Gift Certificate caution

[bones774]

One of the larger online retailers here is offering 50% off gift certificates. Just wanted to caution anyone buying they are not typical GF, I was told that they can only be used on full price ebikes. If you gift one to somebody and they expect to walk in and buy something for the face value of certificate they will be guided to only certain merchandise, some merchandise will be excluded. The small print does say "not valid with other promo offers" but discounted, sale price, used, discontinued bikes is not what i would call "other offers". If i walk into a retail store with a GC i expect to buy anything in that store that is being sold for that face value GC.
Don't want to get into a back and forth with the retailer on this site, but just so people are aware, ask a couple of questions before buying that GC with whichever retailer you are dealing with.

 

[ki11a]

No clue why it’s a guessing game, just tell us which company does this...

 

[rich c]

There's nothing sinister in my opinion, seems like you just want to pick a fight. It says right on the advertisement that it's not valid with other promo offers. You expect them to take another $500 off a discounted demo or special offer? How many other retail stores have you gone into that offer half off the price of the gift certificate? I'm sure they will let you use the face value of the gift certificate on any offer if you pay face value! Which is exactly what all retail stores do.

 

[PDoz]

Hmm...so we should be able to spend $50 to buy a $100 certificate, then use that to buy a $200 certificate etc etc?

 

[bones774]

If you buy or gift someone a GC you expect to spend that amount in the store, whether it's Wal-Mart, Advance auto, Kragens, Ralph's market. They don't tell you "no that's a sale item you can't include that".
I understand what some of you are saying in his defense but maybe he should call it something other than a gift certificate.
If you gave that to one of your kids Xmas morning and he expected to put it towards a bike this weekend he may be in for a big unwanted surprise.
It's just a heads up to check first and why I didn't mention the retailer directly.

 

[bones774]

There's nothing sinister in my opinion, seems like you just want to pick a fight. It says right on the advertisement that it's not valid with other promo offers. You expect them to take another $500 off a discounted demo or special offer? How many other retail stores have you gone into that offer half off the price of the gift certificate? I'm sure they will let you use the face value of the gift certificate on any offer if you pay face value! Which is exactly what all retail stores do.

These bikes are discounted for a reason, they are not new! While you may get a good deal but they have served a purpose for him, they can't be sold as new.
Didn't say sinister just be aware

 

[bones774]

Hmm...so we should be able to spend $50 to buy a $100 certificate, then use that to buy a $200 certificate etc etc?

That would be combining promos!

 

[bones774]

Depending on your particular state laws it may actually be contrary to consumer protection laws to place this restriction on a gift certificate

 

[bones774]

Hmm...so we should be able to spend $50 to buy a $100 certificate, then use that to buy a $200 certificate etc etc?

I believe most retailers prohibit this as SOP just because many GC are discounted
"No Cash Value" clause
Whether the GC was sold for 500, 1000 or 1500 doesn't matter, the bearer holds a 1k GC for that retailer and unless the retailer claims it's fraudulent it should be honored

 

[bones774]

and what about some one who paid full price for a GC earlier? are there 2 different types? can you discriminate one from another? or are you gonna tell him/her its only worth 1/2 value on these certain bikes?

 

[rich c]

These bikes are discounted for a reason, they are not new! While you may get a good deal but they have served a purpose for him, they can't be sold as new.
Didn't say sinister just be aware

You don’t know what you are talking about. Have you ever shopped there? They sell demos which are used. All the rest of the specials are brand new, never ridden. I bought a heavily discounted old model year 2016 Haibike there in March 2017. It had a test ride as a checkout procedure. It had 1.5 miles on it. Why don’t you move your entitlement rant to off-topic. It has nothing to do with eBikes.

 

[bones774]

You don’t know what you are talking about. Have you ever shopped there? They sell demos which are used. All the rest of the specials are brand new, never ridden. I bought a heavily discounted old model year 2016 Haibike there in March 2017. It had a test ride as a checkout procedure. It had 1.5 miles on it. Why don’t you move your entitlement rant to off-topic. It has nothing to do with eBikes.

yeah and we don't know if you would have been able to use your GC on a heavily discounted bike, as per what they told me you couldn't .
You're ranting, I'm discussing.
This is why I didn't mention retailer, instead of just listening to cautionary advice, you jump in to defend the retailer. The only tie your post has to original topic is that you couldn't use your GC in that situation and you don't even mention that!

 

[rich c]

yeah and we don't know if you would have been able to use your GC on a heavily discounted bike, as per what they told me you couldn't .
You're ranting, I'm discussing.
This is why I didn't mention retailer, instead of just listening to cautionary advice, you jump in to defend the retailer. The only tie your post has to original topic is that you couldn't use your GC in that situation and you don't even mention that!

I didn't have a gift certificate, why did you assume I did? You're not discussing, 8 of the 14 posts are yours. That shop does this incentive every year. Ignore button activated!