7/27 I have two $100 Best Buy gift cards that I got as graduation
presents and I really don't need anything from Best Buy. I'll
sell them for $160. I work on campus.
Addendum: these cards don't expire and I believe in California
it is illegal to deduct a service fee for non-use (but you should
double-check). They can be used at any U.S. Best Buy, and
possibly online (check their website about that) --peterl
\_ This offer has been taken. Thanks Peter -kchang
\_ One more data point that shows that people don't want gifts, they
want cash. Please be a good citizen and give cash instead
of gifts, especially at weddings.
\_ OK, I have two $100 bills that I really don't need anymore,
I'll sell them for $260. -John
\_ Yes and what is your point? On average, we're smarter and
work harder than the rest of the people on earth EXCEPT for
the Indians because they're also smart and hard working AND
they are kicking our ass in terms of the % of share of
outsourced workers, but we're working on it.
\_ Americans on average work harder than the rest of the people
on earth? You haven't been to east Asia.
\_ You must be Chinese.
\_ A gift card is almost the same as cash for most of us.
\_ I personally think gift cards are a rip off.
\_ Explain. A $100 gift card buys $100 worth of merchandise.
How is that a rip off?
\_ Probably because $100 worth of cash that could have
bought anything anywhere now has to be spent in one
place - !ppp
\_ That's not a ripoff by definition.
\_ Probably because you can buy the same merchandise for
less than $100 at a different store.
\_ Stupid argument. What if you get a gift card for
a store that does has the lowest prices? Let
a store that does have the lowest prices? Let
us say a Wal-Mart gift card?
\_ Maybe you don't want to spend all of it at the
same store? Cash is always better than a gift
card of the same amount. Cash doesn't expire.
Cash can be put in a bank. Cash can be used
anywhere for anything.
\_ This says nothing about it being either a
rip off or about buying the same
merchandise for less. If you cannot buy the
same merchandise for less does that make
a gift card okay?
\_ Was your "what if" argument part of the "rip off"
statement above?
\_ No.
\_ They are a rip-off because there is no benifit over
cash, but there are many drawbacks. Buying a gift
card is like giving the store a free loan. They
have your money, and you may later be able to get
some of it back in the form of merchendise. You
can never get back the actual money. They won't
even give you a penny in change. This means the
store almost guaranteed to make more than the value
on the gift card, as you must either buy more to
use the whole gift card, of leave money on the card
forever. Furthermore, the store benifits because
they have an interest free loan, every bit of
inflation is now free money to the company. Some
places even go so far as to charge the card if you
don't use it fast enough. Rip Off.
\_ None of this speaks to being a rip off except
perhaps the second to last sentence, and I've
never encountered that.
\_ Perhaps you have a stronger definition of rip
off than anyone else. I would call trading
$5 for $4.50 a rip off, but hey, maybe you
don't think so.
\_ Please explain how a $100 gift card is
akin to trading $5 for $4.50.
\_ Some gift cards expire. Some "decay" over time - the
remaining dollar amount goes down slowly even if you
don't use it.
\_ It is illegal in California for gift cards to
expire or lose value. -tom
\_ I know it's illegal to expire, but I've
definatly seen the "service charge" scam in
CA.
\_ Are you sure? The true RIP OFF is fixed value
CC's which charge several $$$/mo + transaction.
\_ Ah, I see the no service charge law
went into effect in 2004. I may have
seen this pre-2004.
\_ I would have bought it a month ago..
\- per a thread a while ago, if you are going to go with a gift card,
go AMAZONG, rahter than something more restrictive. AMAZONG is also
just as convenient to procure as anything else.
just as convenient to procure as anything else. --psb |
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