Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 16 of 26

Thread: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Posts
    2,784
    Thanks
    680
    Thanked
    644 times in 479 posts

    Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    An article on the BBC news site caught my eye. Essentially, Which? have estimated consumers lost £100m during lockdown because of shop 'vouchers' that exceeded their time limit during lockdown. Some retailers automatically extended that time limit but apparently, some didn't.

    It caught my eye because I haven't seen a 'shopping voucher' in about 50 years. I didn't even realise they still existed.

    And frankly, from the point of view of the person given them, I utterly fail to see the advantage. I mean, even if they weren't time limited, they bind the recipient to one or a limited set of shops, to the specific product ranges of those shops, and maybe even worse, to their prices and/or customer service which may well be sub-optimal. Even as a child 50+ years ago, I worked out that cash was far more useful than restrictive vouchers.

    So unless deliberately locking someone in to a specific shop or product range is the reason for giving a voucher, why do it?

    Does anyone buy these to give? In which case, I'm curious as to the reason. Or does anyone get given them, and if so, what do you think of them, versus cash?

    Admittedly, neither shops nor buyers would have predicted the problems CV19 would cause with shop closures and voucher time limits, but even without that, why use them in the First place?



    Note: I guess adults giving, for example, cclothes shop vouchers to kids might force them to buy clothes, not booze, drugs, videogames or whatever 'vice' they might have. So, maybe, fair enough.

    Note 2: There are no kids in my present-giving circle and haven't been for a while. Among uss adults, we gave up giving presents years ago, having all been on the receiving end of naff choice in socks, or Aunt Maud's home-knitted nightmare jumper preferences, and realised that everybody giving everybody else a similar amount of cash just kept that cash flowing back and forth, pointlessly. Besides, anything we might realistically buy each other that would actually be wanted, we'd all have already bought for ourselves, so if we didn't have it, it's probably because we didn't want it.
    A lesson learned from PeterB about dignity in adversity, so Peter, In Memorium, "Onwards and Upwards".

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    11,597
    Thanks
    763
    Thanked
    475 times in 327 posts

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    I don’t use them, don’t see the point..
    Here have something that you can only use somewhere, for a limited amount of time, rather than money that can be used anywhere...
    Why....

  3. #3
    Moosing about! CAT-THE-FIFTH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Not here
    Posts
    31,619
    Thanks
    3,755
    Thanked
    5,059 times in 3,911 posts
    • CAT-THE-FIFTH's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Less E-PEEN
      • CPU:
      • Massive E-PEEN
      • Memory:
      • RGB E-PEEN
      • Storage:
      • Not in any order
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVEN BIGGER E-PEEN
      • PSU:
      • OVERSIZED
      • Case:
      • UNDERSIZED
      • Operating System:
      • DOS 6.22
      • Monitor(s):
      • NOT USUALLY ON....WHEN I POST
      • Internet:
      • FUNCTIONAL

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    I think the article must have been talking about Clubcard and Nectar card vouchers.

  4. #4
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    30,748
    Thanks
    1,787
    Thanked
    3,284 times in 2,646 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    Yeah as above, I get a lot of vouchers as 'rewards' for spending money either from shops or using credit cards.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    362
    Thanks
    60
    Thanked
    44 times in 30 posts
    • hb904460's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus A88XM-PLUS
      • CPU:
      • AMD A6-5400K
      • Memory:
      • 8gb DDR3 @ 1866mhz
      • Storage:
      • 240gb Crucial mx500 + 500gb WD Caviar Blue
      • PSU:
      • Antec NeoEco 620W
      • Case:
      • Silverstone PS07
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Viewsonic VA2037m

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    I use vouchers on a regular basis;

    - Saved £10 in Waitrose with the vouchers they sent me last week; got £8 of tesco vouchers to spend too,
    - Saved 30% on a family birthday meal out with vouchers sent by registering online,
    - claimed free milkshakes, newspapers, drinks from vouchers in local magazines and papers.

    But i did miss out spending ~£15 of vouchers when the shops were closed due to lockdown.

