Gift Card Resources

What do I do after giving away free gift cards but nobody has used them?

I give everybody a free $10 giftcard for my catalog website, www.allin1giftsitecom, to use for their first purchase. I passed out about quite a few to people at my job months ago but nobody has used them. I really think they won't use them out of spite. So should I deactivate them and have them replaced?? I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who would love to have free money, that's why I give all first time customers a $10.card. However, I'm afraid by deactivating the unused cards, I will feel that I am stooping to their level. It's really just business though. If I replace them I can give them to real customers. What to do?? Should I just take the loss??

Public Comments

1. Just remember that it is your site and you do with it what you will. if i was you i would deactivate the cards and yes replace them. give them to the people that you originally gave them too but this time put a "valid until" date on them. this way if they dont use them it's their own fault. also you will be able to keep track of when and to who you give the cards which could double as a followup marketing tool for you. when you know someones cards is about to expire you could send them an email saying " hey just a note to let you know that your gift card will expire in xxx days and if you would like to use it i have some new great products for you, a friend, someone in the family or even the dog" give them the link to the website and then they may come. you never know they may have forgotten or most of the time i find that if something doesnt have an expiry people think "oh good i will keep that somewhere safe till i need it badly" and well we all know what happens to things that are put somewhere safe!!! hope this helps