5 popular gift cards their features
5 popular gift cards you should know
Several retail stores issue gift cards traditionally and digitally. However, there are some with popular influence and large pursuance by traders and regular card users. Popular retail stores and eCommerce platforms that offer gift cards include Walmart, Amazon, eBay, Nordstrom, Sephora, Xbox, Steam, and a few others. There are also popular financial service solutions like Visa, American Express, and One vanilla that also issue gift cards.
Gift cards are money cards with stored value issued by retail outlets, banks, and eCommerce platforms. Funds on gift cards are preloaded upon purchase and are not usually reloadable when they get exhausted or if the user wants to reload at any point in time. Users can use their card funds as soon as they activate them with the cashier or online on the issuer’s website.
The functions and features of different gift cards vary vastly from one and other depending on the extent of allowance and constraints placed by the issuer. For this reason, some gift cards are popular and more preferred than other cards. Some cards are issued by retail stores and are only redeemable at their physical stores and online platforms. For example, Walmart gift cards are only redeemable at Walmart’s conventional and online stores, as well as Sam’s Club stores and website.
Follow me closely as we delve into Five popular gift cards that you should know. First of them will be the aforementioned Walmart gift card, then we will follow with Visa, Amazon, iTunes, and AMEX gift cards.
- Walmart gift cards
Walmart is one of the largest American retail stores with hundreds of physical stores within America and Canada. There are two broad types of Walmart gift cards; physical gift cards and eGift cards. Their physical gift cards are similar to traditional credit and debit cards and can be customized to suit different occasions as preferred by the purchaser. They are issued at Walmart and Sam’s club physical stores. To save yourself the stress of visiting physical stores, you can also order them for their website at www.walmart.com.
Walmart’s eGift card is also known as an electronic money card that does not require physical ordering, use, or delivery. They are only sent to the purchaser’s email address and can also be beneficial to purchase at online and physical stores. Other features of Walmart gift cards are non-reloadability, balance check, various customization options, and no expiry date.
2) Visa gift cards
Visa gift cards are issued by Visa Inc., one of the largest multinational financial service companies in the world. Visa also issues both physical plastic cards and electronic gift cards. Dissimilar to gift cards issued by retail stores and eCommerce platforms like Walmart, Amazon, and eBay, Visa gift cards have broader acceptance coverage. Visa gift cards are accepted in all stores where Visa debit and credit cards are accepted.
You can also use Visa gift cards to pay on various online stores and websites. Visa cards are also preloaded upon purchase. So there it is impossible to reload them after exhausting the initialing deposited fund. Other features include international acceptability, no expiry date, no periodic statement, top-notch fund security.
3) Amazon gift cards
Amazon is one of the largest online stores owned by the World’s long-time richest Jeff Bezos. Amazon Inc. issues gift cards to aid comfortable payment and gifting on their platform. Customers can use their cards to buy clothes, books, shoes, accessories, practically anything their card funds can buy in the store.
Amazon gift card is one of the most perfect cards when it comes to gifting because recipients get to choose their particular gift from a large number of items in the store. Recipients also do not have to spend all they have on the card at once since they can use it repeatedly and gift cards do not expire.
4) iTunes gift cards
iTunes gift card is another very famous gift card issued by one of the largest companies in America and the World generally. Apple Inc. issues iTunes gift cards to customers to aid easy purchase and gifting or Apple accessories and other Apple products. Users can check the balance on their iTunes gift card at any time. The card allows customers to pay for TV shows, games, music, apps, iCloud, and Apple accessories.
iTunes gift cards are accepted to purchase goods and services from the following places:
- Apple music
- Apple books
- www.apple.com
- Apple Store App
- iTunes
- The Apple store
5) American Express (AMEX) gift cards
AMEX is an American multinational financial service provider, headquartered in the heart of New York. They offer two types of gift cards; personal and business gift cards. Personal gift cards are for individuals with denominations ranging between $25 – $3000.
The business gift cards on the other hand are a variant issued to businesses in bulk. The idea is channeled towards rewarding employees on special occasions. American express gift cards do not expire and do not attract extra fees after purchase. They are also replaceable incase they get stolen, lost, or damaged.
With CardVest, you can seamlessly convert your gift cards to cash at the best rates. We pay instantly and over you a wide range of cards to trade. Click here for step by step guide on how to trade your gift card for cash.
