According to leading consumer researchers, 64% of consumers intend to buy gift cards this year. Ken Hawkins of GiftCardTracker.com hopes they’ll shop smarter.
“Gift card gotchas can be a surprise present, but not a happy one” says Hawkins, who developed the website to inform gift card buyers about what they’re purchasing. “GiftCardTracker.com has a Gift Card Report Card so people can be smart comparison shoppers.”
GiftCardTracker.com’
1) Expiration Dates - Whose gift cards expire and whose do not? When?
2) Dormancy Fees - Use ‘em or lose ‘em? In many cases, if cards aren’t used quickly, you’ll be charged monthly fees, even retroactively.
3) Lost or Stolen Cards – Can a lost or stolen card be replaced? How? Is there a charge?
4) Shipping costs – For buying cards online, sometimes shipping can be free or as much as $50 or $60.
5) Where can I shop? – Online? In person? Only a certain store or several chains owned by the same company? Often you’ll never know unless you check the fine print or, of course, the Gift Card Report Card.
Ken Hawkins developed Giftcardtracker.com, a free consumer website where people can register and track their gift cards. It offers a free “Gift Card Report Card,” a report on state gift card laws and a blog “Bytes from the Card Shark.”
Arrange interviews with Ken Hawkins through Brian Kirwin at (757) 718-3225.
