You can send digital gift cards with some of the widely-used cash transfer and online shopping services. If you require a fast gift that still conveys thoughtfulness, electronic gift cards can be a great way to go. Three platforms you can opt for to send e-gift cards are Amazon, Venmo and Cash App.
If you find yourself in need of a gift to give someone during the holiday season and shipping is not an option, digital gift cards can be a great way to go. Recent surveys show that digital cards make up 40% of all gift card purchases. Bank of America and The Strawhecker Group also found that the main reason people opted for digital gift cards was the recipient had more choice. I recently experienced this myself when I wanted to send a birthday gift to a friend who lived in another state. Instead of sending $20 via Venmo, I chose to send a $20 Chipotle gift card. The difference might not have been monumental but it felt more personal to me. Below are a few steps and tips if you would like to send a digital gift card:
When choosing which service to use, Amazon and Block-developed Cash App have more stores to choose from than Venmo. Amazon is the only one of these three that allows you to schedule a card to send at a later date. Cash App also lets you send lower dollar amounts. For example, I sent a $1 Lululemon card on Cash App which I could not do on Venmo or Amazon. Additionally, Venmo has the most creative and festive card delivery features. All three services are pretty easy to use for the recipient, so you should send the gift card via whichever method you know the recipient already uses. You will be asked to verify your payment info, so click that box and then press "Confirm."
Open the Amazon app on your phone. Tap the three bars in the bottom right, then select "Gifting & Registry," followed by "Gift Cards." You can pick from Amazon gift cards or ones for different stores. I chose "specialty gift cards." Scroll down and you'll find two categories: eGift cards and physical gift cards. I chose the first one. You can pick whatever vendor you like, though there may be some minimums and maximums for each store. There are also several card designs to choose from, and you can decide the amount of the card. Enter the recipient's email or phone number, and either write your own message or go with the default message of "Hope you enjoy this gift card!" Make sure you check the quantity to avoid sending out multiple cards. You can also select the date you want the card to be sent. Tap "Buy Now" and choose your payment method and address (even though it's digital). Finally, hit "Place your order" and verify your payment info, then click the box to confirm your purchase.
Press Pay/Request.Select the person you want to send the gift card to.Pick the desired dollar amount (notice that some gift cards have minimums and maximums, but this will only be visible later).Write your message.Hit "Gift," which is located at the upper right side of the text box.Select from the available gift cards.You then have the option to customize how the recipient will receive the gift card, similar to their experience opening a physical card with a gift card inside.Pick the card that is most suitable for your reason for giving the gift card (you can preview it before making the final decision).Press "Continue."Press "Next."Once you are ready to send, press "Purchase gift card" at the end.
Select an amount to send, then click "Pay." Select "Gift Card" as the payment type. Pick a vendor and type the recipient's name into the "To" field. Compose your message in the "For" area. Lastly, press "Next" in the upper right corner, followed by "Send Gift Card" at the bottom of the page.
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