Are Gift Cards still safe to buy and give ?

[cyclops222]

With the world business world collapsing more every day. Company closings are rampant. I read the companies that are in talks to merge, sell off a division, applied for Protection from creditors. Sadly it is happening to any company.
I have agreed with my family members to give CASH in a envelope with a card. My Son In Law has about $ 200 of car washing gift cards I have given him. He is out of work. His wife is on shaky home office job. Expects the Merry Christmas / Happy New Year lay off.
The job economy is terrible now and into next year.
Wish all of us boaters, for the best we will need, to enjoy our family lives.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

You can buy credit card gift cards that can be used at any store or business, and is not specific to a company.

Big part of the problem is the amount of debt people and companies are carrying.

 

[alldodge]

Gift cards are still ok but need to look closely at them before buying. Look at the film that should be covering part of the number and the pin. Compare the one you want to buy with other types in the rack, does the back look the same as others

 

[dingbat]

We’ve transition over to a mostly digital Christmas this year.

Use Venmo for cash transfers.
Since everyone in the family has Amazon accounts, we tried Amazon’s holiday gift list service this year.

Works like a bridal registry. Family members login in and make a wish list that is visible to all family members. Members can see who bought what for whom, but have no viability to their own list. Packages arrive wrapped or unwrapped at the location of your choosing.

My SIL redeems gift cards through his Amazon account as “points”. The point don’t expire and he can use for purchases at anytime.

Have had 2- $100k+ opening for a Service Engineer going on two years now. Advertising nationally, we’ve gotten probably 2 dozen resumes this year. The possibility of overnight travel is a deal breaker apparently.

Huge difference from back in my day when you took the job to see the world on someone else’s dime.

 

[tpenfield]

@cyclops222 . . . Get me an Amazom card please. I believe they are safe enough.

 

[aspeck]

I am not a fan of gift cards … don’t like being told where I have to spend my gift. Much prefer cash. But people don’t like to give me cash … they say I am cheap and will not spend cash on a gift for myself, and they are probably correct.

 

[redneck joe]

Huge difference from back in my day when you took the job to see the world on someone else’s dime.

travelling is what i miss most about working.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

travelling is what i miss most about working.

Come take my job. I despise Sunday morning flights, then returning Friday night.

 

[redneck joe]

Come take my job. I despise Sunday morning flights, then returning Friday night.

Unless emergency, no Sunday travel.


Cards are ok to buy many lose value over time and have fees. Read the fine print and communicate to recipient. There's a chance those car wash ones are no good.

 

[FLATHEAD]

The possibility of overnight travel is a deal breaker apparently.

Huge difference from back in my day when you took the job to see the world on someone else’s dime.

My son travels for work at times throughout the year. Often times out of the country. He makes great money, but has come to loathe the travel.

 

[dingbat]

My son travels for work at times throughout the year. Often times out of the country. He makes great money, but has come to loathe the travel.

It’s a life style. You get what you make of it. The flexibility of my schedule allowed me to spend far more time with my kids than most.

Spent the last 30 years jet setting around the world first as an Engineer, then as a Project Manager. Have managed world wide Sales for the past 20 years.

Twenty-seven countries and counting at this point. I was lucky in that I typically travel with local sales representatives who are more than happy to entertain and show me around. Could write a book on the persons, places and things I’ve experienced over the years.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Send me a few Visa gift cards..... I will test them for you buying parts

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Funny thing about business travel it enabled me to be in all 50 states Japan Saipan Mexico PR etc. In Hawaii was on Kwai saw my hotel room and the landfill, Alaska same thing, most states work and hotel, no entertainment no staying a couple extra days to see the sites, all billable hours.

 

[dingbat]

Funny thing about business travel it enabled me to be in all 50 states Japan Saipan Mexico PR etc. In Hawaii was on Kwai saw my hotel room and the landfill, Alaska same thing, most states work and hotel, no entertainment no staying a couple extra days to see the sites, all billable hours.

I have it very different......a typical week has me flying to the Agent’s home country where we spend the week traveling, typically by car, to the various customer sites. Aware of my interest in local cultures, Agents frequently include points of interest and culinary specialties in our agenda. A working vacation one might say.

Friday and weekend air travel is discouraged for finacal consideration. As such, travel and living expenses over weekends are covered. Gives me a couple of days each trip for sightseeing which I take full advantage of....Safari in S. Africa, bush plane to Angel Falls, day trip to the Great Wall of China, etc.