GiftLocal FAQs

FAQs that may help answer questions that come from your members in regards to use of the card.

Q: What is the GiftLocal gift card program?

A: It is a full-featured gift card gift card program for qualified member businesses. It is being offered to your association; it was developed by MicroNet in partnership with Giftcards.com.

 

Q: How does the gift card program work?

A: Through GiftCards.com’s relationship with Discover®, consumers are able to purchase gift cards online via a link from your business directory listing with your business name, logo or photo on them. Consumers receive the gift cards by mail and then spend them at your business.

 

Q: How much does the gift card program cost my business?

A: There are two options available to your business. The GiftLocal FREE option is free. The GiftLocal PREMIUM option includes a $199 annual fee for additional features.

 

Q: How can my business customize gift cards to include our business logo?

A: Members who upgrade to the PREMIUM option will be able to customize gift cards with their logo and a custom design. You can upgrade within the Member Information Center

 

Q: How do I add the link to let consumers purchase gift cards from my business’s directory listing?

A: If you are the association that opted into the program, select Gift Cards in the left-hand menu, then click the Settings tab. Make sure “Enable “Buy a GiftCard” button…” is selected. Click Save. Visitors that view the public business directory on the association website will see a “Buy Gift Card” button next to your name.

 

Q: What if my business does not accept Discover Card?

A: Most merchants have the ability to enable Discover Card. If your business does not, you can opt out of the program (see next question).

 

Q: Are there any minimum commitments or requirements?

A: There are no commitments or minimums and the only requirement is that you accept Discover cards and agree to our Terms of Service. ).

 

Q: Is the card locked down to only be used at my business?

A: The GiftLocal FREE program does not restrict the card holder from using it at any business that accepts Discover Card. Only the Premium card will ensure that the gift card is only used at that particular business.

 

Q: Does my business need to purchase gift card inventory or special equipment?

A: No. The consumer purchases the gift cards online and they are sent out directly from Giftcards.com. If your business is set up to accept Discover credit cards, the gift cards will work at your business.

 

Q: Our business already offers gift certificates and/or gift cards. Would this replace our existing program?

A: No. If your business has a gift certificate or gift card program already, that is fine, we do not interfere with that. The GiftLocal program simply brings another new sales channel to your businesses.

 

Q: Do the gift cards ever expire?

A: All gift cards have a seven-year expiration date from the time of purchase. The expiration date is printed on the front of each card. Cards that are inactive for more than 12 consecutive months will be charged a $1.95 per month inactivity fee. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions listed on the back of the card.

 

Q: Will my business be able to access a report to see how many cards have been purchased?

A: Members who upgrade to PREMIUM option will have access to two reports. The first report indicates the number of cards sold and total dollar amount loaded on each card. The second report provides the transaction history of the gift cards used at the business location(s); the business will see the date of each transaction and the amount that was charged to the card.

 

Q: Can I sell the gift cards via a link from my business website?

A: Members who upgrade to the PREMIUM option will be able to link to a specific site where consumers can order custom gift cards. The link can be added to your business website, social media sites, e-newsletters, etc.

 

Q: If a consumer has any problems with a card purchased, or a lost card, who do they contact?

A: GiftCards.com provides free support 24x7x365 to gift card purchasers & recipients in both English & Spanish. They can be reached at 1-877-944-3822.

 

Q: What reporting is available with the premium upgrade?

Currently there are two standard reports provided. One for the gift cards sold which you can run by date range to see the number of cards sold and total amount loaded on those cars. The second report gives you the transaction history of the gift cards used at your location(s). You’ll see the date of each transaction and the amount that was charged to the card.

 

Q: Can I just give you my gift card for you to sell?

A: No. Our printing & fulfillment process is all automated and we do not inventory any 3rd party gift cards.

 

Q: I already have a gift card for my business, why would I work with GiftCards.com?

A: Our Local program is NOT intended to replace your existing gift card but rather to provide you with an additional revenue stream. GiftCards.com has millions of customers and thousands of businesses that buy gift and prepaid cards from us every day. By working with us those customers will be able to order a gift card to give to someone to use at your business. If you do not sell your current gift card online, you can refer your customers to your page on GiftCards.com to buy online and customize their own gift card with a photo.

 

Q: How does this card work?

A: Through our partnership with Discover, we are able to create a card with our businesses logo on it that runs through the Discover Network to complete the transaction. If your credit card terminals are set up to accept Discover, once we set up your account the gift card we create for you will work at your business with no additional hardware or software needed on your end.