Popular Nigerian Gift Cards
Gift cards are physical and digital cards that have preloaded money value. The cards are issued by businesses to attract customers. Popular brands use gift cards as a strategy for expanding their customer reach. There are Nigerian gift cards too that function same way other gift cards like Amazon, eBay, Sephora etc functions.
In the US, these cards are known as gift cards; in the UK, they are known as gift vouchers. The most popular brands that issue gift cards in the world are in the US. However, the strategy of using gift cards is becoming popular among brands across the world. For example, many Nigerian business owners are now adopting the strategy of using gift cards to push their brands.
Most Nigerian gift cards are known as gift vouchers like in the UK. We will explore some of the popular Nigerian gift cards in this post.
The Most Common Nigerian Gift Cards
1. Shoprite Gift Cards: Shoprite is Nigeria’s largest retail store with about 26 stores. They offer gift vouchers that can be redeemed only at Shoprite locations in Nigeria. Shoprite gives a discount to their customers who use the gift cards.
You can get the voucher at Shoprite stores or on selected online merchants. There is no digital option for the gift card.
2. Jumia Gift Cards: Jumia the leading e-commerce platform in Nigeria offers gift cards from N500 to their customers. The Jumia gift card is redeemable on jumia.com.ng for one-time use. Unlike American gift cards, the Jumia gift card is used to make a one-time purchase of items that carry their value.
The Jumia gift card is valid for 12 months; you can get it on Jumia and selected online merchants.
3. Spar Gift Card: Spar is the largest hypermarket store in Nigeria; they have 15 stores across Nigeria. They offer gift cards to customers to entice customers as items bought using the gift card come at a discount. The “Double Awoof Gift Card” is redeemable only at Spar locations in Nigeria.
The Spar gift card is gotten at Spar stores across Nigeria and through online vendors. With a value starting from N500, it is reusable but is not reloadable.
4. FilmHouse Cinema Gift Card: Filmhouse is one of the leading cinema brands in Nigeria with 12 locations. They offer vouchers starting from N500 to their customers. The gift cards are for the redemption of movie tickets at the various Filmhouse locations. These gift cards are also used to purchase food and beverage at the cinema.
The filmhouse gift card is non-reloadable and non-refundable; it is a single-use card. You can get the Filmhouse gift cards from the filmhouse online shop.
5. Game Africa Gift Cards: Game Africa is a discount retail store with outlets in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Enugu. Their gift cards are redeemable at their locations. The cards start from N500.
Conclusion
Many businesses ranging from fashion stores to laundry stores offer gift vouchers. Car sellers, electronic stores, and hotels in Nigeria also offer gift cards. One sure plug for buying indigenous gift cards is suregifts.com.ng.
Most of the Nigerian gift cards start from N500, and they are not worth much. It makes Nigerian gift cards unpopular among Nigerians. Other disadvantages of Nigerian gift cards are the single-use feature and the expiry date. Most stores that use gift vouchers in Nigeria make the cards usable only during festival periods of the year.
BUY ITUNES, STEAM, NETFLIX, AND GOOGLE PLAY GIFT CARDS ONLINE IN NIGERIA
Buying gift cards online in Nigeria is not without benefits. Brands can use gift cards to encourage loyalty among their customers; beyond that is the safety of your online gift card compared to owning a physical one.
DOES GIFT CARDS HAVE PROS AND CONS
Gift cards can be in two forms; open-loop and closed-loop. The advantage of an open-loop gift card over a closed-loop gift card is that it can be used anywhere the branch of the card is accepted. On the other hand, a closed-loop gift card can only be used at a specific merchant
Thinking of the best gift cards to give for any season?
Gifting our loved ones is one way of making them feel special, appreciating them, showing them love, encouraging them for a job well done, or showing them we care. However, one major challenge we face is knowing the best gift cards to give them. There are a variety of choices we have when wanting to choose a perfect gift. Gifting is a form of communication. That is why the gift you are presenting must go in line with the message you are trying to pass to the recipient. The receiver is expected to appreciate whatever is presented.
That is why a careful selection has to be made. For example, gifting a middle-aged person a toy can seem useless. Alternatively, gifting a toy to a middle-aged person who has a kid might find it helpful because it can be useful to the kids. Then the problem of value steps in! Is the gift valuable and worth the message you’re trying to communicate? The problem of choosing what to gift goes on and on.
