Considering Giving a Mother’s Day Gift Card during Pandemic? Consider these BBB Tips
Milwaukee, Wis. – With the COVID-19 quarantine still in place, it’s a safe bet that Mom won’t be celebrating Mother’s Day this year at her favorite restaurant, hair salon or spa. Consumers may be considering gift cards or certificates to give to Mom for some much-needed pampering after the quarantine.
But, choose your gift card wisely. If the retailer permanently closes its doors before Mom gets a chance to use it, she’ll lose the value of the card.
Keep in mind these additional tips when giving or receiving gift cards:
- When buying gift cards in a store, check the packaging and any security seals to be sure they are intact and haven’t been tampered with.
- Treat the gift card as cash. If it’s lost or stolen, it cannot be replaced.
- Use the gift card as soon as possible. Again, if the retailer declares bankruptcy or goes out of business before you use the gift card, you’ll lose the value of the card. Don’t put the card away and forget to use it. Two billion dollars’ worth of gift cards go unused every year!
- Be extra careful when buying a card from a secondary seller. In fact, it is best to simply avoid buying from online auction sites or other online secondary markets. Cards could be stolen, counterfeited or simply used up. Don’t be tempted by big discounts on the card’s price.
- After purchasing, keep a copy of the receipt, in case there is a problem with the gift card.
- Check the fine print to see if there are fees associated with the card. Some typical fees could include transaction fees or inactivity fees. In some cases, an organization may charge a service fee to issue the card.
- Check the terms and conditions on a gift card. If you are giving a card to a friend who wants to shop online, make sure the card can be used that way and not just in a store.
For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2018, people turned to BBB more than 173 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.4 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Wisconsin which was founded in 1939 and serves the state of Wisconsin.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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