ULPT: When you give someone a gift card as a gift, write down the card number and code. Then after a year or two, check the balance and if they hadn't used it yet, just use it yourself. They obviously won't know or care.

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theregoesmyday@reddit

You usually have to scratch off to get the code - which would look dodgy when you give it as a present.

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MechanicalBengal@reddit

Silver nailpolish and painter’s tape

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RobertJ93@reddit

Bronzed starfish and a mechanics spoon

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migvelio@reddit

Mellon collie and the infinite sadness

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kane2742@reddit

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

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g2g079@reddit

E gift cards sent to your email, but printed and given physically.

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MechanicalBengal@reddit

Make sure it’s in a “Get well soon” card if it’s for a christmas present, for maximum “i don’t give a shit about you” vibes

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RedditoraDeGuatemala@reddit

omg i'm getting so many ideas on this thread!!!

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Funny, I got a gift card for christmas for $100, still in package untampered. American Express, all the info is on the front and no scratch is required at all. I went to activate only to find that it was already activated over a year ago and some nearly untraceable paypal transactions drained most of the funds. I trust the family member that gave it to me, I suspect someone scanned the card in store before it was bought and then activated and drained at a later date. I tried to dispute the transactions, but they just said "approved, we're sending you the $6 that you lost". Well that's nice, but the amount lost is $100, not $6.

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BannockBnok@reddit

That is also a common scam on some specific cards that don't require scratching. You just go to the store, note down the codes/information on multiple cards, and then go down the list in a month's time in the hope that a few of them have been activated.

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GANG_OF_DRONES@reddit

Yep, that's what I'm thinking. Luckily I just heard back and they are going to refund the full amount for me.

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lummoxmind@reddit

When I worked at the mall scammers would come into our store and grab like 100 gift cards before the holidays. They would then scratch off all of the silver sections, but very neatly and fully so it didn't look off. They would record all the numbers and then come back when it was busy and put them in the front of all the slots on the rack. They would check all day to see if they were activated and then use them. We had to be extra careful when we activated them at the registers, because if we didn't someone's Meemaw sure as hell isn't going to notice...

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DouchecraftCarrier@reddit

My understanding was they are able to use some sort of automated bot system that checks the numbers they've recorded - they can basically be notified the moment the card is activated so they've drained the funds before you even get home with the card.

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Minute-Influence-735@reddit

Is OP a bot account? This is reposted with same exact title from the top posts

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Reflection_Big@reddit

Hahaha my grandma has somehow decided that Texas Roadhouse is my favorite restaurant, and sends me a $25 gift card for Christmas every year. It's not worth it to try to explain $25 is not enough to get a meal there, so I just hoard the gift cards for 3-4 years so I can afford to BALL OUT

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lummoxmind@reddit

So every Leap year you get that Big Steak Energy 🥩

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pipple2ripple@reddit

Donate gift card to an international charity, make sure they don't have the shop there. Claim your tax deduction and enjoy the extra cash

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Crazy_Education@reddit

OP is a fucking loser 😂

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Method_Support@reddit

So somebody did this to me and my wife with their wedding gift to us. Took about a year for us to get around to using the gift card, and when we finally tried to use it, there weren't enough funds on it. We called the gift card hotline and they confirmed it had been spent in the store already at a location near where the gifter lived (another state). Wife decided to call this woman out on it. Definitely awkward, and I don't think they speak anymore. Edit: For everyone asking what the woman said, she said she "mixed up her cards". Like people just have a bunch of Bloomingdales gift card numbers that they're juggling

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chris14020@reddit

Alternate take: I've been given gift cards to stores I definitely don't go to, and it'd be very awkward telling someone to take it back. If I don't use it, I'd much rather they did than the establishment just keeping it.

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Tommyblockhead20@reddit

Her mistake was only waiting a year. Maybe wait like 5 years.

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RedditoraDeGuatemala@reddit

that store might not even exist by then! my vote would be 2 years

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Tommyblockhead20@reddit

LPT: only get gift cards for very popular stores so they will still exist when you redeem it in 5 years.

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RedditoraDeGuatemala@reddit

Victorias Secret and Bath and Body works...forever!!

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drweird@reddit

Pretty childish to be upset about this. Just ask her to send a new gift card.

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dawoodlander@reddit

What type of backwards shit fuck is your brain working on?

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drweird@reddit

I mean that the gifting lady used the gift card without the gifted noticing. I do not believe the intention was to steal the gift value back, but to use the card if the gifted was not going to. Asking for a replacement can confirm whether the gifter will replace the value. Something so minor and non destructive is not something to be upset about. It is an entirely reasonable expectation that the gifter might do this, even if it is seen as immoral by some. If the excuse that "I mixed up my cards" is a lie, I am not ok about that. Just explain that you used it since she wasn't, and since it turns out you want to, here's a new card. The giftee should be fine with this outcome, understanding the cause of the issue was a reasonable, if questionable, action on the part of another, and if rectified by the replacement card, no harm. IMO this level of maturity is what people need to have.

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dawoodlander@reddit

If you've gifted a gift to someone, you don't suddenly initiate a clause to say "I will review your interaction with said gift up until a point where I deem that it is mine to reclaim, you have clearly not used or wanted this gift so I now deem this gift as mine to claim back off you... Oh, but I'll chuck you it back if you realise that I've done this". Wow, I once again, reignite my right to call you a backwards shit fuck.

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drweird@reddit

Yeah based on the karma I'm definitely in the weird shitfuck territory in most peoples eyes here. I think it's prudent to ensure the card doesn't go to waste. Thinking about it, shooting the giftee a message to remind her of the card or see if she lost it would have been a much better action to take. Using it yourself is a sneaky way to ensure it's used and selfish for sure.

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dawoodlander@reddit

So your plan, instead of outright snatching the gift from your giftee, would be to; - buy a gift card intended for someone else - keep track of gift card to ensure the party uses your gift - attempt to prompt giftee to spend value and/or steal the value should they not be condusive to said prompts Are you that tied to the "waste not want not" way of life that you'd keep track of something like this to ensure it's not wasted. When in actual fact, it's never yours to arbitrate that point at all? Imagine giving a gift, and keeping track on said gift to ensure you are able to maintain your rights to "claim it back". I'd love to hear you rebuttal.

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drweird@reddit

I am that committed to making sure it isn't wasted. I'd probably set a recurring 1year reminder to check the card or something, or a reminder shortly before it expired (which isn't so much a thing anymore). I wouldn't want to steal it personally, I'd just message her so she didn't miss out on the gift (not use it). The giftee from the post being shady and using the card and perhaps hoping the giftee wouldn't notice since she didn't use it for a year is something I can understand and wouldn't hold it against them if they replaced the gift. Im not condoning their behavior. I am saying in my original reply that handling this sort of behavior on the part of the gifter shouldn't upset someone and make them cut ties with them. Just IMO. Getting upset over this sort of thing and burning bridges is childish IMO. You learned something about that friend/acquaintance and can move forward knowing that.

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dawoodlander@reddit

Why is your gifted card, your responsibility to track? I gifted a friend of mine's daughter a bike last week, is it my duty to track to check she uses it enough?

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drweird@reddit

In the case of the gift card it's pure cash that is pure profit to the company you bought it from until it's spent. I can't stand the idea of me throwing cash at a company and getting nothing in return. The bike is a bit different since something substantial was purchased and given, and the opportunity to utilize the thing is presented by owning it. I would hope that if the giftee doesn't use the bike they would return it (I give receipts with gifts for this reason), but in reality it might just sit and pass beyond the return window. Then it ends up hopingly moving on to another owner eventually and used. If trashed, it's the worst case and would really bother me. As for checking up on it, I would like to know if they are using it, and maybe note it being used or sitting unused if I was over at their residence. In my culture it's normal for a giftee to comment on them using the item and for what or where they put the art in their house, what they spent a gift card on, etc, legitimizing your gift as appreciated and not wasted. A gifter catching wind that you haven't been riding that bike you were given by them would be very disrespectful.

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dawoodlander@reddit

I feel you have constructed your arguments well, and aren't malicious with your answers. But I inherently disagree with how you feel about this topic. I wish you a lovely day fellow redditor whilst we agree to disagree

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dawoodlander@reddit

Is there also a scenario, where said friend is saving the gift card to buy something (uncommonly frivolous) whilst living month to month, and the time frame is none of your business. They may be waiting for a sale, or to buy groceries one week, waiting until the next week to contribute limited wages to the grand total Imagine scrimping and saving your last few bucks, on top of the lovely gift card you got given by your nearest and dearest, only to get to the counter to be refused the item you've been longing for, because someone like you decided "they hadn't spent it yet, they wasted it".

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SchwiftyGameOnPoint@reddit

One could also say it's childish for her to lie and the mature thing to do would have been for her to be straight and not lie and then apologize and refill the gift card.

