Indigo-
If you honor them even though they expire, then that the same thing as your
statement.  I never intended to imply that you would do anything to upset
the visitor/media, but whether you are a not-for-profit or a for-profit
institution should make absolutely no different in good retail business
practices.

Personally, I feel not-for-profits often feel that they must apologize for
practicing the same good business methods that the for profit world strives
and this is absolute nonsense!  Good business is good business whether you
make a profit or not.

In the case of gift certificates and expiration dates, each institution must
decide what they feel is appropriate for their institution, I only gave my
opinion based on my years of experience in the retail world.

Tracie
----- Original Message -----
From: Indigo Nights <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2000 10:57 AM
Subject: Re: Gift Certificates


> I'd have ot strongly concur with Audra on this one.
> This is a not-for-profit museum, someplace where you
> want to increase your visitors and membership.  You
> want to encourage people to make purchases with your
> organization as a way of sustaining revenue.
>
> The bad publicity that could arise from an occasional
> delay in redemption could have a very negative effect
> on your long-term revenue, and you'd be backpeddling
> for quite a while to correct one simple gaffe. (We all
> know how the media likes to look for inanities and
> blow them out of proportion.)
>
> What you might consider is adding a simple sentence at
> the end of your certificate that says "Please redeem
> within twelve (or eighteen or whatever figure you
> choose) months."  In that way, it doesn't make them
> void, but it does encourage people to cash them in.
>
>
>
>
> --- Audra Oliver <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > As a consumer, I'd say you should honor a gift
> > certificate whenever it is
> > presented.  After all, you've had the money in the
> > bank earning interest.
> > You're not out anything by redeeming it years later.
> >  You only gain by the
> > consumer's delay.  It certainly isn't a discount
> > coupon of some sort.  I
> > have to say, that by stressing that the certificate
> > was expired you'd offend
> > me.  You might say in a very, very friendly manner,
> > something about them
> > having it for quite a while. I think you should act
> > incredibly happy that
> > they were finally able to visit and redeem your
> > certificate.
> >
> > Their friend bought it.  It hasn't cost you anything
> > to "store" their money
> > for however long they've had it.  Sorry listers but
> > this response hit a
> > nerve with me.
> >
>
>
> =====
> Indigo Nights
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
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