gift exchange at work- would you say something?

[shaynaatl]

We did a white elephant exchange at work, and this year the rule was to buy a $25 gift card to a store of your choice. After all of the exchanges, I ended up with a Visa prepaid card.

I was looking at the fine print on it, and it says there is a $7.95 activation fee! So right off the bat I lose almost a third of the card value.

I know it’s not a big amount, but the MM in me finds it annoying to get hit with a fee for something that should have been easily avoided. I should just chalk it up to bad luck and not say anything to the person who bought it, right?

[mbcdefg]

Did you check it? I think the person who purchases the card pays the $7.95 when they buy and activate it.

If you wind up having to pay it yourself, I wouldn't say anything about it this year. Next year I'd quietly tell the organizer to give people a heads-up that some cards may come with an activation fee and the gifters should settle that fee themselves before giving them out as gifts. 

[sterl724]

When I've bought visa gift cards before, the activation fee was paid when I bought the card. (So a $25 card actually cost me more.)

[shaynaatl]

I did look into it, it’s the Visa “green dot” prepaid card. The buyer had to pay $1.95 extra purchase fee.
Then in order for me to use it, I have to register the card online (with my SSN#!) and at that point they deduct $7.95. They also will continue to deduct $7.95 a month as long as the card is active. The only way to be exempt from the $7.95 fee is to load $1,000+ on the card.

From what I can tell, it’s marketed to be used as a debit card, and not a gift card. Oh well.

[dottyblue]

Don't say anything.

This is just weird. You pay $25 for a gift card and get $25 back (in the form of a different gift card to a different store)? What's the point?

[ECB]

WOW. That sucks. My advice is to tell the organizer and perhaps encourage that next year it actually has to be a STORE GC. No generic pre-paid cards allowed.

[Deleted]

I'm assuming they thought it was a gift card, and not an actual prepaid debit card? Green Dot cards are often used by folks who can't get or don't want checking accounts, but still need direct deposit and payment abilities.

The only thing I would say is how stupid a gift card exchange is....like, everyone keep their $25 and go buy themselves something nice.

[ECB]

Dec 21, 2016 12:03:44 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

 

The only thing I would say is how stupid a gift card exchange is....like, everyone keep their $25 and go buy themselves something nice.

Seriously.  I just don't get the point!

[VillainV]

I wouldn't recommend you say anything now...though if your office does this again next year, tell them A) it's stupid, and B) to be aware that some cards have activation fees and monthly maintenance fees, so if they insist on doing it again, people should avoid these types of cards.

[sunshineluv]

What would you say to the person? Hey! You shorted me $7.95? Gimme my money? I imagine that would be super awkward.

(But I would be annoyed at the whole lets pass around $25, its so weird and pointless) White elephant is fun when you have to be a bit more creative.

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2016 15:59:35 GMT -5 sunshineluv said:

What would you say to the person? Hey! You shorted me $7.95? Gimme my money? I imagine that would be super awkward.

(But I would be annoyed at the whole lets pass around $25, its so weird and pointless) White elephant is fun when you have to be a bit more creative.

I'm passive aggressive so I would have made it known that my gift card was bullshit and talked about the fee.

[Roc A Bee]

No I wouldn't say anything. Maybe it was an accident? Those gift card kiosks have like 1 million kinds of Visas.

But why are you guys trading gift cards? This seems so weird.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't say anything. maybe try elfster.com next year

[miniroller]

Dec 21, 2016 18:27:28 GMT -5 Roc A Bee said:

But why are you guys trading gift cards? This seems so weird.

RIGHT?!? Keep your $25, don't go through the pain in the ass of getting a GC, & spend it wherever you want to spend it!

[tacokick]

Petty isn't pretty.

[ellipses84]

Dec 21, 2016 10:58:26 GMT -5 shaynaatl said:

I did look into it, it’s the Visa “green dot” prepaid card. The buyer had to pay $1.95 extra purchase fee.
Then in order for me to use it, I have to register the card online (with my SSN#!) and at that point they deduct $7.95. They also will continue to deduct $7.95 a month as long as the card is active. The only way to be exempt from the $7.95 fee is to load $1,000+ on the card.

From what I can tell, it’s marketed to be used as a debit card, and not a gift card. Oh well.

I didn't even think that was legal for gift cards anymore. They must be marketing it s different way to be deducting money every month.

[ellipses84]

And I wouldn't say anything this year, maybe give people a head up next year (or do an exchange where you don't just trade money)!

[Deleted]

I would probably use the gift card to buy something for toys for tots anyway, so....

(I'm kidding - see the found gift card thread.)

This is a terrible gift exchange idea! Seriously I'd just shrug my shoulders and throw the gift card in my car as "emergency money" for a future Starbucks run. I'm going to assume good intentions and guess the giver inadvertently picked a card that is designed to rip people off. I hate these cards with their bullshit activation fees - like banks aren't making enough money and they can't find a less expensive way for folks to trade cash equivalents. Please.

