Store credit and gift certificates are favorites for buyers seeking a discount for their favorite department, home improvement, electronic stores. Indeed, they can used with currently listed sales prices at those establishments. With store credit in particular becoming the policy of most retailers, this would not be unusual to list on eBay.  

     Before you send your hard earned money, however, your seller should and indeed must corroborate the balance on that card.  I receive a cash register slip indicating the balance on the credit card look-alike and send the original to the buyer. (I keep a copy available in case of those mess ups that sometimes occur.) Note: store credit plastic cards do not indicate balances. Therefore, an authentic receipt for that card with the balance is imperative!

     Sellers must take care also. Around the holidays, I especially like to list my excess credit balances for establishments where I won't be doing business any too soon. For a bit of a discount, I love to see honest eBayers receive a bit of value. Yes, it costs fees to list, final value fees, and PayPal takes their bite too. However, it gets some good values out there. I ship FREE, of course, as this is reliable first class postage.  I must rethink by adding "return receipt requested" that I bear the cost of.  (I am a bit sour on non-proof of delivery because of only one instance...see below.)

      It takes one misadventure to make a seller think outside the box! A younger person purchased four $25 gift certificates (converted from store credit).  I was duly paid.  However, after a few weeks of inquiry on my part to determine that they arrived in good order, I became suspicious!  Pushing the issue, I said that the card numbers would be cancelled and then when satisfied, I would re-issue.  I was asked to "please wait a bit more time" but indicated the better the day the better the deed! That's when my suspicions were truly piqued.  I never heard from the buyer again, indicating the buyer was ploying to get an addition $100 worth of my money!

     Buyers must determine for themselves that these items are above board. There have been a fair amount of scams on the part of sellers to get your money for worthless gift certificates and store credits. Always ask to see a store receipt from a well-known establishment. I only send the bottom of the receipt during the bidding process. No account numbers of any kind, either mine or the credit card's  number.  Most folks will recognize this is probably authentic, if it is. Sadly, there have been abuses by sellers in this category. How they do it is a mystery to me because honest persons could not conceive of how to do this. 

     I may have hundreds in credit available to me, but I list lovely choices of designs in increments of $5.00 from $10.00 up to $25.00. If a buyer needs multiples and they are reasonably assured of my record, they order what they need, for gift giving and for their own shopping. If not content, they could purchase a small increment and check out it's credibility immediately.

     FEEDBACK is one line of defense. Things happen and even the best intentioned sellers get a negative bite from disgruntles. We are able to respond to those negatives but they cannot be removed for 12 months. Note, proven scam sellers can be removed from selling but start up with a new profile through friends or relatives. There is no way of knowing.

     COMMUNICATION is the parallel source of trust between seller and buyer. Quick replies to questions indicates to me that a seller is a dedicated eBayer. If there is no expiration date, ask~! I indicate in my listings if there is such. Most do not have expiration dates, but do not take that for granted. If the seller does not know and does not research it, tread gently!  Going the extra mile indicates that the seller in interested enough in your business to supply truthful info.

     We all love a bargain...that's why we shop eBay. If sellers or buyers have any questions, perhaps I can help!

      HAPPY EBAYING TO ALL!