An Introduction To Online Gift Certificates

A gift certificate is a form of scrip, a substitute for currency, which is not legal tender. If you wish to give something thoughtful to a person but don’t know what that person wants, you can give him a gift certificate.

Gift certificates are available in denominations that range from $25 to $1,000 or more. They have no expiration date and no shipping charges or sales taxes incurred when purchased online. However, discounts are not applicable to them. Transactions are processed in U.S. dollars, and so are gift certificates issued. When the gift certificate is redeemed outside the U.S., the value will be converted into the respective currency.

Online gift certificates may be electronic or printed on plastic or paper. They can be spent at different checkouts in hundreds or thousands of online stores and redeemed in one purchase or in small increments. If the full value is not spent, the remaining amount may be used at a later time. If the order total exceeds the value of the gift certificate, the recipient is responsible for paying the additional costs.

In purchasing a gift certificate online, you will be sent an email confirming your purchase and a second email that includes the PIN number. An electronic gift certificate can be personalized with your own gift message, which is sent via email to the recipient within twenty-four to forty-eight hours after purchase. In comparison, a printed gift certificate is delivered to your recipient’s physical address in a period of seven to ten business days. The recipient will be asked to enter the issued PIN number upon checkout. In case of the loss of the PIN number, the original purchaser of the gift certificate may request a re-issuing of the unused PIN number.

By sending your beloved ones gift certificates, you let them decide what gifts to buy for themselves. Online gift certificates allow your gift recipients to select the location, time of shopping, and the product or service of their choice.

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