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Raising 3 sons, my mother-in-law had very little opportunity to buy presents for a girl. Then I came along and well, what can I say? From clothes to books to cute knick-knacks, my sweet mother-in-law uses every special occasion such as birthdays and Christmas to shower me with presents (there could be worse things in life, right?) Along with all these wonderful gifts, she also knows I like to have my own shopping splurge. Occasionally, she will send me a gift card. Always accompanied with a beautifully hand-written card. Bless.
Gift cards may be a popular option for last minute presents or for someone who’s picky or seems to already have everything. However, the gift cards I receive from my mother-in-law are chosen with careful thought and consideration. It appears she’s not too dissimilar from many other Australians. Statistics show Australians spend approximately 2.5 billion dollars every year on gift cards.
I definitely appreciate every gift card my mother-in-law gives me. I also love telling her about what I used it for. Whether it contributed to a new pair of shoes or paid for the sports watch I’d been eyeing out for months, it makes her happy that she’s been part of something special to me.
As with anything you buy, doing your homework before purchasing a gift card will help avoid any confusion or disappointments. You want to make sure that the recipient will be able to use and enjoy it the way you had intended.
To make sure you cover all the bases, here’s our list of 5 things you should consider before purchasing a gift card:
Date of Issue and Expiry Date
In the past, gift cards usually had 12 months expiry. Consumer groups such as CHOICE (The Australian Consumers’ Association) argued that 12 months was not long enough.
On the 1st of November 2019, the Australian Consumer Law was amended to include new gift card laws. From the 1st of November 2019, gift cards were to have the following requirements:
- A minimum three-year expiry period
- Expiry dates and date of issue must be clearly stated. Gift cards are to also clearly state if there is no expiry date
- Ban on post purchase fees for the gift card
If you can’t see or find the date of issue or the expiry date on the gift card, contact the retailer or the place of purchase. Ask them to write on the expiry date on the card. It’s also a good idea to keep a copy of the purchase receipt.
Know Your Consumer Rights
Along with the gift card expiry date, also check the requirements for activation. Some gift cards are activated automatically upon purchase. Others must be activated by the recipient before they can be used.
Be wary of struggling retailers. Before purchasing a gift card, consider what will happen if the retailer goes bankrupt or finds itself in financial difficulty.
With Prepaid Visa and Mastercard gift cards, Gift Card Store guarantee financial stability and safety for its users and consumers. The gift card will never be rejected and will always be accepted wherever Visa and Mastercard is accepted.
Where the Gift Card Can Be Used
The more options you have with your gift card, the bigger your gift of choice. Some retail cards can be used for multiple brands but others are limited to the one retailer.
Before your gift card purchase, make sure it’s for a store or brand your recipient will like. Still unsure? A Gift Card Store gift card gives your recipient a choice of 37 million stores and online sites, wherever Mastercard or VISA is accepted.
Unlike retail gift cards, Gift Card Store will give your recipient something they will definitely prefer – freedom of choice!
Purchase Gift Cards from Reliable Sources
The best places to buy gift cards are from the actual retailer or their online site. Again, to be 100% certain that you haven’t purchased an empty card, be sure to ask for a receipt. At all costs and no matter how attractive their gift card offer or promotion, avoid unknown websites, spam emails and unsolicited sales people at your front door.
Having been in the business of selling gift cards to Australians for over 13 years, Gift Card Store is Australia’s largest and most reliable gift card supplier. 100% Australian owned, Gift Card Store has a wealth of experience in providing:
- Express delivery services throughout Australia
- Secure and easy to shop online
- Worldwide and online acceptance with Visa and Mastercard
The Gift Card Store offers a wide variety of Prepaid Mastercard and Visa Gift Cards, as well as E-Gift Cards that can be instantly email delivered and Digital Gift Cards that can be sent instantly via SMS to the recipient. For a personal touch, you can even design your own card!
Personalise Your Gift Card
Unlike retail gift cards, Gift Store Card give you the option to design your gift card with a selfie or a special photo. If you’re buying a Mother’s Day gift card, use your favourite family photo. Got a friend who’s a dog lover? Find a photo of them with their pooch.
Your recipient will have a lasting memory of your present in their wallet! You can also include a personal gift message to add a sentimental touch.
Why Choose Gift Card Store?
Purchasing from Gift Card Store not only guarantees a present that your loved one will truly appreciate. Once you order your gift card, Gift Card Store can deliver the gift card direct to your lucky recipient, leaving your recipient to enjoy the benefits.
Gift Card Store provides the ideal gift card because:
- Spending is limited to the value of funds loaded onto the Prepaid Mastercard or Visa Gift Card.
- Recipients can buy whatever, whenever they want, wherever Mastercard or Visa is accepted. No unwanted gifts.
- Recipients have endless shopping choices with over 37 million stores in-store and online that accept Mastercard or Visa.
- Mastercard gift cards can be easily added to your recipient’s preferred phone wallet – Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.
- Gift cards are more powerful and memorable than cash.
- Unlike cash gifts that disappear into household funds or paying bills, gift cards are spent on special and much desired items.
- Gift cards save you time. We can directly send the gift card to the recipient for you.
- Prepaid Mastercard and Visa Gift Cards are more secure than cash.
- Unlike retail gift cards, lost or stolen gift cards can be replaced.
How to Activate Gift Card Store Gift Cards
Gift Card Store gift cards are easy to activate and highly secure to use.
If you’re the lucky recipient of a Gift Card Store gift card, all you have to do is:
- If your card number starts with ‘424’, ‘436’, ‘522’ or ‘529’, please visit universalgiftcard.com.au to activate your card.
- If your card number starts with ‘527’ or ‘502’, please visit ugca.au to activate your card.
If you’re trying to activate your card after 3 months of receiving it, not to worry! Contact us at activate@giftcardstore.com.au. We will reactivate your account by promptly sending you a new card.
Don’t forget: All cards, including E-Gift Cards have 3 years expiry.
Gift Card Store: Giving you peace of mind
Ordering the perfect Gift Card Store gift card is simple and instant. Most of all, we will arrange the direct delivery to the recipient, giving you peace of mind that your present will arrive on time and received with deep appreciation.
Click HERE to order your gift card today. Still have questions? Just send us a message and we’ll get back to you.
About the Author:
Grace is a freelance writer with over 25 years experience in business, having held senior roles in marketing, finance through to sales.
Graduating from the Australian National University, Grace spent 10 years working with multi-nationals in Asia. She is multi-lingual, fluent in Japanese and Bahasa Indonesia.
On returning to Australia, she then carved out a successful career in financial services, IT and telecommunications.
In addition, Grace has run her own small business focused on issues such as parenting, financial literacy and digital security.
