Now remember, general use gift cards don’t have to be basic. You can personalize our Visa gift cards and our Mastercard gift cards with photos and custom messages–adding a very personal and pizzazz-y touch to what might be considered a slightly (you didn’t hear me say it) generic gift. Some of those mall gift cards can also be personalized as well, and the local shopping district gift cards are unique and interesting on their own. If I were to give someone a local gift card for my downtown association, I would deliver it with coupons from local stores and menus from local restaurants. I might even throw in a cupcake from our delicious downtown bakery. (You know what this is making me think of? A housewarming gift for new neighbors or a congratulations gift from a realtor.)
When delivering one of these flexible gift cards, take a few moments to add a personal touch and possibly even a suggestion on where to spend it. Or maybe not, because half the fun of these gift cards that can be used anywhere is allowing the recipient the freedom to do so.
A list of gift cards recipients will be able to use (almost) anywhere–stores, restaurants, and even downtown businesses.
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One of the reasons gift cards are the most-requested gift on holiday wish lists is because the recipient can use the card to pick out his or her own gift. If you want to ensure recipients have the MOST flexibility, then check out the list below–flexible gift cards you can use (just about) anywhere.
Four Gift Cards that are Easy to Use
The gift cards below can be redeemed at a variety of merchants and can be used to buy a wide range of products and services. From the Visa gift card that can be used anywhere Visa debit is accepted (Mastercard gift cards as well) to the mall gift card that can be used at any store within a mall, the recipient will have a choice of where to use the card and the validity of the card won’t be dependent on any one store being close by, having the right sizes or staying in business. If one store doesn’t work, the recipient can choose another.
1. Visa Gift Cards
Without question, the MOST flexible gift card you can buy is a bank-issued gift card such as our Visa gift cards and Mastercard gift cards. These cards are redeemable wherever Visa and Mastercard are accepted, which means they can be used in stores, in restaurants, online and over the phone at merchants big and small. They can even be used to pay a non-recurring bill, to cover your doctor visit co-pay or to buy flowers from a farmer’s market vendor that accepts credit cards.
Please note. With Visa gift cards and other bank-issued gift cards, non-use fees generally apply. If the recipient does not use the card at least once a year, the balance of the card will drop by a few dollars every month until the card is used again or the balance is depleted. So don’t save these cards for a rainy day. Use your gift cards to get the full value loaded onto the card.
2. Mall Gift Cards
Did you know that most shopping malls now have a gift card redeemable at any store or restaurant within the shopping center? Check the information booth at your local mall to find out if your favorite shopping center has a gift card you can buy.
Here’s a tip: Most mall gift cards work the same as any other bank-issued gift card. Although the mall name is printed on the front of the card, in most cases, the card is redeemable at merchants both in and out of the mall. Simon Mall gift cards, for example, are actually Visa gift cards that can be used wherever Visa is accepted–whether the merchant is in a Simon Mall or not. Check the terms and conditions before buying a mall gift card to ensure it can be used in as many places as possible.
Photo: Simon Malls Website
3. Chamber of Commerce Gift Cards
Similar to the mall gift card, many small business owners within a Chamber of Commerce, downtown association or community strip mall, have banded their stores and restaurants together to offer a gift card redeemable at all participating merchants. These “Main Street” gift cards often run on a bank network (e.g. Discover card) so that the stores don’t have to unify their credit card processing machines to accept the cards, but the cards themselves are restricted for use only at stores signed up for the program.
Having a local gift card available gives residents a convenient way to support local businesses and funnel their gift card buying dollars back into their own communities.
Photo: Pleasanton Downtown Website
4. Multi-Btore Gift Cards
The hottest gift cards since 2021 are the new multi-brand gift cards. These gift cares are redeemable at any of the stores and restaurants featured on the card. Many of the cards have anywhere from 5 to 7 brands to choose from, but the new One4All gift card is redeemable at over 100 merchants. And the best part? These gift cards do not expire nor do they come with activation fees or non-use fees. So while they can’t be used ANYWHERE, multi-brand cards can be used far more places that the typical store or restaurant gift card. So this is a card that is definitely worth considering.
Buy multi-brand gift cards