Best Gift Cards To Give
Why consider a Gift card
Gift cards, over time has proven to be one of the best gifts to present to your loved ones because of the variety of functions it performs. With gift cards, you give your recipient a more spiced-up option. They have a wide range of options to choose from. This adds more value and provides different channels of communicating for the message you want to pass across.
Listed below further explains why Gift card is a better option.
Flexibility
Some of the anxiety of finding the right gift to present is eliminated by presenting gift cards. It gives the recipient freedom to choose whatever it is they want. For example, if you are thinking of gifting a friend a shoe and you want to make it a surprise, you might be poised with the challenge of deciding the type of shoe they want or the right colour to choose. For example, Gifting them a Nike gift card allows them to choose the kind of shoes they want, which will be much more appreciable.
Budget-Friendly
Gifting gift cards allows you to stay on budget when thinking of what to present. It allows you perfectly estimate the amount you intend to spend. For example, if you need a $100 worth of amazon card, they are readily available ( for amazon card https://www.amazon.com/gift-cards/b?ie=UTF8&node=2238192011 ).
Beyond the regular
Getting “normal” gifts seem like the custom or the regular act. Getting a gift card seems to be much more unique and “spiced up.” If you’re thinking of doing something beyond the usual, a gift card will be one of your best options.
More Discrete
Gift cards seem a more polite way to offer a non-cash gift to someone. It allows you to present a gift that is individually separate and distinct.
Not a seasonal gift
Gift cards can be presented any time of the year. Although, people popularly gift it during festive period. They are not season selective.
Some of the disadvantages of considering gift cards are
Increase in the fraud rate targeted at gift cardholders
Since gift card fraud/scam is difficult to trace, scammers see it as a more safe means to carry out their operation.
Check out this article ( https://cardvest.ng/2021/05/08/how-to-avoid-being-scammed-of-your-gift-card/ ) to keep informed on how to avoid gift cards scam.
Not understanding the usage
Lack of knowledge on the usage of gift cards has often been a significant disadvantage for using gift cards as a form of present.
They can expire
Some gift cards attract extra charges after a year of not using it or expire after 5 years of non-usage.
Instant cash with your gift cards at best rates in Nigeria
Gift card rates at Cardvest are automatically updated using Chinese rates as standards. It ensures you get the best of rates and quality service. Cardvest boasts of a stable server service that provides fast payments. You can be sure of instant payout when your gift card is verified.
HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY SELL YOUR GIFT CARDS IN NIGERIA
As every business, online or physical, have their challenges, so also do a trading gift card. Below are some of the challenges faced in the industry of trading gift cards and permanent solutions
Difference Between Physical Gift Cards and e-codes
As a curious mind, you might be wondering, what are the differences between physical gift cards, e-codes, and gift vouchers?
How to avoid being Scammed of your gift card
Gift card scam: The National hunter fraud prevention service recorded a 34% increase in fraud rate during the lockdown period in the US. The Nigeria inter-bank settlement system also recorded a 173% increase in online fraud. This online space in recent times has a lot of hooks looking for fishes to catch. That is why one has to be careful and up to date with various red flags to look out for when carrying out a trade or transaction online to avoid falling into the hands of scammers. Due to the increase in the usage of gift cards, the scam rate channeled to it has been high although, they can be easily spotted.
Why Gift Cards?
You’ll have thoughts running through your mind about why gift cards can be a target when there are supposedly other ways scammers can carry out their operations. Gift cards are targets because they are difficult or impossible to trace, so it seems one of the best mediums for carrying out their activities without being caught. A credit card scam can be traced easily or a cheque because they are tied to someone while a gift card isn’t, which has made it very difficult to lay claims or trace. Majority of these fraudulent acts are carried out online, while a few of them are offline/physical.
Though scammers can be tricky, you should be able to avoid been scammed by following the following step
1) Third-party platforms claiming to help you check your gift card balance;
Wanting to know your gift card balance after an initial usage through third-party platforms is one reason people get into gift card scams. Gift cards can be purchased physically (at a supermarket or a store or directly from the card issuer) or online. Checking balance, however, takes place mainly on the official website of the card issuer. Listed below are some valuable links to checking your gift card balance.\
Get the play store app
Go to your account
Select gift card and view the balance on any of your accounts.
Note: Some of the websites listed above are location selective (not available in some countries). For more information for other cards, contact our CardVest customer representative on the live chat, and you will be appropriately directed.
