CardHub releases 2013 list of gift card tips, trends

List helps consumers maximize their savings during this time of year

DETROIT – As customers continue to shop for latest deals this holiday season, many are also thinking about purchasing gift cards for some of the people on their list.

CardHub has recently released its 2013 list of gift card tips and trends to help consumers maximize their savings during this time of the year.

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"The gift card market offers a wealth of opportunities for both consumers and businesses alike," Odysseas Papadimitriou, founder and CEO of the personal finance websites CardHub and WalletHub said.

Difference between gift cards and prepaid cards

CardHub says retailers are increasingly attempting to get customers to register their gift cards and reload them when funds are low.

A high-profile example of this practice is the reloadable Walmart Gift Card, which is aimed at promoting loyalty and gathering useful consumer analytics. This stands to further confuse the distinction between gift cards and prepaid cards in the minds of shoppers, potentially leading to increased costs, according to CardHub.

"Not only can companies use gift cards to learn more about their customers, boost holiday sales, and promote loyalty, but consumers can also take advantage of them to save on shipping costs, buy presents at a discount, and simply give better gifts overall," said Papadimitriou.

Be aware of faux gift cards

Not only do consumers often mistakenly purchase prepaid cards thinking they are gift cards due to the positioning of in-store displays, but CardHub says a loophole in the CARD Act allows non-reloadable prepaid cards (such as gift cards) that are received through a loyalty, award or promotional program to expire with no restriction.

For context, normal gift cards cannot expire until five years from the date of issuance, according to CardHub. It's therefore important for consumers to verify that they are indeed buying or receiving actual gift cards this holiday season and to read any applicable fine print related to their product.

Mobile may be hot, but not necessarily ready for primetime

E-gift cards have been gradually gaining traction in recent years, and increased mobile functionality stands to foster more widespread use of such products this holiday season. CardHub says that's good news for time-crunched shoppers looking to avoid shipping fees on their holiday gifts or buy at the last minute this holiday season. However, retailers still have work to do in this area for electronic gift cards to achieve true staying power.

Consider discounted gift cards

One might assume that sales and savings don't apply to the gift card market, as gift cards are more akin to currency than retail products with traditional product margins. Experts say that's not the case, however, as you can buy gift cards at discounts of up to 40 percent through online gift card exchanges.

General-purpose gift cards are costly

General-purpose gift cards, like those from Visa and American Express, tend to charge various fees because that's the only way their issuers can turn a profit. Experts say store-issued gift cards, on the other hand, do not need to charge any fees, since the retailer books a profit the moment you buy its gift card.

Scour your drawers for buried gift card treasure

More than $43 billion in gift cards have gone unused since 2005, according to TowerGroup. That's important to note because those of us who have a lot of unredeemed value sitting in drawers at home can still get something out of it. After all, CardHub says the CARD Act prohibits a gift card's funds from expiring within five years.

Consumers have three basic options when it comes to unlocking the value of unused gift cards. First, you can sell unwanted gift cards for cash. Secondly, experts say most stores allow you to trade in old unused gift cards for new ones, which is great news for re-gifting cards that have developed noticeable wear and tear as a result of sitting idle for years. Finally, most states have programs that allow you to recoup unused funds from expired gift cards under unclaimed property laws.

Don't pay for shipping

Roughly 30 percent of gift cards from major retailers charge for shipping, according to CardHub data, but these fees can be avoided by utilizing a gift card search tool to identify the retailers that offer free shipping and/or digital gift cards, which can be sent directly to someone's inbox.

You can't go wrong with a gift card

Not only are gift cards the most requested type of holiday present for the 7th consecutive year, according to the National Retail Federation, but the average consumer is expected to spend $163.16 on gift cards alone during the 2013 holiday season. In short, most of the people on your gift giving list want gift cards this year.

"Given how important the holiday season is to a retailer's annual sales figures and how much the average shopper is expected to spend on gifts this year, we could all certainly use a way to save," said Papadimitriou.

For the full report from CardHub, click here.