3 ms·

So this meta-giftcard has even more hassle than a normal gift card, but without the shred of thoughtfullness that buying a standard gift card has. It's just as

• pg 16y ago
  One place you'd use something like this is for corporate gifts. In such a situation the goal is not the "thoughtfulness" you might aim for if you were buying a present for a friend. The buyers want something asymptotically close to cash.
  • netcan 16y ago
    Something similar is extremely common in Israel. I think they evolved from lunch vouchers issued by companies to their employees and accepted by local restaurants. At this point they are basically currency accepted at at restaurants, supermarkets, clothes shops and issued by issuing companies. I think it's driven by a combination of tax reasons and differentiation from cash.
  • ffumarola 16y ago
    Having worked in a corporate environment, these would be great. Giving gift cards is already a hassle (all the approvals you need to get), and you have to try and get GCs that your employees will like.
• conorgil145 16y ago
  Agreed. Also, what happens if there is a leftover balance on the meta-gift card? I get a $100 meta-giftcard from a friend and use it to buy a $50 best buy gift card and $40 home depot gift card on CardPool. Then, I am stuck with $10 balance on my meta-giftcard. Can I sell my meta-giftcard back to CardPool? Weirdly cyclical? I would rather give someone cash and tell them about CardPool's service. That way they can use the cash to buy a $50 Best Buy gift card on CardPool (for the discount) and then they are left with $50 in cash which can be spent anywhere.