2) Check for broken seals;
One way gift card issuers protect their customers is by sealing the personal identification numbers panel to avoid being revealed to third parties. You would want to check the packaging of your gift card well, either when delivered or when purchased physically at a store, to avoid it been tampered with by scammers. Once you notice it tampered with, do well to pick another one.
3) Asking to double your gift card value;
One popular method scammers adopt is presenting double value for your current gift card as a reward for performing a particular task or completing a survey. Majority of those that embrace this medium want to get your gift card codes trickily.
4) Converting gift cards to cash;
Usually, people want to convert unused gift cards to money and in the process, they get to fall into the hands of scammers. Due care has to be taken to ensure that whatever platform you are trading your gift card on is a trusted platform. Different trusted platforms buy and sell gift cards, but CardVest stands out to be unique because we offer the best rate to trade your gift card and also provide fast and swift services.
CONVERTING UNWANTED GIFT CARDS FOR CASH
Unwanted gift cards for cash? According to Gift Card & voucher association and KPMP UK, Gift card sales shoot by almost 50 % during the lockdown. Gift cards have evolved from being a small part of the market to be an industry itself. Gift card demand has continued to be on the rise. However, lack of proper knowledge on the usage and importance of gift cards has resulted to most of them been left dormant while others are placed carelessly, which has been a major challenge. There are two types of gift cards: open-loop and closed-loop cards. Open-loop cards are used as debit or credit cards used at any store or with any merchant where the card is accepted, while a closed-loop card works with a specific merchant or store. Example of gift cards are iTunes, Amazon, Steam Wallet, Google Play, Apple Store, eBay, Walmart, Sephora, OneVanilla, Nordstrom, Target, JCPenny, Blue Buy, Nike, Hotels.com, Macy’s, Gamestop, Xbox, Vanilla, G2G, American Express (AMEX), OffGamers, Foot Locker, Visa, Play station and others. Some of the most valuable cards are iTunes, Walmart, Starbucks, target, etc.
In recent times, gift cards are converted to cash either as a result of not needing what the card can redeem ( when the recipient does not get the exact card they want) or need of urgent cash. In 2015, about $1 billion value in gift card were left unspent. They also expire after five years of inactivity or attract an inactivity fee after a year. So Various platforms perform this conversion. Due to the rise In demand, there has been a rise in fraudulent platforms too. Hence, one must be careful in selecting the platform to perform this trade to avoid being scammed.
CardVest offers the best rate you can get anywhere and processes payments with light speed, putting our customer’s satisfaction is our topmost priority. We have been in existence since 2016, and we’re designed and simplified for beginners and experienced gift card traders. Our amazing positive reviews have given us mentions in reputable newspapers and blog outfits in Nigeria.
Check the following for our mentions in major news outlets in Nigeria
The Benefit of converting unwanted gift cards for cash with CardVest
Best rate;
We have our customer’s satisfaction at heart! You get to convert your gift card to cash at juicy rates !! Check rates here (https://cardvest.ng/app/public/rates)
Trust;
With Cardvest, you don’t have to worry about your funds no matter the size of the transaction. Your funds are safe and secured with us. We can confidently say we are one of the most trusted platforms for converting your gift cards to cash.
Speed;
Your transaction gets processed within 5minutes. Yes! We treat your transactions that urgent because customer satisfaction is our topmost priority. Once your trade is CONFIRMED, your payment will be processed between 3-5minutes.
Referral Bonus;
When you invite a friend to trade with us with your referral link, you get a #500 referral bonus.
Swift Customer Support;
Our customer representatives are always available to attend to your issues and proffer solutions to any problem you might encounter.
Converting Gift Card to Cash
The steps below are seamless steps to convert your gift card to cash. To get started, visit https://card to register or https://cardvest.ng/app/public/login if you have an account already.
After creating an account and successfully signing in, select the Gift card you want to sell or buy. For example, suppose you select Walmart in the gift card category. In the sub-category, you have to specify further by choosing between USA Walmart Physical 100, USA Walmart 200-300 and, USA Walmart physical 400-500. Then input the amount in USD, and it’ll be calculated automatically in Naira, then click proceed to trade.
After selecting Gift card to sell, select proceed.
The image below shows where you’ll place your order after providing the necessary information to complete your trade.
CardVest process your withdrawal within 3-5minutes after the trade has been confirmed. It takes less than 5 minutes to process cash to your local bank under normal circumstances. Banks at times have issues that can delay payment. If you don’t get the payment within 24 hours, contact us.
