Visa gift cards: Complete crap.

Homeslice · 05-18-2010, 01:26 PM

Nuff said....

the chi · 05-18-2010, 01:28 PM

Well, that explains why mine didnt work the other day...i was trying to use the rest of the balance before using my debit card and it didnt work...

shmike · 05-18-2010, 01:43 PM

Not for the issuers they aren't.

marko138 · 05-18-2010, 02:09 PM

Never had a problem with them in the past. Sure hope I dont get any in the future.

EpyonXero · 05-18-2010, 02:50 PM

I don't know why people give those in the first place. As far as gifts go, why wouldn't you give cash? There clearly no thought involved in a generic gift card.

tommymac · 05-18-2010, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EpyonXero

I don't know why people give those in the first place. As far as gifts go, why wouldn't you give cash? There clearly no thought involved in a generic gift card.

Apparently its less tacky than cash and if its store or brand speciffic then you put thought into it.

Rider · 05-18-2010, 03:41 PM

My son is all about these visa gift cards right now. That's all he asks for for his birthday and Christmas. He has never had an issue using them.

shmike · 05-18-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rider

My son is all about these visa gift cards right now. That's all he asks for for his birthday and Christmas. He has never had an issue using them.

Using them is not a problem.

The fees ( and restrictions) associated with them is what people are having a problem with.

Fortunately for the companies issuing them, most people don't know or don't care about those fees.

Homeslice · 05-18-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rider

My son is all about these visa gift cards right now. That's all he asks for for his birthday and Christmas. He has never had an issue using them.

The issue is that you are paying a fee to get them. Whereas if you buy a different type of gift card, like say Shell or Starbucks or PF Chang or whatever, there's no charge.

goof2 · 05-18-2010, 03:52 PM

I don't really understand the complaint about the flat fee for an Amex gift card. I wouldn't think Amex incurs any cost difference between issuing a $25 gift card vs. a $3,000 gift card so why would they charge the purchaser different amounts? I suppose whoever wrote that would be happier if Amex was charging $3.95 for a $25 card and $39.95 for a $3,000 card for no reason other than they can?

If you look at it from the standpoint of Amex's profitability on a card (assuming it works the same way as credit cards) they stand to make much more money from fees charged to retailers on the $3,000 card vs. the $25 card. I suspect the author would be apoplectic about Amex charging the $39.95 for issuing the $25 card and getting rid of purchasing fees altogether for the $3,000 card.

05-18-2010, 01:43 PM	#3
shmike Follower Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,549	Not for the issuers they aren't. __________________ Racing For Smiles

05-18-2010, 02:50 PM	#5
EpyonXero AMA Supersport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Redneck Riviera, FL Moto: 2003 VFR800f6 Posts: 2,531	I don't know why people give those in the first place. As far as gifts go, why wouldn't you give cash? There clearly no thought involved in a generic gift card. __________________

05-18-2010, 03:41 PM	#7
Rider Moto GP Star Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 12,156	My son is all about these visa gift cards right now. That's all he asks for for his birthday and Christmas. He has never had an issue using them.

05-18-2010, 03:52 PM	#10
goof2 AMA Supersport Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 4,756	I don't really understand the complaint about the flat fee for an Amex gift card. I wouldn't think Amex incurs any cost difference between issuing a $25 gift card vs. a $3,000 gift card so why would they charge the purchaser different amounts? I suppose whoever wrote that would be happier if Amex was charging $3.95 for a $25 card and $39.95 for a $3,000 card for no reason other than they can? If you look at it from the standpoint of Amex's profitability on a card (assuming it works the same way as credit cards) they stand to make much more money from fees charged to retailers on the $3,000 card vs. the $25 card. I suspect the author would be apoplectic about Amex charging the $39.95 for issuing the $25 card and getting rid of purchasing fees altogether for the $3,000 card.