credit cards
Survey says: best gift cards
Best holiday gift cards
In a survey of 54 popular companies, Bankrate.com narrowed down the best gift card options. Gift cards have fast become a huge business for retailers, so arm yourself with insider knowledge before you shop.Best bang for the buck
The Bankrate.com survey criteria included a wide range of options, such as expiration dates and e-card availability. Based on the survey, the best gift card choices include Target, Walmart, J.C. Penney, Kohl's, Lowe's, Macy's, Meijer, Nordstrom and Sears. All of these cards offer no expiration date, no dormancy or maintenance fees, replacement for lost or stolen cards, reloadable funds, e-card availability, online balance check, free shipping or delivery, no purchase fees and no PIN requirement. All of these card options are considered low-risk, making them the ideal gift.Good bang for the buck
Coming in a close second were Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Staples and Starbucks, offering all of the same features of the list above minus e-card availability. If you're looking for e-card availability but none of the above companies suit your needs, try Barnes & Noble, Bloomingdale's, CVS, eBay, Home Depot, iTunes, Saks Fifth Avenue or Toys R Us.Below-average bang for the buck
Try to avoid the general-purpose cards from banks or credit card companies. They usually expire and have fees, both of which are an inconvenience. With the new gift card rules in place, retail store cards don't expire for at least five years, making them the better option.SpaFinder, Pilot Travel Centers and OSI Restaurant Partners (which owns Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, and Roy's) ranked lowest on the Bankrate.com survey. SpaFinder charges a fee for a physical card and Pilot charges an inactivity fee after 24 months. OSI Restaurant Partners cards ranked low due to missing features, such as theft/loss replacement, reloadable funds, e-card availability, and free shipping; however, you still get important features, including no expiration, no fees and online balance check.
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