Branded Gift Cards Turn New Graduates' Wish Lists Into Reality.The Ultimate Convenient and Flexible Gift Helps New Grads Start off on the Right Foot SHERBORN, Mass. -- Approximately six millions students will graduate this Spring, triggering a significant gift buying occasion for parents, relatives and friends. The Network Branded Prepaid pre·pay tr.v. pre·paid, pre·pay·ing, pre·pays To pay or pay for beforehand. pre·pay  ment n. Card
Association (NBPCA NBPCA Network Branded Prepaid Card Association ) recommends branded gift cards (gift cards with an
American Express American Express (NYSE: AXP), sometimes known as "AmEx" or "Amex", is a diversified global financial services company, headquartered in New York City. The company is best known for its credit card, charge card and traveler's cheque businesses. , Discover, MasterCard or Visa brand logo) as the best
option to give graduates exactly what they want. The NBPCA is a
non-profit, inter-industry trade association created to advance the
success of network branded prepaid cards.
Branded gift cards can turn new graduates' wish lists into reality. They allow graduates to purchase anything they want and are more convenient and versatile than gift certificates or single-store gift cards, because they are accepted virtually anywhere a merchant accepts the brand logo -- even online. They are also safer than cash, because the funds can be recovered if the card is lost or stolen. Branded gift cards can be purchased online, at bank branches, in retailers and at shopping malls. "Today's graduates are savvy and know what they need to begin making their own way in the world," said Marilyn Bochicchio, NBPCA President and Executive Director. "Branded gift cards give graduates flexibility to purchase everything from apartment furnishing to clothes, or books for college or graduate school. And, parents get the peace of mind that the funds can be replaced if the card is lost or stolen." A Bonus Gift for You or Your Graduate: Manufacturers' Rebate rebate, partial refund of the total price paid for goods or services. In the United States, rebates were historically given by railroads to favored shippers as a return on transportation charges. Cards If you choose to purchase a gift in addition to or instead of a branded gift card, electronics are popular with graduates. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a recent poll,* 45% of graduates who responded asked for items such as computers, digital music players Hardware or software that plays audio files encoded in MP3, AAC, WMA or other audio formats. There are several software-based music players that play audio files in a desktop or laptop computer, including iTunes, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player. and cell phones. If you are buying one of these items for your graduate, make sure to take advantage of manufacturers' rebates, which are very popular this time of year. You can keep the rebate for yourself or give it to your graduate as a bonus gift. Many manufacturers offer promotional rebates in the form of a branded card rather than a check. Rebate cards are more convenient than checks because they arrive ready to use. No inconvenient in·con·ven·ient adj. Not convenient, especially: a. Not accessible; hard to reach. b. Not suited to one's comfort, purpose, or needs: inconvenient to have no phone in the kitchen. trip to the bank or check cashing store is needed. And, rebate cards can be used virtually anywhere that the brand on the card is accepted, including online merchants. Here are some tips to have the best experience with a rebate card: Tips for using a rebate card: * Familiarize yourself with the security and loss prevention features of your card. The value associated with your card can be recovered if the card is lost or stolen. * Take a few moments to read about how to use your rebate card. Being knowledgeable about how your card works will help you have a great experience. * Look for the merchant acceptance logo that matches the one on your rebate card. You can use your card at millions of merchant locations, offering everything from groceries gro·cer·y n. pl. gro·cer·ies 1. A store selling foodstuffs and various household supplies. 2. groceries Commodities sold by a grocer. to clothing, or even a night out at the movies. * Use your rebate card right away for the purchase of your choice. Unlike rebate checks, you don't have to visit a bank or check cashing store to access your rebate. * Check whether fees are associated with non-usage. If the rebate card goes unused for several months, fees may kick in. * Keep track of your spending and follow the instructions on the back of your card to verify your rebate card balance. If you are making a purchase for more than the balance on your card, tell the clerk the exact balance on the card before he/she rings up the sale and provide another form of payment for the balance. * Take advantage of the money-saving promotional offers and incentives that come with many rebate cards. *The 2006 Graduation Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the associated ceremony. The date of event is often called degree day. The event itself is also called commencement, convocation or invocation. and CE Study (June 2006) was conducted in May, 2006. It was designed and formulated for·mu·late tr.v. for·mu·lat·ed, for·mu·lat·ing, for·mu·lates 1. a. To state as or reduce to a formula. b. To express in systematic terms or concepts. c. by CEA CEA carcinoembryonic antigen. CEA abbr. carcinoembryonic antigen CEA (Carcinoembryonic antigen) Market Research. About the NBPCA The Network Branded Prepaid Card Association (NBPCA) is a nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. , inter-industry trade association that supports the growth and success of network branded prepaid cards and represents the common interests of the many players in this new and rapidly growing payments category. The NBPCA's Working Groups drive the activities of the Association for its more than 35 members. For additional information, visit www.NBPCA.com. |
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