Disadvantages Of Kindle And Amazon Gift Cards

While there are many different types of gift cards available today, the one thing that they all have in common are the various fees they come with. The giver will incur these fees when purchasing the card, while the recipient will too, depending on how they use the gift card. Below is a look at other disadvantages and fees that you are likely to come across if you give or receive a Kindle or Amazon gift card.
Expiration of money in the gift card If you receive a gift card, store it away and forget about it for a couple of years, it is likely to have become worthless by then. This is because most gift cards carry an expiry date after which the money it was worth disappears. And if the gift card program does allow you to get a replacement for the expired one, this is likely to carry a fee of anywhere between $5-10.
Monthly Maintenance Fees While some gift cards will not carry an expiry date, you should however beware of the monthly maintenance fees they charge on balances remaining after a certain period of time. What this means is that if you fail to use your gift card within the stipulated period, it will become worthless as a gift. If you do receive a gift card, ensure that you immediately check for any monthly maintenance fees. If these exist, be sure to use the card as soon as possible and not leave the money to the Amazon.com. If you purchase your gift cards online or via phone, you will also incur a service fee of $4-12.
Shipping & Handling - While it is convenient to order and purchase kindle gift card online, this convenience will cost you. When you order a gift card over the internet, you are likely to incur shipping & handling fees ranging anywhere between $5-10. And if you order it at the very last minute and need it to arrive urgently, you will have to pay extra. In order to avoid such fees, you are better off shopping for your gift cards at a brick and mortar store.
Limitations on use While store specific gift cards such as Kindle and Amazon tend to carry lower fees than the general purpose gift cards; these can only be redeemed at Amazon.com. Also keep in mind that certain Kindle Gift Card may not be used to shop online, which places another limitation to their flexibility.