  6. #6
    Pork & Beans Powerup Phage's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Kent
    Posts
    6,260
    Thanks
    1,618
    Thanked
    608 times in 518 posts
    • Phage's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Crosshair VIII
      • CPU:
      • 3800x
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb @ 3600Mhz
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 960 512Gb + 2Tb Samsung 860
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA 1080ti
      • PSU:
      • BeQuiet 850w
      • Case:
      • Fractal Define 7
      • Operating System:
      • W10 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Iiyama GB3461WQSU-B1

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    I award vouchers at work as mni-bonuses.
    https://www.edenred.co.uk/
    Society's to blame,
    Or possibly Atari.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Posts
    2,784
    Thanks
    680
    Thanked
    644 times in 479 posts

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    Quote Originally Posted by CAT-THE-FIFTH View Post
    I think the article must have been talking about Clubcard and Nectar card vouchers.
    That may be the case. I didn't read the details, I must admit. Also, I never use those reward schemes, on principle, but I get why people do.
    A lesson learned from PeterB about dignity in adversity, so Peter, In Memorium, "Onwards and Upwards".

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Posts
    2,784
    Thanks
    680
    Thanked
    644 times in 479 posts

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    Quote Originally Posted by Phage View Post
    I award vouchers at work as mni-bonuses.
    https://www.edenred.co.uk/
    That, of course, is between you and your employees but were an employer of mine to offer a bonus via such a service, I would opt out even if that meant declining the bonus.
    A lesson learned from PeterB about dignity in adversity, so Peter, In Memorium, "Onwards and Upwards".

  9. #9
    Senior Member spacein_vader's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Darkest Northamptonshire
    Posts
    1,936
    Thanks
    172
    Thanked
    707 times in 361 posts
    • spacein_vader's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus B85M-G
      • CPU:
      • i5 4460 3.2GHz
      • Memory:
      • 4x4GB Crucial DDR3 1600
      • Storage:
      • 256GB Crucial MX100, 500GB Crucial MX100, 1TB Crucial MX200
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus RX 480 Dual OC 4GB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX 520W modular
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Meshify C
      • Operating System:
      • Pop!_OS 19:10 / Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ GW2765, Dell Ultrasharp U2412
      • Internet:
      • Zen Internet

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    99% of the time the only shopping vouchers I use are the ones with the Queens head on. There are two exceptions:

    1. Occasionally I receive them as gifts. If so I spend them ASAP before the retailer has time to go bust.
    2. Through work I get discounted vouchers through Edenred as Phage linked above. A while ago I needed a new freezer, the cheapest place at the time for the model I wanted was Currys. Edenred gives you a 6.5% discount on Currys vouchers. So while stood in the shop I bought £199 (or whatever it was,) worth of e-voucher on my phone, then immediately used it to pay to take advantage of the discount.

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Posts
    2,784
    Thanks
    680
    Thanked
    644 times in 479 posts

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    Quote Originally Posted by spacein_vader View Post
    99% of the time the only shopping vouchers I use are the ones with the Queens head on. There are two exceptions:

    1. Occasionally I receive them as gifts. If so I spend them ASAP before the retailer has time to go bust.
    2. Through work I get discounted vouchers through Edenred as Phage linked above. A while ago I needed a new freezer, the cheapest place at the time for the model I wanted was Currys. Edenred gives you a 6.5% discount on Currys vouchers. So while stood in the shop I bought £199 (or whatever it was,) worth of e-voucher on my phone, then immediately used it to pay to take advantage of the discount.
    Most people would probably do likewise. I'd rather pay the £199 (in the vouchers with the Queen's head on them) than give Edenred, or similar, my personal info for the discount.
    A lesson learned from PeterB about dignity in adversity, so Peter, In Memorium, "Onwards and Upwards".

  11. Received thanks from:

    ik9000 (28-09-2020)

  12. #11
    Nefarious Networker Dareos's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Larkhall, Scotland
    Posts
    3,386
    Thanks
    453
    Thanked
    400 times in 297 posts
    • Dareos's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z77 - UD3H
      • CPU:
      • Intel i5 Ivy Bridge
      • Memory:
      • 16GB Corsair Vengeance
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M4 128GB, Seagate Barracuda 2TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gigabyte Geforce 670 OC Windforce x 2
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 1050 Modular
      • Case:
      • Fractal R3
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • 27" DGM and 40" Samsung TV
      • Internet:
      • 152 Mb Virgin

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    well this touches a nerve

    i was given 2 vouchers for my christmas.

    1. Land yachting at St Andrews
    2. Gin tasting and creation at St Andrews


    So this year has been pretty rough for everyone involved, my GF (who gave me the vouchers) broke her ankle hillwalking in late January, so things were on hold to start with. Then lockdown happened and travelling outwith 5 miles wasnt allowed, then I got quite seriously unwell and 4 months later i am still recovering.

