Gift Cards and Store Closings - Heads Up

[epchick]

That is why I'm an advocate of getting just a Visa type gift card that could be used in many places--like the mall.

I usued the last of the amount of my Circuit City gift card the DAY they announced they were filing for bankruptcy.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by epchick

That is why I'm an advocate of getting just a Visa type gift card that could be used in many places--like the mall.

I usued the last of the amount of my Circuit City gift card the DAY they announced they were filing for bankruptcy.

The only thing about those is that they charge so many fees - both to buy and to use.

As for underperforming stores, I would expect a chain to close those down. When Macy's bought out one store chain (brain cramp, I forget which one), it left two or three Macy's owned department stores in some malls. I totally understand those being closed! Which is a big reason I like to support local stores.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by honeychile

The only thing about those is that they charge so many fees - both to buy and to use.

Really? I've bought a few for people, and never noticed any extra fees besides sales tax. I'll have to check into that when I buy someone a mall gift card.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by epchick

Really? I've bought a few for people, and never noticed any extra fees besides sales tax. I'll have to check into that when I buy someone a mall gift card.

I forget how much I almost paid for one last year, but it was X dollars paid for X dollars on the card. Then, someone who was given one for his company's bonus had to pay X amount to use it. I think it was an American Express one, that or Visa.

Specific store or mall cards that I've used or bought don't have the fees - thank heavens!!

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by honeychile

When Macy's bought out one store chain (brain cramp, I forget which one), it left two or three Macy's owned department stores in some malls. I totally understand those being closed!

Are you thinking of Foley's? I know here in the Houston area there were several malls that now have two Macy's, like Willowbrook mall and the Galleria.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Macy's bought a number of regional department stores years ago, and then eventually it ditched those names and made them all Macy's. Up here in the Northwest they bought The Bon Marche. But I thought the chains they bought were in markets that didn't already have Macy's...it sounds like that wasn't always the case, though.

[SWTXBelle]

I worked for Macy's back in the 80s - they ended up closing almost all of their Texas locations. Then, they purchased Foley's, and made many of their locations into Macy's.