What is an e-Gift Card and How Does it Work?

Choosing a gift for someone close to you might be challenging, not to mention the difficulty if one is in a hurry, when the receiver does have unusual preferences. Ever wonder how e-gift cards work? 

Here come e-gift cards, electronic cards that have become the new favorite for hassle-free specific gifting due to its convenience and instant delivery.

E-gift cards became relatively popular recently, owing to complete digitalization. The consumer market changed, and the actual behavior of people changed with the advent of a digital world.

According to predictions, the digital gift card will reach $495.05 billion by 2024 with 18.2% annual growth rate. 

In this blog, you will find your way through: 

• What are e-gift cards? 

• How do I buy and send them? 

• Where can the e-gift card be redeemed? 

If you find this interesting? Let’s begin. 

What are E-Gift Cards? 

E-gift cards are digital gift cards. Instead of the usual method, an e-gift card is sent by email or text message. It has a unique code that enables the recipient to make an online purchase or in-store purchase at the stores that accept it. 

E-gift cards are perhaps the most enticing as they present great convenience with increased accessibility. The e-gift card is perfectly suited for an impulsive buyer, international consumer, or anyone who wants to cut down on plastic waste.

E-gift cards come in the options of personalizing a message and a themed design for a meaningful gift for any occasion. 

Comparison of E-Gift Card with Physical Gift Card 

E-gift cards and physical gift cards both share the fact that they make dispensable credits, but there is so much difference between them. 

1. Instant Delivery: E-gift cards are delivered instantaneously. If one is in a hurry or missed a friend’s birthday, then it can buy and send an e-gift card within a minute. But physical gift cards take more time and require shipping or in-store pickup. 

2. Environmental Impact: A plastic material is utilized in the production of the physical gift cards, which adds to the problem of waste. E-gift cards, by virtue of having no physical footprint, make them an ideal option for an environmentally conscious consumer. 

3. Security: A lost or stolen physical gift card often can’t be recovered. In fact, e-gift cards are digitally stored, and most places where they can be sent provide the recipient with the option to retrieve or re-send the card if it’s accidentally deleted. This makes e-gift cards even more 

4. Options for Personalization: Most issuers of e-gift cards give different themed templates and custom messages that can add a higher level of emotionality to your gift. In a few cases, physical cards lack proper personalization options. 

5. Accessibility: Since most e-gift cards are stored digitally, it is relatively easy to monitor them. People tend to like the fact that they do not have to bother losing the physical card. Accessing it whenever becomes possible for them from their e-mail or digital wallet. 

How to Purchase an E-Gift Card? 

Buying an e-gift card is simple and can be done online from retailers like Send Credit.

Follow these steps to get your gift card today: 

1. Go to Send Credit and browse through the gift cards library. 

2. Select the e-gift card of your choice and its denomination. 

3. Add the gift card to cart and add credentials to proceed with the payment. 

4. You can choose from the industry’s leading payment options like Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, and more.  

5. Once checkout is done, the e-gift card is sent instantly on your email. 

How do you Send an E-Gift Card to Someone? 

After purchasing an e-gift card, then you need to figure how to get it to the recipient. Here are some of the most common ways to send an e-gift card. 

1. Sending an E-Gift Card to Someone via Email 

E-gift cards are delivered by e-mail. The minute a person purchases an e-gift card, the seller emails it to the recipient’s inbox. The email contains a message that explains how to redeem the gift card.

The recipient may forward the email or capture an image of the code on the card if he wants to use it in-store. 

2. Using SMS to Send an E-Gift Card 

Some retailers allow you to send e-gift cards via SMS. This method is convenient for recipients who may not check email often. They receive a text message with a link or code that they can use to redeem the gift card online or in-store, depending on the retailer. 

How to Use an E-Gift Card? 

You can easily use an e-gift card in the following these steps: 

1. The recipient opens the email or SMS containing the e-gift card details. They should keep the unique redemption code secure to avoid unauthorized use. 

2. For online purchases, the recipient enters the gift card code at checkout in the “Gift Card” or “Promo Code” field. This code applies the card balance to the total purchase amount. 

3. Some e-gift cards can be used in-store. The recipient may need to show a digital version of the card on their phone or print it out to present to the cashier. Make sure to check the retailer’s policies beforehand. 

4. If the e-gift card doesn’t cover the full purchase, the remaining balance can usually be paid with another payment method, like a credit card or cash. 

Where can Recipient Spend their E-Gift Card 

E-gift cards can often be redeemed and spend in various ways, depending on the retailer: 

1. Online Shopping 

Most e-gift cards are designed for online shopping. This makes them ideal for e-commerce purchases or digital services like streaming subscriptions, app store credits, and gaming platforms. 

2. Instore Purchases 

Some e-gift cards can also be redeemed in-store. You can use e-gift cards at restaurants and other shops. In this case, the recipient might show the e-gift card on their phone or present a printed copy to the cashier. 

3. Partial Payments 

Many e-gift cards allow partial payments, meaning the card can cover part of a purchase, and the remaining balance can be paid with another payment method. This flexibility is helpful if the card balance doesn’t cover the entire cost. 

Drawbacks and Considerations for E-Gift Card 

While e-gift cards offer several conveniences, it’s important to keep drawbacks in mind to ensure your safety and security. Here are some tips: 

1. Restricted Redemption Location 

Not all e-gift cards can be redeemed in the store-a disadvantage for recipients who like shopping in the store. While a few e-gift cards can only be redeemed online, others can be redeemed both online and in physical stores.  

Therefore, before making a purchase, a consumer ought to know if the retailer accepts e-gift cards in any of its shopping channels or only on its website. 

2. Digital Theft 

E-gift cards can only be accessed with a unique code; thus, their risk for digital gift card scam is possible if they are not properly stored. Since anyone with the code can cash out a gift card, recipients should be very cautious with their information of an e-gift card.  

To help alleviate this risk, most e-gift card companies recommend storing the card in an electronic wallet or app that requires a password to access.

However, in case the recipient enters a wrong code or in case of an email threat, little can be done to recover lost money. 

3. Expiration Dates and Maintenance Fees 

Many e-gift cards never expire, whereas others do, depending on the issuer of the card and the laws governing them in different regions.

In a few cases, if the e-gift card remains unused for years, maintenance fees will be applied that gradually drain the card balance. 

The terms vary widely so that caution is taken when looking at the policy of expiration and potential fees for the git card you are purchasing. 

4. Limitations of Use by Smaller Retailers 

Some big retailers may offer e-gift cards that are easy to use across all locations and online platforms. Smaller stores, however, may lack the infrastructure to support digital cards, limiting their usability.

If you plan to give this as a gift to a customer who shops locally or prefers purchases at small business entities, then you will have to ascertain their policy on accepting an e-gift card. 

Wrapping It Up 

To sum up, e-gift cards provide the right amount of convenience, security, and personalization. They are appropriate for planned occasions or impromptu gestures as they offer flexibility to send thoughtful gifts hassle-free without shipping and delivery delays.  

An e-gift card offers instant accessibility and environmental advantages along with ease of use, and thus it has become one of the gifting essentials of this modern era. 

Achieve a hassle-free gift card experience on Send Credit. Purchase, store and keep track of managing e-gift cards with this platform. All gift card options will be available, you can personalize your message and complete the sending process with it being quick and secure.