What are egift cards?
Also known as digital gift cards, electronic gift cards, mobile gift cards, and virtual gift cards, egift cards refer to gift codes that are delivered using SMS text, email, social media, and smartphone apps. As mobile payment transactions have become more common, digital gifting has seen an increase as well.
Here are five things you need to know to have a positive egift card experience.
Timing is everything
The main benefit of sending gift cards electronically is that the gift can be sent almost instantly and free of charge. Though egift cards make great last-minute gifts, it’s best to keep a small grace period between the time you order the card and when you need to have it delivered. This is because gift card issuers will need to approve the transaction, run it through fraud screening and complete the delivery electronically. Hence, it’s best to give yourself some extra time to address any unforeseen issues after buying the gift card.
The right address is critical
Once the digital delivery is successful, the egift card issuer’s obligation is fulfilled. So, if you entered incorrect info, your money will go to waste. The terms and conditions on most gift card issuers' sites explain that an egift transaction is complete once the delivery confirmation is received. So, make sure you write the correct info while sending your gift card.
You may have to follow up
Sometimes, people may have more than one email address or they may not even check their email a lot. That’s why it’s important to follow up with the recipient after a white to make sure they received your egift card.
Some egifts only work online
Though many egift cards can be used in stores, some issuers restrict egift card redemption to online purchases. Such requirements should be stated on the store or restaurant’s website. So make sure to check a business’ policy.
Lost egift cards are not lost
Physical gift cards can be purchased anonymously and are hard to replace if lost. But, egift cards are different. These cards are ordered online where the buyer enters a credit card number, an email address, physical address, and possibly even a telephone number before completing the entire purchase. The recipient, who has to claim the code, also ends up supplying contact info. With all of these identifiers, egift cards are extremely easy to trace and replace if the original notification is lost.
The content of this article is for informational purposes only, is general in nature, and should not be relied upon
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