    So i check the use by dates on the vouchers, land yachting was december, called them and they told me that everything had been extended by 4 months, so i have until april, no issues there
    The gin voucher was a virgin experience, and according to their website you had to request an extension by the expiry, 9/9/20

    i was a few days after, i've emailed them and no response

    GF is understandably upset about this, its caused some friction

    I'm still awaiting a response, if I dont get one i'll ask her to charge the cost back but not sure of the pitfalls there.
    We're only here for the Banter - The Luvvies - Chewin' The Fat

    Violence and Lubrication is the solution to fixing everything, if it still doesn't work, you need more lubrication.

    Quote Originally Posted by this_is_gav View Post
    How do you change the height of them?

    I've just had a quick fiddle with the knob at the front :\

  13. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Posts
    1,764
    Thanks
    101
    Thanked
    74 times in 67 posts
    • pp05's system
      • Motherboard:
      • AsRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming itx
      • CPU:
      • Ryzen 3 2200G
      • Memory:
      • Ballistix Elite 8GB Kit 3200 UDIMM
      • Storage:
      • Kingston 240gb SSD
      • PSU:
      • Kolink SFX 350W PSU
      • Case:
      • Kolink Sattelite plus MITX
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    Someone sent me an amazon gift card recently, pain in the ... if you don't use the full value.

  14. #13
    Super Moderator Jonj1611's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    4,836
    Thanks
    1,302
    Thanked
    742 times in 569 posts

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    Quote Originally Posted by pp05 View Post
    Someone sent me an amazon gift card recently, pain in the ... if you don't use the full value.
    Once you add a gift card to your account you can use what you want and the remaining amount stays on your account. What issue are you having?
    Jon

  15. #14
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Posts
    415
    Thanks
    58
    Thanked
    32 times in 30 posts
    • PC-LAD's system
      • Motherboard:
      • X370 GT7
      • CPU:
      • R5 3600 @ 4.3GHz
      • Memory:
      • 4*4 GB TG Delta @2933
      • Storage:
      • 128gb Sandisk SSD plus, 1tb SeaGate Barracuda, 640GB WD Black, 500gb WD Blue sata ssd
      • Graphics card(s):
      • RX 580 8GB
      • PSU:
      • Evga G+650w
      • Case:
      • MasterBox 5 Lite TemG
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • MSI Optix G24C
      • Internet:
      • 10 up 70 Down

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    The unlimited £1.99 big mac and fries is a wonder. takes less than a minute to fill the survey and get the number, only thing is at the moment is that you have to go to the counter in order to get the discount in which some stores won't accept the voucher because of covid.
    人无完人,金无足赤

  16. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    I have used it once. Very useful thing. But I have not bought it. My friend made me a gift.

  17. #16
    Theoretical Element Spud1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    North West
    Posts
    7,494
    Thanks
    335
    Thanked
    313 times in 249 posts
    • Spud1's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Aorus Master
      • CPU:
      • 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 16GB GSkill Trident Z
      • Storage:
      • Lots.
      • Graphics card(s):
      • RTX3090
      • PSU:
      • 750w
      • Case:
      • BeQuiet Dark Base Pro rev.2
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus PG35VQ
      • Internet:
      • 910/100mb Fibre

    Re: Shopping Vouchers .... anyone use them?

    They definitely still exist - if taking about the more general "shopping vouchers" rather than the store specific ones.

    Biggest brand I know of is "Love2Shop", although I think there is one simply called "high street vouchers" and a lot of shopping centers offer similar things (typically as a pre paid debit card) that only work within that center. Some towns are trying the same trick now.
    Personally, I never buy them - it's a total waste of money and whilst it typically doesn't hurt the shops (the voucher companies typically charge the same or a tiny bit less than the fee for processing card payments or depositing cash, so retailers are incentivesed to accept them. plus they get the extra footfall) - they all have expiry dates, and restrictions, all whilst offering zero value to the consumer. If the brand goes bust too your voucher is instantly worthless.

    Retailer specific vouchers are a different thing altogether though imo. Whilst you do have to give up some personal data in almost all cases, you can typically get a benefit from these as a consumer - most often a discount (as noted above with the currys example). I have used the same trick many times, and it can stack to be a large amount. I also often take vouchers from Quidco rather than cash, as I get a bonus on taking amazon vouchers...every little helps.

    I do go for the "buy it now and use it immediately" approach though, as that expiry date thing is still a big problem.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •