Skip the VISA gift cards - rip off

[texastoast]

I went to buy a gift card for some relatives I haven't seen in a while. So Wal-Mart and Wells Fargo are selling the VISA gift cards here. I picked up one and asked the cashier to charge it up to $25 (these are not close relatives) and ring it up.

$37.50 !!!!!!

$37.50 !!!!!!

I said, "What did you say?" The poor cashier was just as embarrassed as I was shocked.

I told her to forget about that.

Get a money holder and forget the VISA rip.

[RB TexLa]

1. There are many of them that only charge a $3.95 fee

[texastoast]

4. I'll give that money to the recipient

Tax was charged on the amount as well. So you pay tax and the recipent pays tax again. And apparently, there is a minimum charge-up amount or you get penalized. Ridiculous.

[MindPilot]

11. That's still excessive. eom

[TwilightZone]

2. I've purchased a lot of gift cards, and I don't think any of them had a fee.

Granted, I haven't purchased one at Wal-Mart, but a 50% fee sounds like a mistake.

[donheld]

5. I've also purchased a lot of gift cards,

No fees at all.

[goodgd_yall]

8. Were they store gift cards or credit card gift cards?

There's no store gift card I know of that charges a fee, but I had an American Express card that charged a small one.

[Buzz Clik]

3. 50% fee. Fifty fucking percent.

Good choice, and thank you for telling us.

It will be a cold day in hell...

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. I was going to give some as gifts, but my bank wants $5 per card.

What a bunch of bullshit. If I was gonna give people a couple hundred dollars, then it's worth it. But I was only gonna do $25. I'm not gonna spend $5 (20%) to give them a $25 gift card.

So I didn't get the VISA gift cards.

But you - you had a $12.50 charge! That's SERIOUSLY fucking insane!!

[TwilightZone]

7. delete

wrong place

[goodgd_yall]

9. Buy a Borders or Barnes and Noble gift card instead. n/t

[MindPilot]

10. Its value probably decreases a few bucks a month if they don't use it

And the recipient may have to pay yet another fee when they do use it.

Give 'em cash; gift cards are a rip.

[ecstatic]

12. True... but sometimes it feels dirty to just hand over cash dollars

LOL. I think those cards target lazy, uncreative people who feel obligated to give a gift.

[texastoast]

13. Well, I don't feel particularly either

I just haven't seen this young couple with a new baby for a while, and I don't know what they need. Besides, these cards are a pain to use. First you have to activate them. Then, blessed VISA will get your info (they have to have your Social to activate) and send you a "real" VISA card to which you can deposit funds to draw on for use later, should the recipient of the "gift" feel so inclined. It's a money-making deal for VISA anyway you look at it, and one step down the slippery slope of credit card debt.

Ptooie.

[silverojo]

14. Hey, I *love* gift cards!

They allow me to get exactly what I want, with no worries about having to get into long lines to take back a sucky gift. Very few people really know how to buy gifts that the recipient will actually like.

[yorkiemommie1]

15. Albertson's Supermarket wanted $5.00 for a $50.00 card

( and it was nice of the Albertson's person to warn me )

so I gave my brother the cash instead.

[flvegan]

16. Which is silly, considering they'll sit on your money for potentially a month

or longer. It's a loan to them, and it guarantees them the 2 or 3% kickback they get for having it used at a store somewhere.

[quinnox]

17. I buy American Express gift cards

The fee is reasonable 3.95 and I am happy with them, its a good company.