 |
 |
Details and Definitions
Covered in
The Gift Card Report Card
Following are definitions of the categories utilized in The Gift Card Report Card. The way each
retailer applies the "instruments" (Gift Cards, Paper Gift Certificates and Virtual / Online Gift Certificates) they offer are
subject to change. While we are committed to reviewing and updating the offerings of each retailer (found in our Gift Card Report Card)
at least 2X annually, we are appreciative of any assistance provided by visitors to this web-site. If, during your online shopping
of gift cards and gift certificates, you encounter any terms or conditions which vary from those listed on this site, please
complete a FIX IT Form. We will review your submission, and if verified, will revise the listing
so others can benefit.
You (via your User Name given when registering for your own "My Gift Cards" account) will receive credit at the bottom of the
"Details" page, and will be entered in our monthly drawing to win one of four $25.00 gift cards from the retailer of your choice.
There will be four winners per month, with the User Name for each of the four winners being posted on our PROMOTIONS page.
Terms and Conditions
Other accepting brands: lists any other retailer (usually sister companies, or divisions of the same parent company) where the gift card or gift certificate is accepted.
Expiration: indicates if the gift card or gift certificate "expires," after which (at the designated point in time) any dollar value remaining in the account is lost, and the owner may not be able to recover the value for future use. Some states and provinces have enacted laws pertaining to expiration (either totally banning the practice, or mandating a minimum period before any instrument may expire).
Expiration Terms: the period of time, usually commencing upon the purchase/issue date, when the gift card or gift certificate may expire. Some states and provinces have enacted laws pertaining to expiration (either totally banning the practice, or mandating a minimum period before any instrument may expire).
Maintenance Fee: a fee the retailer may impose that deducts a pre-set dollar value from the remaining gift card balance after a specific period of time...this fee may be imposed if the gift card is not used over a period of time (usually one year, 18 months, or 24 months) or does not have any "account activity" in that period of time. Some retailers will automatically impose this fee after a period of time (usually one or two years) even if the gift card has been used in this time period. "Account activity," (subject to each retailer's own definition) may include adding funds to the existing gift card balance or performing a balance inquiry. This fee may also be referred to as a "Dormancy Fee," "Inactivity Fee," or "Service Fee." Some states and provinces have enacted laws banning this practice or mandating a minimum period of time before any dormancy fee may be imposed.
Fee Amount: the amount of any Maintenance Fee (i.e. $2.00 per month)
Time Until Fee Begins: the specific period of time before any Maintenance Fee is imposed.
Is Fee Retroactive: indicates if the Maintenance Fee imposed is retroactive to the purchase date. A $2.00 per month fee, after 12 months of non-use, retroactive to the purchase date...would deduct $24.00 from the value of the gift card upon reaching 12 consecutive months of non-use.
Loss / Theft
Unused Balance Freezable: indicates if the issuing retailer is willing to provide the extra customer-centered effort of "freezing" the account value of a lost/misplaced, stolen or damaged gift card or gift certificate and issuing a replacement to the rightful owner. Any replacement value is usually that in the account at the time the retailer is notified of the loss or theft...speed of notification may be of the utmost importance...in the event the item falls in to the hands of someone who may attempt to utilize it for their own purpose.
Information: details what is required of the owner to freeze the account value and any proof of ownership that may be required.
Card Replacement Fee: any fee the retailer may impose to issue a replacement gift card or gift certificate.
Purchasing
Online: notes if it is possible to purchase the gift card or gift certificate online.
By Phone: notes if the retailer accepts telephone orders for their gift card or gift certificate product.
In Catalog/Through Mail: notes if the retailer accepts mail in purchases of their gift card or gift certificate product.
In Store: notes if the retailer offers their gift card or gift certificate product for sale in their physical retail operation.
Credit Cards Accepted: details any credit cards accepted, as well as other payment options, for their gift card or gift certificate product. If the product is offered for sale online, the payment options noted apply for this type of purchase. If the products are also offered for sale at the retailer's physical retail operation, the payment options may differ --- especially when the retail operations are independent franchises.
Shipping (see additional notes following this section*)
Economy: the shipping rate(s) for the lowest-priced (and usually slowest) methods of shipping offered. Usually USPS First Class Mail or a carrier's slowest method.
