One of the good things to develop from the great recession was a more productive approach to gift buying. This year the retailers saw a huge jump in customers opting for gift cards - to allow the recipient to make a choice instead of being lumbered with unsuitable music, clothing or novelty items.
In the distant past gift cards were as good as money, but in recent times the retail industry has chosen to apply restrictions on how long they are valid. In most cases this is just twelve months. Once that fatal date is reached - the credit disappears.
It is a reasonable question to ask - why ?
What is the difference between a customer handing money over at the time of purchase and another customer pre-paying for the goods - and picking them up sometime in the future ? In both instances, the shopkeeper has the money in the till at precisely the same time.
It seems to be based on the fact that a percentage of gift cards get lost or forgotten, and are never presented for redemption. By placing a time limit the shopkeeper can avoid such cards suddenly appearing when relatives deal with a deceased estate or similar property search.
There have also been instances when gift cards have been refused as payment for goods price discounted in a sale. The legality of that ruse has yet to be tested, but it seems that many of the restrictions applied are simply bluff.
It is time that the law was made clear and both those selling and those giving gift cards had a clear understanding of what rules legally apply.
At the moment, the matter is untested !
No comments:
Post a Comment