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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: gift card

gift card stories: 7 news summaries

In War on STDs, NC Tries New Weapon: Bribery

Syphilis outbreak sparks offer of gift card in exchange for test

Sep 14, 09 2:21 PM CDT
(Newser) - The incidence of syphilis is spiking in the economically hard-hit South, and health officials have lit on a novel preventative measure, MSNBC reports: Wal-Mart gift cards. Syphilis tends to rebound in tough times, and a program in North Carolina induces patients to submit to a test in exchange for the... More »

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McDonald's • public health • North Carolina • syphilis • STD • gift card • Wal-Mart • testing • Southern United States • sexually transmitted diseases • economic incentive

(Newser) - Naughty or nice, America’s retail stores can’t look forward to two of the holiday season’s usual boons: gift card sales and “self-gifting” splurges, MarketWatch reports. About 44% of shoppers say they will not buy gift cards this year, up from 26% last year, a marketing study... More »

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retail • retail sales • holiday shopping • gift • holiday sales • gift card • economy

Send That Online Pal an
Off-Line Drink

'Give Real' allows users to give credits
for bars, restaurants

Dec 10, 08 4:21 PM CST
(Newser) - For those who are sick of shelling out to send Facebook friends cupcake icons and virtual champagne bottles for occasions, the startup Give Real has the answer. Through their site (or via a Facebook app), you can buy a friend credits redeemable at nearly any bar or restaurant in America.... More »

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technology • Facebook • restaurant • drinks • credit card • bars • gift card

Man Trades Baby Name for
$100 Gas Card

Free fuel on offer
for everything from brothels to bloodbanks

Jul 18, 08 11:56 AM CDT
(Newser) - An Orlando man agreed to name his baby after two local radio hosts in exchange for a gift card worth $100 of gasoline, Reuters reports. The listener will collect the card in December, when his son is born, after producing a birth certificate. He's not the only American susceptible to... More »

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gas • church • American Red Cross • gas prices • newborn • brothel • gift card • baby name

Gift Cards Not Looking So Sharp

Bankrupt retailer isn't honoring $25M in gift cards

Mar 4, 08 11:00 AM CST
(Newser) - Consumers holding Sharper Image gift cards are out a collective $25 million after the gadget retailer stopped honoring the cards when it filed for bankruptcy in February, MarketWatch reports. With the shaky economy likely to produce more bankruptcies over the next year or two, consumers would be wise to redeem... More »

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bankruptcy • US economy • retailing • gift card • Sharper Image • Chapter 11 • Brookstone • Leverage

States, Sellers Drooling Over Gift Card Sales

Retailers add revenue when they're used, but states want their share

Jan 27, 08 2:19 PM CST
(Newser) - After enduring tepid holiday sales, retailers are happily awaiting $8 billion from shoppers with unused gift cards—because only then can sellers claim the added revenue, BusinessWeek reports. But some US states say that their unclaimed-property laws enable them to extract a piece of the left-over card pie. What's really... More »

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Florida • New York • US states • Virginia • US economy • Delaware • retail sales • retail stores • Best Buy • retail shopping • retail technology • gift card

Retail Scores Big on Unused Gift Cards

$7.8B in cards unused annually; some states want cut of profit

Jan 5, 08 8:20 PM CST
(Newser) - Retailers are likely rubbing their hands with glee after shoppers snapped up $97 billion in gift cards this year, up from $83 billion in 2006. Why the excitement? The industry makes billions each year from “breakage," or gift card money that is never spent. Lost, discarded, or under-used... More »

MORE ABOUT:
retail • Maine • website • bills • holiday shopping • gift • gift card

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