Use a voucher or buy for cheaper elsewhere? What would you do?

dontpanick

Hi All, I have a bit of a moneysaving dilemma and can't seem to think my way around it.

I was given a £60 waterstones virtual gift card (with no end date) by my work a few months ago. I used to be a keen reader but not so much these days so haven't thought to use it until now.

There's a book I need to buy, it is £28 ( I know, pricey!) in Watestones - so with the voucher would be free to me, but I have found it elsewhere for £12.

I really can't think of much else I would buy from waterstones in the imminent future so am tempted to use some of the voucher but it also seems silly to pay so much more when it could be so much cheaper if I pay out of pocket.

What would you do?

bazzyb

£12 is not cheaper than £0. If you genuinely have nothing else that you need or want to buy from Waterstones, then personally I would use the voucher.

Tiddlywinks

Ooh, now you see I get the dilemma... it's like the OP wouldn't be getting best value for the voucher by paying over the odds.

I'd not want to use it in those circumstances either as I'd feel cheated.

Is there anyone you know that could buy the voucher off you at a slight discount? That way, they get more for their money and you get money to spend anywhere.

I'd use the Waterstones voucher to buy cards and presents for birthdays etc and get the book you want for the cheaper price elsewhere.

auntymabel

You can sell vouchers on Zeek. Haven't used them so don't know how much you get.

https://www.zeek.me

Also you can sell them on HotUKDeals

http://www.hotukdeals.com

One of these might be a better option for you

PasturesNew

Can you use the voucher to buy a real/solid gift card for that shop?

If you can do that, you could then resell the real/solid one. Most cards get close to their face value when resold on a popular auction site.

With a difference of £28 & £12 being £16 it's effectively worth £34 to you as it is ... with the potential of you never getting round to using it again.

Pop_Up_Pirate

dontpanick wrote: »

Hi All, I have a bit of a moneysaving dilemma and can't seem to think my way around it.

I was given a £60 waterstones virtual gift card (with no end date) by my work a few months ago. I used to be a keen reader but not so much these days so haven't thought to use it until now.

There's a book I need to buy, it is £28 ( I know, pricey!) in Watestones - so with the voucher would be free to me, but I have found it elsewhere for £12.

I really can't think of much else I would buy from waterstones in the imminent future so am tempted to use some of the voucher but it also seems silly to pay so much more when it could be so much cheaper if I pay out of pocket.

What would you do?

I would buy the book for £12 and then sell the voucher.

*Margaret*

I'd probably buy the book and then use the voucher at Christmas, bound to be books and stocking fillers etc and you might feel you've got your moneys worth that way.

Jamiesmum

Buy the cheaper one.

You'll kick yourself if you find something else more worth while to spend the vouchers on in a few months.

Are you also sure they have no use by? If not, I agree - Save for Christmas, buy wrapping paper, accessories, pens ect.

[Deleted User]

I'd buy the cheaper one as at £28.00 you are buying something that's overpriced so I would hang on to the voucher for another day I think

vodkawitch1

I would sell the voucher, buy the cheaper book and still has a bit of cash

culpepper

Is there a restriction on who can use the voucher? If not, why not keep it and give it as a present to someone else who you know loves books, when their birthday comes around. They will be glad of the present and you will get that glow from having given them something they value .
Then just buy your book at the reasonable price.