Community Chat

[Love my grandkids]

@Carmie Since they are sending the gift that is why I adivsed to never mail cash. I know of at least twice that people sent small amounts to someone and it nerer got there.

When handling mail it's not hard for someone with experience to feel an envelope or card and figure there is cash inside.

[Love my grandkids]

@NYC2AZ I beg you NO Target card. I don't know any young person who shops there, either in person or on line.

[Carmie]

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@Love my grandkids wrote:

@Carmie Since they are sending the gift that is why I adivsed to never mail cash. I know of at least twice that people sent small amounts to someone and it nerer got there.

When handling mail it's not hard for someone with experience to feel an envelope or card and figure there is cash inside.

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I agree.  A few months ago, my youngest son put a bill and a check in his mail box for the postal carrier to pick up.

Someone stole the envelope out of his mailbox and scrubbed the check.  It was then made out to another person and the amount was changed too.

It was cashed by a female at my credit union.  I have been going there for more than 20 years and they know me.  I am still required to show ID to even make a cash deposit.

I have no idea how they cashed that check....but they did.  He did get his money back.

Nothing is sacred anymore.

When I graduated from HS in 1972, my godmother sent me a gold bracelet.

She called me on the phone upset because I never thanked her.  I never got it.  It was insured and I filled out paperwork at the PO.  The bracelet was about $300...a fortune back then.

She never sent me another one.  Someone got a nice bracelet. Thiefs have always been out there.

[Trailrun23]

I would not send a gift card or cash in the mail. If you can, send the cash through Zelle and the gift card via email (ecard). I would use Amazon for an ecard. The Visa giftcards charge a fee. The last two giftcards I bought in a store had been skimmed so they were worthless and even with th receipt; the money was gone. Now I only do them online. 

We have had five grandkids graduate since December and another one will be in August. Then we get an 9 year break.

[Enufstuff]

@Love my grandkids   Years ago, my daughter in law's

                                      grandmother sent $100. cash inside a

                                     card to my son and his wife for their

                                       anniversary.

                                      As you might have guessed, they never                                        received it.

                                      Even back 15 years ago, cash was

                                      being stolen from cards that were sent

                                      through USPS.                                                                                                             

                                       The grandmother had to be in her 80's.

                                      she was a sweet and trusting lady.

[hkrgrl]

i think $200 is generous, give what u can afford and want. 

i would send a check, no cash, no gift card. 

i don't think Target is a bad idea at all.  if he is going to college, that's where most things are bought for the dorm.  

but for safety's sake, i would just send a check. or you can Venmo, if u do that. 

some banks let u transfer money through them.  

Citizens Bank has Zelle.  yours might have something similiar. even safer. 

congrats to your nephew.  i am sure you will get a thank you note or some sort of thank you (phone call or text).  

[lynnie61]

I think a check is best. Or Zelle, which he can have instantly.  I'm not ungrateful, but to be honest, I won't give a Visa card any longer.  Someone gifted me one recently, and it took 4 or 5 places to get it to work.  

Amazon, tried to buy less than the gift card amount.  Wouldn't take, tried to buy over the value and pay the difference. nope.   Tried gas station, nope, didn't work.  Tried a restaurant, nope.  I did finally have it work at the grocery store spending over the amount and paid the balance.  I was beginning to think I wouldn't be able to use it.  It was frustrating.  I checked the balance online, and the value was there, but several places it would not work.  

[Enufstuff]

@lynnie61   I have  a Visa gift card and trying to decide where to use it. I saw that a $5.95 fee is taken from the full value of the card.

[lynnie61]

@Enufstuff   My full value was there.  I think the 5.95 is the additional cost to the buyer to purchase it, but I'm not sure.  There was no fee deducted from mine.  I have paid this fee before, thinking it's the best if you aren't exactly what gift card to gift someone.   

But lesson learned, I won't buy them for anyone any longer.  I just don't want someone to experience the frustration I had with trying to use it.  

Good luck.

[gidgetgh]

I have used Visa gift cards before, usually at Target, but also at other stores. No problems using them at all.