I'm gonna jump in here a little after the fact.  This morning, in the
Philadelphia Inquirer, there was an article about gift certificates in the
state of Pennsylvania.  Apparently there is a little known state law that
says if a certificate is not used before its date of expiration that the
money paid for the certificate must be returned to the purchaser.  These
refunds show up on the refunds lists published annually by the state.

Apparently the certificate is a promissory note; the money that sits in the
store's bank account does not belong to them until the certificate is
redeemed.

My point?  You may wish to check your state's regulations on this matter
since it is my understanding that the shops attached to most museums are
regarded as for-profit commercial entities.

Ellen B. Cutler
Aberdeen, MD
----- Original Message -----
From: Tracie Evans <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2000 3:13 PM
Subject: Re: Gift Certificates


> 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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