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How a gift certificate is helping small businesses crushed by the coronavirus
CNBC ^ | 03/17/2020 | Riley de Leon

Posted on 03/19/2020 8:31:25 AM PDT by Kid Shelleen

Consumers concerned about the survival of their local businesses amid the coronavirus outbreak can now help, through new technology-enabled platforms that allow shoppers to buy for a better future. On Wednesday, online small business lender Kabbage launched a service that allows any business to sign up and sell gift certificates to consumers for future use at their retail locations. Small businesses on the platform can sell gift certificates ranging from $15 to $500. Revenue is then received by the small business within one business day of purchase.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS:
I am not endorsing this site or company in any way but the idea of buying a gift certificate from your favorite small business does not seem like bad idea especially with all the spring holidays and graduations coming up.
I am sure my FRiends will have some opinions.
1 posted on 03/19/2020 8:31:25 AM PDT by Kid Shelleen
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To: Kid Shelleen

Of course if the company goes out of business before you redeem the gift certificate you are SOL.


2 posted on 03/19/2020 8:35:43 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (If you don't recognize that as sarcasm you are dumber than a bag of hammers.)
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To: Kid Shelleen

Are these gift certs baked by the FDIC? I don’t think so.
Probably 90% might not make it, despite your purchase


3 posted on 03/19/2020 8:42:42 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT in 2006, now living north of Tampa)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Not to mention the middle-man take.

The business will not get the full amount.


4 posted on 03/19/2020 8:43:28 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT in 2006, now living north of Tampa)
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To: Kid Shelleen

Seems to me the best way to support local small business is simply to continue to do business with them.
Mom and pop restaurants are particularly affected and we can support them by ordering delivery from them on a usual day we would have normally gone out to eat there.
Of course, this will not help bars and nightclubs that are strictly watering holes with no restaurant component.


5 posted on 03/19/2020 8:47:44 AM PDT by ocrp1982 (ll)
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To: George from New England

They claim they are not taking a fee. It’s a “free service” but as others have stated if the business closes you lose your money.


6 posted on 03/19/2020 8:50:47 AM PDT by Kid Shelleen (Beat your plowshares into swords. Let the weak say I am strong)
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—Not the best time to leave a ring for resizing.

—Not the best time to leave a watch for repair.

—Not the best time to put down a down payment toward a larger purchase.

— But gift certificates...they are great! (sarc)


7 posted on 03/19/2020 8:56:42 AM PDT by RBStealth
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To: ocrp1982
Seems to me the best way to support local small business is simply to continue to do business with them"

Your reasoning is too logical and too common sense to be published at large... I demand you retract it immediately

8 posted on 03/19/2020 9:01:34 AM PDT by frogjerk (We are conservatives. Not libertarians, not "fiscal conservatives", not moderates)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Exactly. This can only be a good plan if you assume you’ll never get to use the gift certificate.


9 posted on 03/19/2020 9:09:10 AM PDT by NEMDF
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