Google Play Gift Cards soon to be a reality

[Top100EbooksRank]

http://venturebeat.com/2012/08/16/go...ay-gift-cards/

The gift card packaging lists movies, music, books, apps, and “more” along the bottom.

The search giant will offer Google Play gift cards in $10 and $25 increments, according to the photos obtained by Android Central (as shown in the image above). The latest Google Play Store app update’s code also contains references to support for gift cards as well as wish lists, reports Android Police.

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p.s. I am always curious what the margin on this product for retailers that sell Itunes card, Amazon card etc...?

$20 gift card: 5% or $1 to retailers? and 95% or $19 to Itunes/Amazon/Google?

or is the margin higher?

I tried google the answer but no luck. I would assume it's tiny since it takes very little space.

[JD Gumby]

Originally Posted by Top100EbooksRank

p.s. I am always curious what the margin on this product for retailers that sell Itunes card, Amazon card etc...?

$20 gift card: 5% or $1 to retailers? and 95% or $19 to Itunes/Amazon/Google?

or is the margin higher?

I tried google the answer but no luck. I would assume it's tiny since it takes very little space.

That tends to be confidential information, you'd have to get to know a retailer personally and ask them, I think. Almost wish that point cards like these would be like credit card pre-paids and have an extra fee printed on them to guarantee the retailer gets a fair commission out of the sale (no, I don't mind paying a little extra, as long as it's fair).

[=X=]

This is good news, I suspect once this happens it will increase sales to all of Play's products. For me it will be an easy way to give an allowance to my children and not worry about them ringing up my CC.

[RainingLemur]

I really like the idea. It's something I would've thought would've happened a lot sooner, but better late than never I suppose.

[steven522]

Feel way more comfortable logging a $20 gift card online for shopping than linking a credit or debit account to one of these, whether its Apple, Google, or whatever.

[tubemonkey]

Well, I hope they don't do what Amazon does. Amazon doesn't allow you to bypass a gift card balance for purchases. I've had times where I wanted to buy an electronic device with only my credit card (for free extended warranty) and Amazon wanted to apply the remaining balance from my credits and gift cards before using the credit card. CS calls revealed it was policy and too bad. They suggested I use up my balances and then make a credit card purchase. Totally unsatisfactory.

Bottom line, I rarely shop at Amazon anymore and avoid their GCs; unless I can get one for half off. In which case, I spend it right away on classical music.

[joehunt]

Excellent. I dislike using my credit card for small purchases, like $0.99 for a game.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by joehunt

Excellent. I dislike using my credit card for small purchases, like $0.99 for a game.

I recently used my credit card to buy a Kindle book for $0.01

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Well, I hope they don't do what Amazon does. Amazon doesn't allow you to bypass a gift card balance for purchases. I've had times where I wanted to buy an electronic device with only my credit card (for free extended warranty) and Amazon wanted to apply the remaining balance from my credits and gift cards before using the credit card. CS calls revealed it was policy and too bad. They suggested I use up my balances and then make a credit card purchase. Totally unsatisfactory.

Bottom line, I rarely shop at Amazon anymore and avoid their GCs; unless I can get one for half off. In which case, I spend it right away on classical music.

Hmmm, when checking out I have been asked if I want to use my gift card credit or if I prefer to pay with a CC. Maybe it's because I'm outside the US?

[=X=]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Hmmm, when checking out I have been asked if I want to use my gift card credit or if I prefer to pay with a CC. Maybe it's because I'm outside the US?

:Whipsers: you realize your responding to a monkey... :end whisper:

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by =X=

:Whipsers: you realize your responding to a monkey... :end whisper:

Me likes to share bananas with monkey.

[Apache]

The Wal Marts around here charge a $5.00 fee when you purchase a Visa Gift Card.

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I recently used my credit card to buy a Kindle book for $0.01

With that small amount, Amazon did not even get the $0.01 and may have paid more than that to the Credit Card Company. Most of the time companies pay a percentage plus a small fee that averages $0.20.
Apache

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by JD Gumby

That tends to be confidential information, you'd have to get to know a retailer personally and ask them, I think. Almost wish that point cards like these would be like credit card pre-paids and have an extra fee printed on them to guarantee the retailer gets a fair commission out of the sale (no, I don't mind paying a little extra, as long as it's fair).

In my experience as both a consumer and a retailer,the retailer does get paid a fair commission. Just as with calling cards and prepaid cell cards.

And except for franchise operations no retailer is forced to sell these cards.

Fes for customers can be quite high
Canada Post Prepaid Visa cards
Rates & prices
Service fees*
Activation (one-time fee) $15
Monthly service fee $3**
Reload fee $3
ATM & cash advance $2†
Foreign currency conversion 2.5%

The same fees apply to merchants who accept the cards as payment that apply to regular Visa cards. typically 2% but could be higher for lower volumn businesses.

And some cards expire in a set period of time (usually these days you can get the balance back, but many are unaware of this and it is an inconvenience as well)

Recently I wanted to buy a Visa Gift card for a baby shower, but decided based on the fees etc. that a nice shiny $50 dollar bill would do just as well.

Of course there are a few better gift card options, but not in the town I am in.

Helen

[JD Gumby]

Those are different cards. I'm talking the non-reloadable Visa (and MasterCard) Gift Cards that you generally buy off the same racks as long distance phone cards, XBox Live point cards, etc., etc... Denominations of, generally, $25 value ($3.95 fee printed on the card's package), $50 ($4.95), $100 ($5.95) and up [those are the Visa Gift Card prices, not sure about MC]. (and, yes, you can use these just like regular credit cards - just have to register at a site listed on the card for retailers that demand addresses and such)

[OddCosine]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Well, I hope they don't do what Amazon does. Amazon doesn't allow you to bypass a gift card balance for purchases. I've had times where I wanted to buy an electronic device with only my credit card (for free extended warranty) and Amazon wanted to apply the remaining balance from my credits and gift cards before using the credit card.

I've found a couple of ways around that. One is to add the item to a wish list and then to my cart, and the other is to mark something in the order as a gift. In both cases, when I check-out it steps me through a series of screens, one of which is a payment screen. I can deselect the gift card there. This doesn't seem to work with promotional discounts like Lightning Deals; they lump the gift card and discount together so to not use the gift card you have to forgo the discount.

And it doesn't help with stuff like Subscribe & Save. They really do seem hell-bent on using up a gift card balance.