Secret Santa at work - general courtesy question

[Schadenfreude]

So, we're doing a secret santa dealio at work; I'm somewhat new to this position (<1 yr) and apparently most people simply ask for gift cards just to make it easy (that's what I ended up doing).

The person I picked, one of the items she wants is a starbucks GC (for $20). As luck would have it, my wife was given a $30 GC for Starbucks a while back - I think we may have gotten a cup o' tea w/ it once but it's been sitting around in the house since neither of us drink coffee really.

If I end up just using the balance; say that there's $26 left on the balance and I just spend $6 so there's $20 left on the card - and give it to my coworker (it's still in "new" condition - as much as a GC can be), is that a faux pas?

I'm not sure how I feel about this - on the one hand, we never go to starbucks and a gift card is just a form of credit, so this one would go to waste and just sit there; I wouldn't complain if I got a used $20 bill instead of a new one for instance, but admittedly it is not money and it is used - I might end up going out and getting her a new GC after all but I'd be interested to hear your opinions ATOT.

 

[DesiPower]

I have received such a used gift card from my coworker just as a part of Christmas gift giving few years back. People do that I think its doable. However there is no way you can make it a perfect $20, it will always be like 20.23 or something like that. This dude who gave me this card told me that its used. I was not exactly happy about it, initially I though.. WTF... but I was OK with it...
You have to decide based on our office culture if that will work or not...

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Go to Starbucks and buy returnable items costing exactly $20 and then return them for store credit on a gift card.

 

[Schadenfreude]

I have received such a used gift card from my coworker just as a part of Christmas gift giving few years back. People do that I think its doable. However there is no way you can make it a perfect $20, it will always be like 20.23 or something like that. This dude who gave me this card told me that its used. I was not exactly happy about it, initially I though.. WTF... but I was OK with it...
You have to decide based on our office culture if that will work or not...

Yeah well, going off of the prior example ($26 left in acct); I could just buy something that costs a bit more (say, $8 + tax or whatever), put the $6 on the GC and pay the difference.

 

[Scotteq]

Make sure your boss is cool before giving her stuff like...

www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/supplie...&amp;t=wtf%20stamp

 

[DesiPower]

That is in fact a good idea and doable however, cant you go online and see transaction on that GC? If she decides to check the balance online later... it might show her prior usage...

 

[MrChad]

Just buy a new gift card. It's $20.

 

[blackdogdeek]

honestly, i would buy a new one to avoid any possible hassle or fallout.

 

[Wyndru]

Go to Starbucks and buy returnable items costing exactly $20 and then return them for store credit on a gift card.

This, or just ask SB if they can transfer funds from one card to a new one.

 

[Gillbot]

Just buy a new gift card. It's $20.

This ^

It just presents itself as tacky if you re-gift.

 

[alkemyst]

Go to Starbucks and buy returnable items costing exactly $20 and then return them for store credit on a gift card.

don't do this...it's unethical at best.

 

[The_Dude8]

can the op just buy other $20 GC using the $20 credit on his other card?

 

[DesiPower]

can the op just buy other $20 GC using the $20 credit on his other card?

No, you cannot but GC with GC, its not allowed

 

[Spikesoldier]

cant you just spend it down to like 17 or 18 bucks and 'recharge' it back to $20?

is the $30 original face value marked on the front of the card?

 

[the DRIZZLE]

don't do this...it's unethical at best.

It depends what they do with returns. If they are going to resell them at full price then no one is harmed.

 

[KaOTiK]

I say just give her the $26 GC you have. I'm sure any issues she would have had with it being a regift are thrown out the window by getting more than you would have. Not like it is a problem for you since you don't go there to start with.

 

[Exterous]

Get it down as close to $20 as you can and make some story about how Starbucks screwed up and made it slightly more than $20

 

[Cheesetogo]

No, you cannot but GC with GC, its not allowed

This is frequently the case, but not always.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Just buy a new gift card. It's $20.

Best option.

Or explain the situation to the local SB and ask if they can move balance from one to another. IF you purchase the balance of $6+ from the store; they may be accommodating - they are getting the purchase sale.

 

[Gothgar]

Just buy a new gift card. It's $20.

Sometimes the most simple solution is... wait, fuck that, too hard

 

[Imported]

Maybe they can split the balance onto two gift cards? I know they can move balances between cards.. I've had that done before.

 

[Rubycon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QsInaBr7Pw&

:biggrin: