Gift cards: here's how to make the most of them
Did you also receive a gift certificate during the holidays? It is important that you always respect the conditions attached to these vouchers. Retailers may attach their own conditions to their gift certificates, but these must always be stated somewhere. For example, some retailers mention that their coupons may not be used during the sales period.
Valid for one or two years
Some chains have gift cards that do not expire. Most stores, however, choose to sell vouchers that are only valid for one year. Apparently, it is not evident accounting-wise to introduce coupons that do not expire. A retail chain then cannot estimate when that amount of vouchers will be redeemed.
Tip: put in your calendar the date your voucher expires. Do this two months before the expiration date as well as one month and one week before the expiration date.
Adventure vouchers
There are conditions attached to experience vouchers, those little boxes that allow you to plan an activity. This is why it is sometimes difficult to make reservations. Always read the conditions in advance, both those of the voucher issuer and those of the partner with whom you want to book the activity.
For example, you can read that the offer is constantly changing. Restaurant or hotel owners are free to refuse customers with a voucher because they want to keep room for regular customers without a voucher. Also, you may have to register the voucher in advance before you can use it.
Tip: record each voucher as soon as possible and try to capture an activity already. The terms and conditions also state that each voucher expires after two or three years. You will also read there if and how you can renew the voucher, if necessary.
Permanent place for your gift vouchers
Provide a fixed place for your gift vouchers and be sure not to leave them lying around.
Tip: hang them on your bulletin board in the kitchen, for example. That way you can always see them hanging and are more likely to redeem them.
(SR for Tagtik/Source: Radio 2/Illustration picture: Unsplash)
