Gift cards are replacing gift certificates and are available at major supermarkets. Popular options include Home Depot, Target, and Wal-Mart, as well as preloaded Visa, Mastercard, or American Express cards. Popular gift cards include iTunes, Wii Points, and Starbucks. Some gift cards have expiration dates or fees, so read the fine print.
A new shopping trend, which is becoming more and more popular, is giving a gift card to various stores, restaurants, theaters or even amusement parks like Disneyland. In recent times, these cards, which look like credit cards, are increasingly replacing gift certificates, which are usually written on paper. You’ll even find different gift card options at major supermarkets, and it can be a way to spend less time shopping for gifts, while still providing something the recipient will really appreciate.
If you’re not sure which gift cards are best for someone, there are some popular gift card options that can help you make up your mind. Also keep in mind a gift card recipient’s interests and age. A Nordstroms gift certificate probably won’t be a great choice for a two-year-old.
Some of the most popular gift cards on the market today are from stores like Home Depot, Target, and Wal-Mart. The last two are particularly suitable for just about anyone, due to the variety of goods carried both in-store and online. You can buy toys, video games, clothing, home supplies, office supplies, and even home furniture. These cards can be used for young and old and anyone in between and give people plenty of options for purchasing. Home Depot cards may be better suited to those specifically looking to purchase home supplies, building materials or tools, so they are more limited in scope.
Because the gift giver wants to offer as many options as possible to the recipient, another popular gift card selection is a “preloaded” Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card. You can usually get them any way you like, and the person who has that card can use it anywhere these cards are accepted. Occasionally, people may have trouble using them online as some stores may check their credit limit and reserve a limit. In most cases though, they have few problems and can be used to buy a wide variety of things.
Another popular gift card is one designed to be used at a large mall that the person frequents. For example, you can buy Simon Gift Cards that can be used at any store in a Simon Mall. This again gives you lots of choice; just make sure there is a Simon Mall near the person you would like to give this card to.
Some gift cards that tend to gain huge favor are iTunes cards, which let you download new music to your iPod or MP3 player. If a child or adult owns a Nintendo Wii, consider purchasing Wii Points that are available at many video game stores and allow Wii users to download classic video games to play. Coffee lovers can be thrilled with cards from companies like Starbucks.
While there are popular gift cards, there are also unpopular ones. Cards for Barnes & Noble and Borders are among the most unpopular. Alternatively, Amazon.com cards remain popular because they offer a wider variety of merchandise. Either way, popularity depends on interest, and if you’re giving a bookstore gift card to a book lover, it will likely be appreciated.
Before you start shopping with gift cards, remember to read the fine print on all gift cards. Some of them have expiration dates or start losing money on company charges after some time. Be sure to only buy those that do not expire or impose a charge on the person using them or notify the person receiving the card that they need to use it within a certain time period.
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