Gift Card Blog - ScripSmart

Free Shipping Coupon: The American Express Gift Card

The American Express Gift Card is a great product and they've recently provided ScripSmart a promotion code for free 2 day shipping: just enter the American Express promotion code AFLQ32012 when checking out. This offer is valid in the months of July, August and September of 2012 and will save you $8.95 on shipping costs.

Full disclosure: ScripSmart will earn commission by referring your business.

A few things we like about the American Express Gift Card

First off, it's redeemable anywhere American Express is accepted (online too!). So, the person who recives the gift card will have plenty of options to get something they like. There are also no fees after the gift card is purchased, the funds never expire and you can get a replacement gift card free of charge (just in case it's lost, stolen or damaged). 

Register before redeeming online

If you plan to use an American Express gift card online you're going to need to call 1-877-297-4438 to register the gift card. Basically, card registration is the equivalent of adding a billing address to the gift card. This is necessary because just about every ecommerce merchant will check to see if the person placing an order also knows the billing address. While it may seem inconvenient, it's a good thing because it helps prevent the unauthorized use of your gift card.

Currently the American Express Gift Card does not have an option to register a gift card online. We'd love to see such an option because it's faster and therefore more convenient for gift cardholders. It's also something we'll adding to our rating algorithm which is scheduled to be released in a couple of weeks.

One last thing: the notion of registering a gift card (adding a billing address) is not unique to the American Express Gift Card. It's actually something which is required by the vast majority of bank-issued gift cards.

Amazon Gift Cards And Same Day Shipping

Amazon.com recently started offering 'Local Express Delivery'. Basically, they are breaking the one day shipping barrier and delivering items the same day in which they are ordered. Not every product on Amazon.com is eligible; however, one item which is always eligible for same day delivery is the Amazon gift card.

While there is an additional shipping cost of $3.99, this is a great option for those who prefer to have a physically gift card as opposed to an eGift Card. Currently, Amazon can deliver a plastic Amazon.com gift card to the following markets:

• Baltimore
• Boston
• Chicago
• Indianapolis
• Las Vegas
• New Your City
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Seattle
• Washington DC

Keep in mind, each market has a cut off time in order to make the magic happen. They range from as early as 7AM in Chicago to as late as 12PM in Seattle, be sure to check your markets details for more information.

Bottom Line

If your in a pinch for a gift card and your recipient lives in the same city as you, heading down to the local gift card mall may still be yoru best option. However, if your recipient lives in one of the 10 markets listed above and you do not live in the same city, this becomes an extremely attractive option.

 

Some Options When a Business Closes And You Still Own A Gift Card

The other day, I received an email from a consumer, he writes:

"I have a $50 gift card from Sparx a family restaurant that closed down suddenly because it is being sued by the government for racial discrimination. What recourse have I?"

This is a great question and it's important to keep in mind: gift cards are essentially a form of unsecured debt. When you buy a gift card you're giving the company an advanced payment for service to be provided later.

When you receive a gift card as a gift, the ownership of that debt has been transferred to you the gift cardholder. Here are a couple of questions to ask when a business closes it's doors:

Are there other locations still in business?

If the answer is yes, (even if it's inconveniently located) the gift card may still be redeemed for goods and services and your best option is to get out there and use your gift card. If traveling to an alternate location is unreasonably far away, call the business, explain your situation and and see if they will provide a refund.

Keep in mind, it's not required they provide such a refund, because you can technically still redeem the gift card. Another option is to sell or trade the gift card online or with a friend.

Did the business file for bankruptcy protection?

If no locations remain open, it's likely the business filed for some for of bankruptcy protection because it was unable to meet it's financial obligations. In this scenario, gift cardholders are out of luck. In short, they must stand in line with all other creditors to be repaid and, as it turns out, gift cardholders fall low on that list because of their nature (unsecured, low dollar amount per creditor, etc.). 

It's possible the business closed and did not file for bankruptcy protection. In this scenario, you should contact the business owner and request a full cash (check) refund. In short, you are still owed goods and services and the business is unable to provide such service; therefore, a refund is appropriate. It would be similar to being a supplier who delivers steaks for the last week a restaurant is open. The should still receive payment for the services provided.

If you contact the business and they are not willing to give you a refund (and they did not file for bankruptcy protection), contact your state attorney general's office and and ask for guidance in the matter. After all, there are likely many others in your same predicament.

Will competing business accept the gift card?

Accept a competitors gift card after they go out of business has become a savvy marketing move. Basically, it's a great opportunity for a business to attract new customers and gain goodwill within the community. A competing business may not be able to verify the balance of another company's gift card, so they may offer a free appetizer or a percentage off your meal. While it's not be the full value of your gift card, at least you'll get something out of it.

A Gift Card Best Practice

It's always a smart to redeem a gift card sooner than later. By leaving a gift card in your wallet or drawer you're dramatically increasing the chance of losing value. It could be from a business going under, post-sale fees, expiation dates or simply forgetting about and loosing the gift card.

We understand it's not easy to remember which gift cards you own. As a result, ScripSmart offers a free account system for registering gift cards. Just sign up, add the gift cards you own to your ScripSmart account and we'll send you a monthly reminder via email.