Where Can I Buy Eastbay Gift Cards

Despite gift cards being a popular holiday gift, consumers need to be aware that general use cards issued by credit card companies are likely to have fees that can take away from their value. All the more reason to read the fine print before making a purchase, consumer advocates say.

where can i buy eastbay gift cards

For the sixth year in a row, gift cards are expected to be the most popular gift both in the Bay Area and at the national level, according to a 2009 holiday spending survey by Deloitte. Some 57 percent of Bay Area consumers plan to buy gift cards this holiday season, compared with 64 percent of consumers nationwide.

On average, Bay Area consumers will buy about four gift cards with per-card spending averaging $37 during the 2009 holiday season, compared with an average of 5.8 cards and per-card spending of $26 in 2008. Nationally, consumers said they will buy about five gift cards, with per-card spending averaging $35, compared with an average of 5.3 cards and per-card spending of $28 in 2008.

Many people are unaware of fees involved with general purpose gift cards, said a survey released in October by the Consumer Federation of America. Most buyers of gift cards go for retail cards. General purpose cards represent less than 10 percent of the market but it is a growing segment, the survey said.

Blackhawk Network operates Gift Card Mall displays at grocery stores, drugstores and other retailers nationwide. A subsidiary of Pleasanton-based Safeway, Blackhawk Network is the largest provider of third-party gift cards in the United States and Canada.

Under the program, police buy back guns residents no longer want, exchanging them for gift cards that can be used for gas, food, restaurants and more. Police will eventually destroy the firearms, according to officials. 041b061a72