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WA Bans Gift-Card Expirations, Fees
theodp writes "The Seattle Times reports on new legislation that makes WA one of 15-20 states that have passed or are in the process of adopting laws that ban expiration dates on gift certificates, which enjoyed sales of $40+ billion last year. The consumer protection law is also expected to address the cat-and-mouse games retailers play of shopping for states with unclaimed-property laws that allow them to pocket unused gift-card value. As it so happens, Delaware state law requires a company to send unclaimed gift certificate monies to the state, while Idaho allows a company to keep the cash for itself. While an Amazon.com spokeswoman said the company would adhere to the new WA law for WA residents, she declined to say why the Seattle-headquartered and Delaware-incorporated Amazon established an Idaho company two years ago called A2Z to handle its gift-card operations."
I received a $50 Best Buy gift certificate for Christmas but I cannot find it anywhere!
At least now I know that I have a lifetime to search for it.
"The only problem is few things are exactly worth $20, so the consumer is forced to either pay up their own money for something, or buy something for less than the value of the card."
:(
Killswitch is right. Once, I had a gift certificate for Gamestop for $30, and could only find a game that cost $29.99. Paying the tax out of pocket, I was left with a leftover balance of $0.01. Suffice to say, I had to THEN spend another $30 in order to empty the card of it's value
DRM = Digitally Restricted Media. This is a viral sig, pass it on.
I actually like getting gift cards. With cash, I'll probably spend it on stupid things like deciding to eat out.
Conversely, a gift card narrows it down to where I have to spend it. I can usually find things that I want at that store anyway.
For example, I'm not a huge movie fan, so I wouldn't normally spend my money on a DVD. If I have a Best Buy gift card for $20, I don't have much choice. It's a nice excuse for buying unnecessary items.
.. Should be changed to Canadian Tire money, its so simple and they give you some back every time you make a purchace its the burden, erm, gift that keeps on giving.
Dear aunt, let's set so double the killer delete select all
Doesn't the government issue its own Gift certificates, usable at any store nationwide, available in convenient amounts ($1 $5 $10 $20 $50 $100). For those interested in history, they have pictures of past presidents and founding fathers on one side.
These do not have any expiration date, and do not have any fees attached (but of course they are affected by inflation.)
Why not use these when its gift giving time?
I think amazon has better promotions than a 300-yen promotion. That's like McDonalds giving away "free ketchup" for every large fries you order.