Common Pitfalls to Avoid with Gift Cards
Discover essential tips to avoid common gift card mistakes, including verifying authenticity, tracking balances, and utilizing remaining funds effectively. Learn how to maximize your gift card benefits while avoiding pitfalls like scams and expiration issues.
Tips to Prevent Common Gift Card Errors
Gift cards offer convenient payment options for a variety of products and services on numerous platforms. Whether for corporate gifting, holiday presents, or cashback rewards, these cards can be redeemed online or at physical kiosks. However, redeeming them can be tricky, and mishandling can cause you to miss discounts and special offers. Here are some typical mistakes to watch out for when using gift cards.
Avoid Purchasing from Auction Sites
Be cautious about buying gift cards from auction platforms like eBay, as their authenticity cannot always be verified. Scammers may also clone or steal magnetic data from these cards before resale. Activating such a card could inadvertently give scammers access to your benefits. It’s safer to purchase from reputable retail or online stores offering guaranteed gift card options.
Another mistake is holding onto gift cards without using them. For example, receiving a $500 auto parts gift card limits its use. Instead, consider trading such cards on platforms that facilitate buying and selling gift cards to find a more suitable option for your shopping needs.
Failing to Monitor Card Balances
Unused gift cards can still hold value. Keeping track of the remaining balance encourages timely use, especially when you have multiple gift cards. Knowing the exact amount on each card allows you to combine balances or take advantage of exclusive deals during your next purchase.
Neglecting to Cash Out Remaining Funds
Many stores permit converting small remaining balances into store credit or cash. Always check if you can cash out unused balances to avoid letting the value go to waste, especially before the card’s expiration date. Combining multiple leftover balances for store credit is often an option too.
Not Photographing Gift Cards
Gift cards without magnetic strips or barcodes are harder to track. To prevent loss, take a clear photo or save the card details on your phone. This way, you can still redeem the value even if the physical card is lost or misplaced.
Using Gift Cards for CME Activities
Modern gift cards can also be used for Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses, especially for healthcare professionals seeking credits required for certifications. Major online retailers offer cost-effective CME gift card options that can be redeemed for education, making it easier for clinicians to meet their continuing education goals.
