Git Certificate Woes

[gregintenn]

Last Christmas I gave my wife a gift certificate for a local day spa that had been in business fo several years. She called today to make an appointment, when a lady answered and told her that spa went out of business, but there was now a different spa in the same building with the same phone number.Do I have any recourse or have I just lost my money?

 

[NFrameFred]

I'd say you've lost that one. Your purchase was with another company from the description. Never hurts to ask but I doubt they'll honor it.

 

[gregintenn]

They agreed to honor it for 50cents on the dollar. Sounds like my best bet, huh? This really pizzes me off!

 

[novalty]

I had a similar thing happen to me several years ago. I bought a $50 gift certificate to a popular local restaurant for my parent's as a Christmas present. So popular there was a line for gift certificates in the holiday season. February they closed, certainly not due to lack of business, apparently the owner didn't want to do it anymore. Wonder how many other people got taken.

 

[gregintenn]

This was $340!!!!

 

[JOliver]

I too would be pizzed.....they'll honor half of it ....sounds like they bent alittle but not right.

 

[roarindan]

maybe you can dig a little and find out if the first spa "sold out" or "went out" of business.I'm lucky enough to live 15 min. from a town that has a satellite office of the State Atty. General. Maybe you can call your's and see if a small business that bought out another has to honor any previous agreements.
Here in NY and across the lake in Vt. we have a lot of furniture stores, they are all the time "going out of business". only to open back up under a different name but with the same people and same brand goods.

If you get no help,,, tell your wife...""sorry love,, but I took the bath on this one""

 

[M29since14]

They agreed to honor it for 50cents on the dollar. Sounds like my best bet, huh? This really pizzes me off!

If it is under different ownership, it sounds like they are at least trying to help you out and would like to have your future business. Half is better than nothing.

I hate gift certificates and the more modern version, gift cards. It is a great way to tie up money that you may never see again. I have explained this to my kids and always give them cash, for the reason you mention - and others.

Sounds like the old saw, "No good deed ever goes unpunished," is still alive and well in your case. Sorry.

 

[pinduck]

That is why I always give cash, have this argument with the wife every year, she always wants to give the kids gift cards makes no sense to me. If they are the same as cash then why not give cash.

 

[NCTexan]

I think that specific retailer "gift certificates" are a bad idea. And yes, I've given them and received them.

Besides the problem of a business closing... these limit the recipient's choice to that one business. Maybe they don't have the item or the best price for what the recipient would really prefer.

Also, what if the item cost less than the certificate amount... you have to buy something else or keep a store credit. Many will not refund you the difference in cash.

While a store certificate seems slightly more personal than cash, I prefer giving a Visa or Mastercard gift certificate with a suggestion of a category of item to buy. Then it gives the recipient the opportunity to buy what they really want, where they want to shop, at the best prices, and without having wasted credits.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

That's why I don't buy my wife presents.
BTW-you are lucky they offered you .50 on the dollar-they are under no legal obligation to do anything.

 

[gregintenn]

That's why I don't buy my wife presents.
BTW-you are lucky they offered you .50 on the dollar-they are under no legal obligation to do anything.

Right. According to them, the previous business closed unexpectedly, and they leased vacated building. If that is the case, they are being quite generous, and trying to build a customer base via good will. I find it odd they have the same phone number as the old business, however.