 

Q: Can I set up the denominations that a customer can purchase for my card?

A: Not at this time. Currently customers can purchase a card for any value between $20 to $500. On average, card values are typically $75.00.

 

Q: Am I able to get the contact information for the purchasers or gift card recipients?

A: No. Because the customer is buying the gift card from us, there are legal requirements that prevent us from sharing this type of information. You will be able to see the number of gift cards sold as well as the transactions that occurred at your business and audit those transactions with your Point of Sale (POS) provider as needed if you choose.

 

Q: Can I sell this gift card in my stores?

A: Not at this time but we will be offering that option in the near future. What you can do now though is to promote your gift card on your website and within your store for your customers to purchase online. We provide graphics and promotional materials for you to use at your discretion.

 

Q: How can my business stand out from others in my area?

A: We offer a few promotional options to help increase your exposure and sales of your gift card. First, you can pay for guaranteed placement in your location & category for a flat $50 per month. This will ensure your business is listed in the top 3 spots for our location & category. Second, you can include a coupon with your gift card to provide an added incentive for the customer to choose your card over another businesses. Gift cards that have a coupon offering have a special icon to make them stand out more and allows the consumer to see what the coupon is good for. There is no additional cost to include a coupon with your gift card which is only applied when the card is purchased. Lastly, we’ve created a concept call Bonus Dollars that allows you to fund part of a card value. For instance, you can tell customers that you’ll give them a 5% bonus on their purchase so if they order a $100 card, they get a $105. There is no additional charge for the Bonus Dollar option and customers can see this special offer in the listings.

 

Q: How do consumers find my business?

A: When customers go to www.giftcards.com/local, we determine where the customer lives automatically and display the available local businesses in their area. Those merchants that we have a direct or paid relationship with show up first in the results followed by our general business listings. The customers can change their location if they are purchasing for someone not in their area and filter the businesses by category, sub-category, and keyword.

 

Q: How do customers get these cards?

A: All cards are sold online. As a card is ordered, we print & ship it out within 1 business day to either the purchaser or the recipient depending on what the customer tells us to do. We handle all printing, fulfillment, customer support, and replace any lost or stolen cards as requested by the purchaser or card recipient.

 

Q: Who would be buying these cards?

A: Primarily the gift cards would be sold to consumers on GiftCards.com but we would also make your gift card available to our corporate clients who purchase cards in bulk for employee or customer promotions.

 

Q: How can I verify that the transactions you report to me match with my system?

A: When you sign up you are provided a secure log in to an account to view reports including the gift cards sold as well as the transactions that occurred from these gift cards at your business. Your Point of Sale (POS) provider should be able to provide you reports on all transactions which you can then cross reference against our transaction reports.

 

Q: What happens if a transaction is canceled or returned?

A: If the gift card has been run and then the transaction is canceled or returned at a later date, typically the funds will be held for up to 10 business days before being put back on the card. This is true of any credit or debit card transaction and not unique to these gift cards. Make sure you inform the customer that the funds may take up to 10 days to be put back on the card and that they can check the balance for free online or over the phone at the number provided on the back of the card. You will not be charged the commission rate if the transaction was canceled or returned.

 

Q: Do GiftCards.com gift card funds expire? Are there usage or monthly fees?

A: All gift cards (except our discount gift cards) have a seven-year expiration date from the time of purchase. The expiration date is printed on the front of the card. There are no fees associated with using our gift cards to make a purchase; however, cards that are inactive for more than 12 consecutive months will be charged a $1.95 per month inactivity fee. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions listed on the back of your card.

 

Q: Should I process the gift card as a credit or debit transaction?

A: Although the front of the gift card says “Debit,” our cards can be processed either as debit or credit transactions. Credit transactions do not require a personal identification number (PIN). If you would like to use one of our cards as a debit transaction, visit the View PIN page or contact Customer Service to obtain a PIN. Please note: our cards cannot be used as debit cards to receive cash from an ATM or from a cashier.

 

Q: How is gratuity handled?

