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Gift vouchers and gift cards are different, despite popular misconceptions. There are other rules and systems for each. Redeeming them and where you can spend them differ by format. It’s imperative to know what separates them before buying. Both have existed for years, changing with payment technology.
The gap between vouchers and cards runs deeper than surface appearances suggest. Vouchers show up as paper certificates or digital codes that work at particular places. Cards look like credit cards with magnetic strips or chips built in. amexxgiftcards.com processes cards through different channels than voucher systems use. But the physical difference scratches the surface. How they get processed, where they’re accepted, and what guidelines control them create more meaningful distinctions.
Format and presentation
- Paper documents or emailed codes make up most vouchers. They include redemption details like codes, barcodes, or unique identification numbers. The look tends toward basic rather than fancy, often just printed on standard paper with simple design elements. Individual businesses generate many vouchers using regular office printers.
- A gift card looks similar to a credit card. Magnetic strips, barcodes, or electronic chips. They require special equipment and security. The cards hold up better over time and look polished enough to carry in a wallet without embarrassment.
Redemption process variations
- When you check out, show the voucher or enter the code. Some store staff need to check voucher details in their system. Paper vouchers at smaller shops particularly involve extra steps. Some places want your signature or ID before accepting vouchers.
- Cards slide through regular payment terminals the same way credit cards do. Electronic readers grab the information instantly, verify the balance, and subtract your purchase total without fuss. This works because the system plugs into existing checkout equipment. Online shopping accepts the card number in payment boxes just like any other card.
Expiration date policies
- Shorter lifespans plague vouchers more often than cards. You might only get a few months to use one before it expires. The expiration date usually prints right on the voucher, where you can’t miss it. Companies issuing vouchers set these tight windows to push quick spending. Getting an extension means contacting whoever issued it, and their policies swing wildly from one business to another.
- Cards stick around longer, frequently for years after purchase. Laws in many places now ban cards from expiring too quickly. This gives people breathing room to use their cards when it suits them. Balance checks stay accessible through websites or phone numbers stamped on the cards themselves.
Usage location restrictions
The business that issued a voucher usually represents the only place you can spend it. Even moving between different locations of the same company gets tricky with vouchers if their systems don’t talk to each other. Getting multiple locations to accept vouchers requires connected computer systems across sites. Small independent businesses almost never honor vouchers at competitor shops.
Cards cast a wider net for where they work:
- Chain stores take their cards at every branch location
- Shopping center cards function at dozens of different stores
- Bank-issued cards go anywhere that the payment network operates
- Restaurant groups let you use cards at all their properties
Recipients gain flexibility from this broader acceptance, especially those who travel or live in different cities.
