SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — It’s a common gift that was maybe in your stocking this morning: gift card.
They can be a great gift ideas for those “hard to buy for” friends and relatives. And no matter if you gave or received one this season, you, of course, want to see it eventually redeemed.
Business all over offer up gift cards for sale.
At Oh My cupcakes in Sioux Falls you will find them conveniently on display at the check out counter. Owner Melissa Johnson says they are popular with her customers and make a lot of sense for a business like hers.
“I think what is really convenient with gift cards for us is if you want to gift cupcakes to someone but they are not going to eat them today a gift card is a great way to go because it’s a fresh baked product,” said Johnson.
About 25% of all gift cards go unused after a year. However, we Americans are pretty good about using them eventually, because only about 5% are never redeemed.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says there is a practical and legal difference between a gift certificate and a gift card.
“A gift certificate would be specific to a business and that particular certificate would have a value or expiration date of three years. Even if it says one year, state law allows it to be valid for three years. A gift card is specific to a network it might be a visa or a master one and it has a five year shelf period,” said Jackley.
Each business is unique when it comes to redeeming gift cards, but many, especially smaller businesses will honor them long past the five year legal deadline.
“We’ve redeemed gift cars from when we where in our downtown location 10, 15 years ago,” said Johnson.
If you run into a business that isn’t as cooperative Jackley says there is help.
“Most will work with the consumer because they what them to come back but if they don’t just contact the South Dakota Consumer Division, we get about 64,000 contacts a year and we would be happy to do our best to assist,” said Jackley.
You can reach the South Dakota Consumer Protection division by calling 1-800-300-1986.
