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Nov 24, 2008 5:01 pm US/Central
Gift Card E-Mails Contain Inaccurate Information
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
The declining economy has some retailers closing their doors or filing for bankruptcy. As a result, some shoppers are left wondering if they should buy store brand gift cards during the holidays.
To further complicate things, there is good and bad information being disseminated to potential customers via e-mail.
The first rule of thump for shoppers - don't believe everything you read... especially if it's an e-mail.
One e-mail circulating warns shoppers to use-or-lose the gift cards they've purchased. The e-mail says stores all over the country are closing their doors and that gift cards will soon be worthless.
The claims aren't necessarily true. A retailer may be closing a number of stores, but now all of them. That would mean if you buy a gift card at say The Gap or Ann Taylor, the card would still be valid online or at other stores.
"Many companies are cutting back but they're still keeping their most active stores and they want you to come in and do business with them," said Jeanette Kopko with the Better Business Bureau.
Shoppers should be wary if the company has filed for bankruptcy.
There are unsubstantiated reports out there that retailers like Ann Taylor, The Gap and Foot Locker are closing their doors - that's not true. While some stores may be closing, the company as a whole is still 'open for business'.
The Better Business Bureau suggests checking out websites like Snopes.com, which does its own fact finding, or contacting the company directly.
"Find out which locations you could still use the card and for how long and go ahead and use that card promptly," Kopko recommended.
Another suggestion from the BBB is to, purchase bank cards instead of store brand cards, so the recipient can use them anywhere.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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