Cash-in your gift cards » Visa Gift Card

Visa Gift Cards Online, Look Before You Leap

giftah — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:03:19 +0000

A woman in Florida recently purchased a Visa gift card to use in her online shopping transactions, a sound idea to help avoid identity threat. Although this is a great way to protect your regular credit card from fraud it is important to read all of the Visa gift card fine print before proceeding. The woman tried to use the card online without following the instructions only to discover that the card was voided. When she tried to get her money back from Visa and the store neither were able to offer her a full refund. What happened? Many people use Visa gift cards online, what went wrong?

Visa gift cards can take up to 24 hours to activate, although they typically are activated this card did not and as a result the card was voided when someone attempted to use it before it had been activated. The woman recouped some of her money, but not all of it. Remember to read all of the fine print when you purchase a prepaid Visa or Visa gift card. Failure to follow instructions can void the card with no one left accountable for the lost balance.

Another tip to keep in mind if you are having trouble using your prepaid Visa online is to go to the Visa website and tie your name and address to the gift card. Some online retailers will not accept credit cards if the card holders name and address are available.

McDonald’s McCafe Gift Card Giveaway

giftah — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:20:03 +0000

The caffeine wars have heated up with McDonalds offering free samples of its coffee to its customers every morning for the next month. McDonald’s has long had its eye on the business of coffee chains such as Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. To help promote the McDonald’s McCafe franchise the company is sponsoring a “McCafe Your Day” contest. The grand prize is a $50,000 Visa gift card and a $500 McDonald’s gift card. That’s a lot of cash, not to mention hamburgers.

To enter head on over to the McCafe mini site and let McDonald’s know who you think would benefit the most from winning the competition. You can upload your story along with photos to the site anytime before June 21st, 2009. All finalists will receive a $1,000 Visa gift card and a $50 McDonald’s gift card. Winners will be determined by an online vote held between July 13th and July 26th.

There are also weekly gift card draws available for users of the site. McDonald’s will be giving away 130 $1,000 Visa gift cards and $450 McDonalds Arch Card gift cards. The massive amounts of gift cards and money being given away make this the largest current gift card promotion happening online. With thousands of gift cards being given away there is a good chance you may be able to get your hands on a card. If you end up with one of the McDonald’s gift cards but would prefer cash, sell you gift card online with Giftah the online gift card marketplace.

Gift Cards As A Graduation Gift

giftah — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:01:51 +0000

Its that time of year again, where the latest class of college students are finishing up exams and attending their convocations. Most of us know at least one student graduating this year, and we are aware that they are launching into one of the toughest economies in North American since the depression. Thats why graduation gifts this year are more likely to be cold hard cash or a gift card. Although many people frown upon giving cash and gift cards in this economy it is usually exactly what a graduating student needs.

Cash or a nice check makes the best gift, but if a graduating student lives far away and you are planning on mailing the gift a gift card is a better option. The best gift cards to give are the prepaid Visa’s or American Express gift cards, these can be used at any location the credit cards are excepted. If you still want something more personal electronics store gift cards, itunes gift cards or clothing gift cards are always popular with the college crown. Try to figure out what the students plans are for after gradation. If they are traveling then buy a travel gift gift card, if the student is moving into a new apartment an Ikea gift card may be in order.

Cash or gift cards in the best gift for grads in the uncertain economy. The last of their concerns right now is another College sweater or a special fram for their diploma, the current trend for students is survival.

Patent Litigation Threatened All Gift Cards Validity

giftah — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:53:27 +0000

A recent gift card patent litigation trial had the potential to render all gift cards in the United States useless. Every Penny Counts claimed that any company that issued “open” or “closed” gift cards was infringing on their patent for technology that automatically deducts excess cash from gift card transactions.

The “open” gift cards cover the American Express gift cards or Visa gift cards that can be used at any store and the “closed” gift cards refer to gift cards that can be used at specific locations, for example a Best Buy gift card or Wal Mart gift card. Essentially ever single gift card in the United States was covered by the lawsuit.

Luckily the U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed the Florida federal district court’s dismissal of the lawsuits which challenged the legitimacy of gift cards technology. Had the patent litigation been successful it could have potentially banned the use of gift cards in the United States.

Although this did not happen it shows how fragile gift cards can be for storing value. The company you own gift cards for can go out of business, the card can be lost or stolen, and now even patent litigation may lead to the loss of gift card balances. Everyone should get rid of their unused gift cards. It is much better to sell gift cards you will not use or trade them for a gift card you will use. The best place to get cash for gift cards is Giftah. You can get the best price for you gift card and turn the card into a liquid asset.