WISCONSIN (NCB 26) -- With quarantine still in place, it's a safe bet that you won't be celebrating Mother's Day this year with her favorite restaurant, hair salon, or spa. In place of those activities, you might be considering gift cards or certificates for her to use after quarantine.
The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns on choosing your gift card or certificate wisely. If the retailer permanently closes its doors before mom gets a chance to use it, she'll lose the value of the card.
BBB offers these tips when giving or receiving gift cards:
- Check the packaging when buying gift cards in a store to be sure security seals are in tact and haven't been tampered with.
- Treat the gift cards as cash. If it's lost or stolen, it cannot be replaced.
- Use the gift card as soon as possible. Don't put the card away and forget to use it — Two billion dollars' worth of gift cards go unused every year!
- Be extra careful when buying a card from a secondary seller. BBB says it is best to simply avoid buying from online auction sites or other online secondary markets. Cards could be stolen, counterfeited, or simply used up. Don't be tempted by bid discounts on the card's price.
- Keep a copy of the receipt in case there is a problem with the gift card.
- Check the fine print to see if there are fees associated with the card. Some examples include transaction fees or inactivity fees. In some cases, an organization may charge a service fee to issue the card.
- Check the terms and conditions on the gift card. If you are giving a card to a friend who wants to shop online, make sure the card can be used that way and not just in a store.
For more tips on protecting yourself from scams, visit the BBB's website.
