a prepaid gift card? You can use a prepaid gift card, whether a regular gift card from a store or a prepaid credit card, anywhere that you want. If the card is from a particular store then you must use it to purchase items there. If it is a prepaid credit card then you can use it wherever the logo on the front, such as Visa or Mastercard, is accepted. Where can I buy a Visa gift card? The newest line of prepaid Visa credit cards can be purchased online through the Visa website, at Walgreens, or Wal-Mart. There are also convenience stores that carry prepaid credit cards. Usually if you buy it at a place, you can also reload money onto the card at the same place. There is a small fee when adding funds. Can I get my recipient's name put on the gift card? Most store gift cards do not allow you to put the recipient's name on the card. If you opt for a prepaid credit card then the person can elect to put their name on the front. This helps ensure that if it were lost or stolen, the person would not be held liable for fraudulent charges. There is usually a form to fill out but there is not a credit check. What do I do if I lose my prepaid gift card? If you have a prepaid credit card/gift card then the issuing company will replace the card for usually no additional charges. Many also offer protections against fraudulent purchases if you let them know the minute, or as soon as possible, that you have lost your card. Regular gift cards are the responsibility of the owner and the issuing store will not refund your card should you happen to lose it. This is why many people are choosing to give prepaid credit cards as gift cards as an extra means of security. What happens if the item costs more than the gift card is for? If you are using a regular gift card from a store or restaurant, you will have to pay the remainder yourself out of pocket. If you are using a prepaid debit card or prepaid credit card (both of which are essentially the same), you may be denied the entire purchase. Be aware of how much money is remaining on your card. If you know that you only have $100.00 on the prepaid credit card and the total amount of the bill is $125.00, you can pay a portion with the gift card and then pay the rest out of your own pocket. Can I add money to a gift card that someone else has given me? That is the great thing about gift cards. Unlike gift certificates, a gift card can be reused. If you run low on funds and you know that you will shop there often, add money to the card. Gift cards can be a great way to control your budget by letting you know exactly how much you can spend in a given month on certain purchases. What are the benefits of having a Wal-Mart gift card? The benefits of having a Wal-Mart gift card are pretty much the same as any other gift card. You can use them for purchases from Wal-Mart. You can reload them with money at any store and usually without any fees. The greatest benefit comes at the gas pump. If you use a Wal-Mart gift card at the gas pump, you can save a couple cents per gallon on gasoline. In this day and age of high fuel prices, every little bit helps.
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