Shopsmith Gift Card Warning---Don't do what I did

[reible]

So I'm cleaning up my desk and found this shopsmith envelope that I had not opened that contained a Gift Card. I have a few things I'd like to get so I open the card and read the letter enclosed.

"Please note that all balances on promotional gift cards, such as the enclosed, must be used within one year of issue date."

No date on the card but it has a Christmas theme and I think it was from not last Christmas but the previous one, so say 18 months ago. Yes that is longer then a year and it now has a value of $0.00.

Yes my mistake, but I just wanted to warn others that there is this year thing. Had I opened the envelope I would have know but since I didn't, well any way don't make the same mistake I did.

Ed

[dusty]

Thanks for the warning, Ed. No impact here. I never got a gift card.

[benush26]

Ed,
Have you contacted them?

Before you give up on that card, read this

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0182-gift-cards

It might be something to use if Shopsmith will not honor the card.

Be well,
Ben

[charlese]

Don't give up on that card. Last year, I dug out 4 cift cards that had a little remaining balance on them. Like $4.50 and $1.48, or some little sum. A phone call to Shopsmith allowed me to use the remaining balances on these card to add to my credit card.

This allowed me to throw away the old partly used cards. A couple of them were Several years old.

But these were purchased gift cards, not promotional gift cards.

[reible]

I think it might be different for purchased cards over these promotional cards. It was interesting reading the government guide lines for cards, the shopsmith card I have doesn't meet the standards, lacking a date and well the 1 year thing. I could make a fuss but it is not worth the hassle, and had I opened the envelope and read I would have used up the card on previous orders..... I was saving it for a time like now when my monthly tool budget is running short and I'd like to get a few things. I'll just put them off for a few more months this way which might actually save me some money.... and it is possible if I think more about it I might not really need that stuff. Since the gift card would not have come close to paying for it I still might not have wanted to spend the money anyway.

I've got a coupon for Lowe's to use tomorrow and then the bag sale at Woodcraft to attend on Friday..... More then likely coming home a couple of hundred light after that, money spent yes, just not at Shopsmith.

Ed