Why no-one should buy Vouchers for Presents...

Brenny

...last Christmas my daughter received two vouchers for spa days (one of which she offered to me :j). As the mother of a disabled child she has found it very hard to find free days but we decided to find a day this weekend. However, when I looked at the vouchers they had an expiry date of end of last month (10 months after purchase).

I appealed to the Spa Manager, but they wouldn't budge. Went to the Hotel Manager and he has now extended the time until the end of the month, subject to us paying a "£25 administration fee each" (£50) on top of the £200 already spent!

An added twist is that I also had £200 worth of cash vouchers for the same spa with no expiry date on them but, when I phoned, I was told that this was an error and that they had actually expired. But "as a goodwill gesture" they would extend them until the end of December! :rotfl::rotfl:

I am very tempted to tell them where to stick the spa vouchers (and just spend the cash ones on goods)...but the other half of me wants my daughter to enjoy some pampering. Still haven't decided which way to go.

But please....if you want to buy an experience for someone, just get an envelope and write the name of the experience you would like them to enjoy on it, and put money in...there is no expiry date!!!

stormbreaker

Another idea is to give an IOU gift voucher or cheque to be redeemed at their leisure so they canot spend the money in with the house keeping.

Our sons where given IOU cheques as their main present last year as they could not think of anything they particularly wanted. One later decided to get a bike the other asked for Euros after booking a holiday

I stopped giving vouchers when I purchased one from a Hign Street book shop as a retirement gift and the same night on the early evening news they announced having gone into receivership.:mad:

I was at the shop for it opening the next day and got my money back. By lunch time they were refusing to refund vouchers.

Morgy9

Brenny wrote: »

...last Christmas my daughter received two vouchers for spa days (one of which she offered to me :j). As the mother of a disabled child she has found it very hard to find free days but we decided to find a day this weekend. However, when I looked at the vouchers they had an expiry date of end of last month (10 months after purchase).

I appealed to the Spa Manager, but they wouldn't budge. Went to the Hotel Manager and he has now extended the time until the end of the month, subject to us paying a "£25 administration fee each" (£50) on top of the £200 already spent!

An added twist is that I also had £200 worth of cash vouchers for the same spa with no expiry date on them but, when I phoned, I was told that this was an error and that they had actually expired. But "as a goodwill gesture" they would extend them until the end of December! :rotfl::rotfl:

I am very tempted to tell them where to stick the spa vouchers (and just spend the cash ones on goods)...but the other half of me wants my daughter to enjoy some pampering. Still haven't decided which way to go.

But please....if you want to buy an experience for someone, just get an envelope and write the name of the experience you would like them to enjoy on it, and put money in...there is no expiry date!!!

Agree Brenny - I was given a voucher for a wine day - but was undergoing cancer treatment and chemo at the time so no wine allowed and tastebuds all over place then anyway (going back 3 years). Left voucher on my dresser. I then lost the amount slip had to keep with cards and quote when you rang up to book - so no idea which experience - so missed out. Money better with note telling you what to do. I felt bad as I know my sister will have gone out on a limb for this....

Hermia

I never buy vouchers as have seen friends lose out when shops have gone under. Those experience vouchers are also a pain as they have expiry dates and it can be hard to get the time you want.

I don't understand why people hate giving cash so much. I'd much rather know the recipient is able to buy exactly what they want rather than have to go to a shop that maybe doesn't sell the thing they really want.

IrishRose12

Personally I don't mind receiving Gift vouchers. I always check for an expiry date on them, and write down in my diary when they are due to expire. But I usually use them well before the expiry date.
If there's no expiry date I call the place in question to find out. But I wouldn't expect them to have no expiry date or a long one.

I don't agree with kicking up a fuss, complaining etc because you've missed an expiry date when it's not their fault. That's like trying to return something to a store when the return date has passed.

I don't buy gift cards though due to too many places being closed down, or going into administration. However I never give money as a gift either, as I personally find it a lazy way out and looks like you can't be bothered to think of or buy a gift for that person.

DomRavioli

So you didn't check the expiry on the vouchers, and you're expecting someone else to foot the bill for your own mistakes?

Wow. Just wow.

DomRavioli

So you didn't check the expiry on the vouchers, and you're expecting someone else to foot the bill for your own mistakes?

Wow. Just wow.

It is YOUR prerogative as the recipient of vouchers to check their dates and to book in before they expire.

They are acting in good will by extending them.

No reason to kick up a fuss, they could just void all of them (they are legally allowed to do so if they have expired as you have so kindly put in writing above), and then you'd have nothing.

POPPYOSCAR

I agree with you OP.


If the likes of Amazon and others can offer a 10 year expiry and even no expiry date(Ikea and BHS I believe),then I do not see why gift vouchers have such a short expiry date.


Just a way to make extra money out of customers.

Mrs_Ryan

Ive bought 2 lots of vouchers this Christmas as gifts and I know both of them will be used- an Amazon voucher for Dad as he is a voracious reader and spends a lot on his Kindle (he's virtually housebound due to disability so he reads a lot of books) and B&Q gift cards for OH (who spends so much in that place I despair of him, any excuse and he's down B&Q )
Likewise I only ask for vouchers if I know I will use them. I got a Primark gift card for my birthday in October. I opened it at 10.30 on a Sunday morning and by 2.30pm it had been spent on a much needed and wanted pair of boots (which have been much worn!) Vouchers can be a good present if bought considerately.

duchy

Was the expiry date printed on the voucher ?

carlislelass

I have bought some this year, before buying I asked expiry dates...all open-ended