While I was waiting in the checkout line at a discount store a few weeks ago, I picked up one (or two or three?) of the multitude of cash cards on the display rack ...
... and was surprised (astonished?) to see that there was an activation fee of two or three dollars! Don't remember the amount of the card.
Today while waiting in the checkout line at the same store, picked up a couple of cards to check for activation fee.
The (four-letter word one that starts with "V") had one that I'd pay $50.00 to buy (I assume) but the company'd charge an activation free of $4.95 ... so the recipient would have to make do with $45.05!
RIP-OFF!!
I told the mainly young recipients of a few gifts at Christmas that to shop for them I had no idea of something that they'd find useful and interesting and appreciate receiving, and that if I bought them a gift card, the company got a benefit in terms of a guaranteed sale, and there was no reduction of benefit to me, as the cost was the same ...
... but that there was a cost to them, for if I'd given them money, they could use it in 2,500 stores in town, but a gift card could be used in only one .. or perhaps half a dozen.
But I guess that's not exactly correct, as some of the major card issuers' cards would be honoured in the stores where they accept credit cards, I expect.
The one for $35.00 had a fee of $3.95!!
About as bad as the coin machine counters in the stores - that charge 11% ... but the ones found in only a few banks have a charge of 0.
ole joyfuelled ... but less joyful, this afternoon
maire_cate
joyfulguyOriginal Author
Elmer J Fudd
marie_ndcal
Imhappy&Iknowit IOWA zone 4b
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jemdandy
Elmer J Fudd