[fernweh]

I'm guessing they made a mistake when they purchased the green dot card and not a regular visa gift card. I'm sure they were trying to buy something that you could use anywhere without realizing that you would have to day a fee on it. I would let it go... don't say anything.

[tillie]

Very strange. I paid $4.95 up front on the Visa GCs I bought. I didn't read the fine print but the better no charge the use too. I will be pissed if that's the case (I'll actually ask them and refund them any money they have to use to activate it).

The $4.95 says "Activation Fee" in my receipt though.

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2016 18:20:15 GMT -5 @lemonlover said:

Dec 21, 2016 15:59:35 GMT -5 sunshineluv said:

What would you say to the person? Hey! You shorted me $7.95? Gimme my money? I imagine that would be super awkward.

(But I would be annoyed at the whole lets pass around $25, its so weird and pointless) White elephant is fun when you have to be a bit more creative.

I'm passive aggressive so I would have made it known that my gift card was bullshit and talked about the fee.

I guess if you work with people who are generally assholes...

I'd hate to make one of coworkers feel like shit over a gift card, especially since the Green Dot cards are often hanging beside regular gift cards and they probably had no idea.

A gift is a gift, you take it and STFU even when you hate it, and re-evaluate gift exchanges if you don't like the outcome.

[Deleted]

Dec 23, 2016 8:52:54 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

Dec 21, 2016 18:20:15 GMT -5 @lemonlover said:

I'm passive aggressive so I would have made it known that my gift card was bullshit and talked about the fee.

I guess if you work with people who are generally assholes...

I'd hate to make one of coworkers feel like shit over a gift card, especially since the Green Dot cards are often hanging beside regular gift cards and they probably had no idea.

A gift is a gift, you take it and STFU even when you hate it, and re-evaluate gift exchanges if you don't like the outcome.

I do. This is why I don't participate in potlucks or gift exchanges at my work. So my answer is jaded. She essentially paid 8 dollars to give someone a 25 dollar gift card. I wouldn't be a total bitch. In passing I would be "Oh my gift card is funky. There's a monthly fee and I had to register with MY SOCIAL to use it. I hope it was an accident!"

[dexteroni]

That's weird. I wouldn't want to give my SSN to some random company to use $17 worth of a gift card, so I probably just wouldn't use it at all. I wouldn't say anything to the giver, because what will happen? They'll feel bad and will try to give you $8 and it will be so awkward.

But - if your work ever does a gift card exchange again, I would mention it then as a PSA. "If anyone is considering buying a Visa gift card, read the terms carefully. Last year I received a "green dot" card that wanted to charge an $8 and wanted my SSN to use it."

[whiskeytails]

I received one of these in the mail after someone fraudulently filed a tax return for me. I would be weary of using it.

[sunnysally]

I see this here often and it drives me crazy!

wear·y
adjective: weary; comparative adjective: wearier; superlative adjective: weariest

1.
feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep.

leer·y

adjective: leery; comparative adjective: leerier; superlative adjective: leeriest

cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions.

[mcsangel2]

Dec 23, 2016 21:42:47 GMT -5 sunnysally said:

I see this here often and it drives me crazy!

wear·y
adjective: weary; comparative adjective: wearier; superlative adjective: weariest

1.
feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep.

leer·y

adjective: leery; comparative adjective: leerier; superlative adjective: leeriest

cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions.

I think she meant wary, which has the same definition as leery. Agree with you though.

[sunnysally]

Dec 24, 2016 19:32:38 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Dec 23, 2016 21:42:47 GMT -5 sunnysally said:

I see this here often and it drives me crazy!

wear·y
adjective: weary; comparative adjective: wearier; superlative adjective: weariest

1.
feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep.

leer·y

adjective: leery; comparative adjective: leerier; superlative adjective: leeriest

cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions.

I think she meant wary, which has the same definition as leery. Agree with you though.

I thought of that after I posted. I don't mean to single any one out. I've seen it often and it makes me crazy.

[whiskeytails]

Dec 24, 2016 21:33:41 GMT -5 sunnysally said:

Dec 24, 2016 19:32:38 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

I think she meant wary, which has the same definition as leery. Agree with you though.

I thought of that after I posted. I don't mean to single any one out. I've seen it often and it makes me crazy.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I was WEARY from travel when posting. Plus I recall how worried I was when I received a green dot card randomly in the mail and googled how it's used.

But I sincerely appreciate it. I've been cautious of the Happy Holidays from the Joke's and Jokes, since so many have pointed that out around here.

[kicks]

Dec 24, 2016 21:33:41 GMT -5 sunnysally said:

Dec 24, 2016 19:32:38 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

I think she meant wary, which has the same definition as leery. Agree with you though.

I thought of that after I posted. I don't mean to single any one out. I've seen it often and it makes me crazy.

It's a message board, who cares. Not necessary to call someone out and possibly make them feel stupid/embarrassed. I'm well educated but don't use perfect spelling or grammar on here because it's not that serious.