A: For restaurants or service based businesses, typically the Point of Sale (POS) systems are set up to authorize 20% or more above the transaction amount in anticipation of a tip (this is called the ‘Tolerance’ factor). For instance, if a customer has a $100 card and their check is $100, your system may be set up to authorize a $120 transaction and if you run it as you normally would for a credit card, it will decline. We recommend that you talk with your POS provider to see what your tolerance factor may be set up as and how you can run a transaction to NOT include it. You should also ask the customer how much is remaining on their card or call the number on the back of the card to check the balance. If the card has enough to cover their transaction & the tolerance factor, run it as you normally would. If they don’t have enough, as your POS provider how to run the card manually and the tip would have to be given separately

 

Q: Can I cancel at anytime?

A: Yes. There are no long term agreements or minimum commitments. You can cancel your account at anytime and your page and gift card would be removed from GiftCards.com within 2 weeks of your request. Our only requirement in doing so is that we ask that you continue to accept those cards that have already been sold to customers.

 

Q: Are the photos that a customer can upload on the card audited?

A: Yes. You have the option to allow customers to upload a photo on your gift card. Our compliance team reviews each photo uploaded to make sure it does not contain any inappropriate images or anything that may violate existing trademark or copyright materials. We are responsible for all images added by customers and there is no liability to you.

 

Q: Is there any training required for my employees to accept this gift card?

A: Not really. The cards are run as a Discover credit card transaction. We do provide a training document that you can download from your merchant account with us that gives you and your employees answers to standard questions as well as support information. If your business is a restaurant or hotel, we do recommend going over the training documentation with your employees because typically restaurants and hotels are set up to authorize a higher value than the actual transaction amount on a credit or debit card of this nature which can cause a decline.

 

Q: How do consumers check their card balance?

A: There are two options to do so. 1) They can call the toll-free number listed on the back of the card at anytime and simply enter in their card number to retrieve their balance, or 2) they can go to GiftCards.com and click on the check balance link to get their balance in real-time.

 

Q: What do I do if a gift card will not work at my business?

A: Typically if a card was declined its because the customers balance does not cover the transaction amount. In any case, we can look up the transaction attempt on our end any time. We recommend that you educate your cashiers to call the toll-free number on the back of the card to speak with one of our customer service agents and we can look up the transaction attempt and advise from there.

 

Q: Who handles customer support?

A: Giftcards.com provide free support 24x7x365 to gift card purchasers and recipients in both English and Spanish.

 

Q: Do I need to have a website in order to sign up?

A: Not at all. But you can help drive sales of your gift cards by linking to your GiftCards.com Local merchant page from your business website or favorite social network page. We even give offer you easy to implement HTML to copy and paste on your site!

 

Q: How am I billed?

A: We do not offer invoicing terms and require a credit card be provided for your account. The set up fee will be charged to your card immediately after completion of your account set up. All ongoing fees will be charged to your credit card on record as applicable. See your GiftCards.com Local Merchant Agreement for a complete list of fees.

 

Q: Do GiftCards.com gift card funds expire? Are there usage or monthly fees?

A: All gift cards (except our discount gift cards) have a seven-year expiration date from the time of purchase. The expiration date is printed on the front of the card. There are no fees associated with using our gift cards to make a purchase; however, cards that are inactive for more than 12 consecutive months will be charged a $1.95 per month inactivity fee. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions listed on the back of your card.

 

Q: Who is responsible for escheatment?

A: These gift cards are provided by GiftCards.com and the Issuing Bank partner and it is Giftcards.com responsibility to comply with Federal & State Laws regarding unused card values.

 

Q: If the association cancels the program with MicroNet, will the members be able to continue their program?

A: Yes, the members can continue their gift card program independently of the association. They would lose a couple of perks of the program like having a link from the association directory listing (unless they created one themselves using say the bullets/highlights feature) as well as the listing on the association landing page on Giftcards.com.

 

Q: With the spiff program of the $25 per premium member, how long will this be offered? If the association doesn’t get 10 premiums until month 14 or 15 etc after they sign up, will this still be paid out?

A: There is no language currently that limits the amount of time an association has to sign up their 10 premium members.

 

Q: Am I able to order gift cards in bulk?

A: Yes, gift card orders are considered bulk orders when you order 50 or more. All bulk orders would be placed by contacting Giftcards.com directly and is not handled on the Giftcards.com website. Pricing is still the same for each gift card. For example a $25 card would be $25 plus $2.95 per card which covers processing and card load.

Shipping of bulk orders would be one flat fee (determined by the ship-to location) if shipped all together through Fedex. If the order is shipped through USPS, then each card is shipped individually and the charge would be .49 each. Make sure to specify you’d like the one flat rate when making your bulk order.