The ethics of expired gift certificates

Was it a card or certificate?

They're not allowed to put expiry dates on gift cards in Canada now. Not so sure about certificates.

that's the great money making scam of gift certificates, not only the expiration dates, but the fact that a good number of folks never use them because they lose them, put them away and forget about them or are given a card to a place they might not want to shop at

i read an article once that quoted the amount of money in unused gift cards, i can't remember the amount but it was substantial

It was a gift card to a large bookstore chain. I was very surprised.

the article i read was before they stopped the expiry date on cards

Yeah, I can believe it. I gave Alex one for Christmas and he still hadn't used it by the following September so I urged him to either use it or give it to someone else (preferably me - ha) in case there was an expiry date.

There's a great site where you can trade gift cards or donate them to charities.

hmmmm, maybe more than one site, but in an case, I think it's a great idea.

All those book store cards - donate them to a school or after-school kids' club

Grooming certificates - donate them to a woman's shelter or one of the agencies that helps people get back to work.

Brilliant.

I think its better to give someone money than to give then something that can be traded for the gift, but its not the gift.

we're lucky in our family, can't go wrong with, Chapters, HMV or Teaopia gift cards

the problem there is, will they spend it on a gift or just spend it, i realize it's their money to do with what they want, but at least a card means they have to get a physical object and not just piss it away on general things

Good to know, thanks!

It varies by jurisdiction - Ontario did it in 2007, Alberta in 2008.

Some stores will now even accept old cards that expired before the laws changed.

I'm an atheist, I don't believe in charity, I never give anything to anybody.

Stores make a huge amount of money on gift cards, which are essentially interest-free loans on your part. They take that loan, invest it, and make profits off of nothing.

Cycloptichorn

But a card means thay they need to go to the shop and choose something, and, depending of the local laws, that may be even within certain time constraints. I dont want people to trouble themselves going somewhere and choosing something to get their present. Im the one giving the present, so im the one who should have all the trouble =)

Charity is not the only reason to give things. You may want to give something to someone merely because you like then, for example. Or maybe you want to encourage someone towards something.

I also dont believe in charity and... I dont remember then was the last time I gave someone a present =)

I dont celebrate holidays nor birthdays, so there is nothing to make me want to give presents except feeling like it.

I would have said it's basically the same as checks. And checks can have expiry dates, too.

Yes, unfortunately a huge chunk of gift cards that or given/received are not redeemed or are expired upon attempt. You really want to "use em before you lose em!" Basically for a $20 gift card that someone forgets about, the store just pockets that money and the only inventory sacrificed is a little plastic card... no wonder EVERYONE offers them!

I'd recommend always keeping them in your wallet so you don't risk forgetting about them in a drawer somewhere.. which has happened to me a couple of times!

Good to know, informative thanks.