Many big retailers like Sephora, Walmart, and a host of others often offer two kinds of gift cards; physical gift cards and electronic gift cards (also known as E-codes). While both cards are valid forms of gift cards, they can be used differently. A physical gift card is a plastic card that can be bought from a physical store and used in-store or on the website, while the electronic gift card or E-code can only be bought on the store’s website. When choosing a gift card for your friends and loved ones, several things need to be put into consideration. Below are some of the things that need to be considered before you choose a particular type of gift card to give someone. 5 things to consider before choosing between an E-code and a physical gift card:
- Age group: For example, if you want to give a physical gift card to your grandmother, odds are she would prefer a physical one because older people prefer traditional things and find technology to be cumbersome. A younger person is likely to be more open to receiving an electronic gift card than someone of a more seasoned age.
- Shopping Preference: Everyone has different shopping styles that they prefer; some people prefer shopping online to in-store shopping and vice versa. A physical gift card is more appealing to a person who prefers to shop in a physical store than an E-code, while an electronic gift card would be more appealing to someone who shops online frequently. They can also receive the E-code via email.
- Gifting Experience: Physical gift cards are a better option if you want to offer a proper gifting experience, as they can be packaged thoughtfully in a way that shows the receiver you put a lot of thought into the gift.
- Occasionally, gift card recipients need cash badly and would rather convert gift card into cash than to purchase something from the store. Physical gift cards always have better rates compared to E-codes on Online trading platforms like Cardtonic. Therefore, if you suspect the person you wish to give a gift card to may be going through hard times, and may feel embarrassed to receive actual cash as a gift, physical gift cards are a great option. In conclusion, both kinds of gift cards are reasonable gifts to give. However, as I mentioned earlier, circumstances will dictate the suitable one to give as a gift.
