Consumer NZ releases gift card 'naughty' and 'nice' lists

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Gift cards commonly expire after 12 months, leaving shoppers out of pocket.
Photo: Andrey Popov / 123RF

Santa has a ‘naughty or nice’ list, and this year so does Consumer NZ.

But rather than tracking your kids’ behaviour through the year, the latter has been analysing the small print on various retailers’ gift cards.

“Based on the complaints we’ve received over the years, gift cards seem to act more like a gift to retailers than to ourselves or others,” said Gemma Rasmussen, Consumer head of research and advocacy.

More than $10 million spent on gift cards was lost every year, according to the watchdog’s latest estimate – retailers pocketing the value left on expired cards.

“One in four gift card holders end up stuck with a card they can’t use because either the card has expired or the retailer’s gone bust,” Rasmussen said. “And more than half of gift card holders unable to redeem their voucher still had more than $20 unspent.”

The real Christmas gift was to retailers, she said, rather than our loved ones.

“Half of gift card users experience problems using their card – from checking their balance to only being able to use their card at limited stores and, crucially, finding something to buy.

“We don’t think it’s fair that retailers can pocket your money without providing something in return. We have been calling for gift cards to be valid for a minimum of five years, which aligns with what shoppers in the US are entitled to.”

To that end, Consumer compiled two lists – one of ‘nice’ retailers, whose gift cards did not expire for five years or more, if at all; and one of ‘naughty’ retailers, who pocket unspent balances after just 12 months.

Nice

No expiry dates

Apple Store
Baby Factory
Barkers
Bunnings
Countdown
EB Games
Farro Fresh
Foot Locker
Glassons
Hallensteins
JB Hi-Fi
Kathmandu
Macpac
Noel Leeming

Five-year expiry dates

Babycity
Hannahs
Hunting and Fishing
Number One Shoes
Shoe Clinic

‘Naughty’

12-month expiry dates

Bendon Lingerie (e-gift cards last three years)
Booksellers
Event Cinemas
Freedom Furniture
Hoyts Cinemas
Just Jeans
Mobil Oil
Restaurant Association
Smiggle
Smiths City
Stirling Sports
Ticketmaster
Westfield Shopping Centres

The true amount lost was difficult to establish, with few retailers publishing data on expired gift cards, Consumer NZ said. The $10m estimate was based on the few retailers that did, with non-redemption rates typically between 5 and 10 percent.

Parliament is currently considering a bill from National’s Melissa Lee that would require gift cards to last at least three years before they expire. The Fair Trading (Gift Card Expiry) Amendment Bill passed its first reading in August.

If you are not sure what to buy someone and want to avoid buying a dud gift card, there is an option that not only has no expiry date, it can be used everywhere – without exception.

“Unless the retailer offers a fair redemption period, we recommend gifting cash,” Rasmussen said. “Not only is it nostalgic, there are no strings attached.”