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drweird@reddit

I agree

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dirtymoney@reddit

so, use the card when on vacation, visiting a relative that is far away or just sell the card number to someone far away?

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sigilcreatorreturns@reddit

Better yet use it before giving it to others.

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Chumbief@reddit

No tips that are just clever ways of being a dick.

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Paul_Allens_Comment@reddit

Lol serious question isn't the whole point of the sub the unethical tips ? Couldn't you just go to regular tips sub ?

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Chumbief@reddit

>Lol serious question isn't the whole point of the sub the unethical tips ? Well, no. This is (unethical)LIFE PRO TIPS. Whether it's unethical or not isn't the problem. If you give something to your friend only to steal it back, it's hardly a life pro tip. This shouldn't be such a hard concept for people to understand.

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Paul_Allens_Comment@reddit

>Well, no. This is (unethical)LIFE PRO TIPS. Whether it's unethical or not isn't the problem Rule 1: Tips must be unethical. Ethical (life pro) tips will be removed." Rules of this sub shouldn't be such a hard concept for people to understand . If you give one to your friend and they lose, forget all about it, or don't intend to use it yet don't want to tell you that for fear it sounds like they are unappreciative - then you sparing both of you the social awkwardness of needing to confront them is an unethical yet smart hypothetical tip in my book. 99.9% chance they would say no problem they lost it anyway if you called them right before the legal 5 year expiration date and asked to use it, bc they obviously weren't going to use it anyway. And if you want to get "technical" that it's still theft bc you gave it to them, then somebody could chose to get "technical" that YOU own the gift card bc the receipt is on your bank ledger. Anybody can find a used gift card in the trash and try to use it. If there is no written contract and no proof legally that you ever gave it to anyone then it's legally yours - most people don't keep hundreds or thousands of wedding cards 5 years later and most cards don't specifically say "here attached is x gift card for $x". Now if you legally gift your friend a car with the required notarized signed CONTRACT and then steal it later that would be theft. Using a soon to be expired gift card that your friend forgot about is just an unethical tip.

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ponzLL@reddit

You ignored the first part of that rule, "Tips must provide some benefit to you." which this clearly does.

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zamfire@reddit

I mean, only in the rare case someone doesn't use the cards

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ChandlerMc@reddit

But then the giver would be sweating out the days, weeks, months and years hoping the giftee will never use it. [Found this article](https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/what-happens-billions-unspent-gift-cards-18574088.php#:~:text=Every%20year%2C%20big%20companies%20calculate,revenue%20from%20breakage%20in%202022.) about lost gift cards.

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Chumbief@reddit

Ahh, yes. I forgot that theft was beneficial.

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ponzLL@reddit

to the person stealing it, yes. Why am I even having this argument this is dumb lol

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Chumbief@reddit

>Why am I even having this argument Not sure, it's an odd hill to die on. If you did what OP is suggesting, you're kinda horrible. Especially if you do it to a friend. But you do you, boo

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Sams59k@reddit

Damn that's so sad that they're horrible. Wonder what sub we are on though

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Harsimaja@reddit

How the rule means ‘as opposed to providing benefit to you’, which this does. However, this might break ‘No clever ways of stealing’.

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Chumbief@reddit

>But the rule means ‘as opposed to providing benefit to you’, which this does. That makes no sense. It's already implied that it would benefit you, look what sub we're on.

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Harsimaja@reddit

That’s why it’s a rule, so posts fit the sub. Some people might have been making posts whose whole point was to be a dick with no payoff but a sadistic laugh or something. With a specific rule, it is now a specific option when you report a post. Otherwise what do you think is the point here? Anything unethical amounts to ‘being a dick’. This post fits that.

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Chumbief@reddit

Giving something to your friend only to steal it back is hardly a life pro tip. This does not fit this sub.

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Harsimaja@reddit

If you read what I wrote more carefully, you might notice that my whole point was that it doesn’t break rule 2, but may break rule 5.

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Voyager5555@reddit

This fits this sub more than 99% of the shit posted so I'd give it a pass.

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Bobbafatt@reddit

cheap and trashy life pro tip right here.

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hookersrus1@reddit

I'm the world's worst at keeping a card for years before spending it. If you know me please don't do this.... they are all in a box that I look at once every few months.

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Harsimaja@reddit

Don’t gift cards largely expire within a year?

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AceConspirator@reddit

I have a pile of gift cards that are over a year old, simply because I haven’t had time/opportunity to use them. But I still fully intend to eventually. This isn’t the slam dunk you think it is.

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