Priority: the shipping rates for any mid-level shipping option (usually 3-4 days).
Express: the shipping rates for the fastest shipping options a retailer offers.
Shipping to APO/FPO: notes if the retailer is willing to ship a gift card or gift certificate to a military installation or U.S. Navy ship based outside of the United States. The policy noted may differ for merchandise (other than gift cards or gift certificates) purchased online.
Electronic Delivery Time: this applies to virtual (online or electronic) gift certificates, and the usual amount of time from when the purchase transaction is completed to the time before the gift item appears in the recipient's e-mail inbox.
Defer Electronic Delivery / Defer Shipping Date: notes if the retailer offers the capability for the buyer to make the purchase now, but deliver (transmit via e-mail) or ship (via postal service or carrier) on a future date...a great tool for users who want to cross everything off of their "to do" lists! The length of "future" delivery dates varies by the offering retailer...some two or three months, and some in to future years.
Shipping Notes*
Zone-based shipping rates are calculated when the buyer inputs the ZIP Code (USA) / Postal Code (Canada) of the "ship to" location, and are based on the distance from the retailer's fulfillment center to the recipient. When a retailer's web-site requires the site user to input the ZIP Code/Postal Code before the shipping costs are confirmed, it is usually a good sign Zone-based shipping rates are in effect. If a retailer lists the shipping rates --- not requiring any "ship to" information first --- it is usually a "flat rate" shipping cost.
Rates and carriers noted are usually in the United States for U.S.-based retailers, and in Canada for Canadian-based retailers.
For the United States, the rates may only reflect shipping costs for the "lower" 48 states --- excluding Alaska, Hawaii, as well as any U.S. territories. Regular USPS First Class Mail is usually the same for Alaska and Hawaii.
Rates are for shipments of gift cards or gift certificates only: a purchase of merchandise made in the same transaction will usually incur additional charges, based on either total merchandise value, weight, distance or a combination of the three.
Redemption
Online: notes if the gift product may be utilized to make online purchases.
By Phone: notes if the gift product may be utilized for telephone purchases.
In Catalog / Through Mail: notes if the gift product may be utilized for catalog orders or mailed in.
In Store: notes if the gift card or gift certificate is accepted in the retailer's physical store location(s).
Cash Back Policy: notes if the retailer returns any value remaining from a purchase, to the gift card / gift certificate holder, in cash. Most gift cards and electronic gift cards are set-up to retain any remaining value for a future use, and do not return any cash to the owner. Paper gift certificates --- unless there is a specific account (bar code or unique number) for each certificate --- are usually not able to retain a value for future use --- and the way the retailer handles this is noted (change returned in cash, any balance forfeited, new certificate issued, etc.).
Balance Tracking
Online: notes if the retailer offers online balance tracking, allowing the gift card or gift certificate holder to input the account number to receive a current account balance. Some retailers may offer a listing of all, or recent, transactions utilizing their gift card.
By Phone: notes if the retailer offers telephone balance tracking. Most are fully automated and available 24 hours per day. Others may be "manual" and available only during regular customer service hours.
In Store: notes if the retailer offers in-store balance checking --- usually at any check-out counter or at the Customer Service counter. Many retailers print the available gift card balance on the receipt from a purchase made with the gift card.
Other
Multiple Designs: notes if the retailer offers different gift card or gift certificate design options when offered online. Some retailers will offer only one design option for online purchase, but will have numerous design options at their own physical retail operations.
Reloadable: notes if the gift card holder may add dollar value to their gift card. When offered, this function is usually only available at a physical retail location. However some retailers are offering this service online, as well as automatic reload options. Others are offering "companion" cards, where one gift card is presented to the recipient, and the gift giver is able to use their own matching gift card to add value that is automatically transferred to the gift card held by their recipient. (This feature is used for some gift cards offered to parents, for them to add value to the gift cards used by their sons and daughters away at college.)
Gift Message: notes if the retailer offers the gift card/gift certificate buyer the opportunity to include a personalized message, to be included with the gift card or gift certificate delivery.
Additional Information: denominations available and special features the retailer may offer (unique packaging, catalog included, etc.).
|
