Gift Cards

[DianaB]

I received a printed out copy of an e-mail warning about buying gift cards for Christmas because of so many stores in jeopardy financially. I just checked on Snopes.com and here's the e-mail and what they had to say about it. I think that I may just go ahead and give the kids the gift cards that I got for them from the points on my credit card. I would sure hate for the kids to have gift cards to stores that close after Christmas.

Check it out.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/storeclosings.asp

[judy]

Some of these stores are in trouble because of the economy it seems, but some of the others are reorganizing or cutting down on underperforming stores. Hard times are here for sure.

Are your gift cards general, like a Visa card, or are they store cards?

[Gina]

I saw that list to Diana, I like giving gift cards to.

[Janet]

I rec'd that same email. I am planning on using some gift cards, but none that are on the list.

[Marilyn]

My bank offers Visa Gift Cards of whatever value you choose, that can be used anywhere that accepts Visa. That's what I gave last time I gave a gift card. I figure if the person I'm giving a gift too needs to buy groceries or something more than something from a specific store, than let them do what is best for them.

They can be purchased from Walmart, too, but only in specific denomations and they have Walmart on them which I thought might be confusing to the person receiving the card if they are not familiar with Visa gift cards, they might think it's a Walmart gift card.

Just a thought.

[Nina]

I saw that list too and like to give gift cards to people. I think I will just get the Visa gift cards instead. That way, they can choose where to spend them, and I don't have to worry.

Hard times are definitely here. It's really sad.

[Dobie]

I didn't see the email, but I saw it on CNN over the weekend - it was saying that some gift cards might also have hidden fees that people are unaware of.