Shop Talk

Retailers, consumers and prices

No more impersonal gift cards!

By Dhanya Skariachan
June 10, 2010

Home Depot Video Gift Card

Here’s some good news for those who avoided giving gift cards to friends and family because they found them too impersonal.

Top U.S. home improvement retailer Home Depot is launching a personalized video gift card ahead of Father’s Day.

In addition to being a regular gift card that can be redeemed for Home Depot products, the new gift card will allow customers to upload a video for friends and family to watch online. And if they have a webcam, they can even watch it in 3D.

A Deloitte survey last year showed that 42 percent of consumers preferred to receive a gift card rather than merchandise, while 22 percent found giving gift cards to be impersonal. But that might be a thing of the past.

Available in denominations from $5 to $5000, the Home Depot gift cards have no service fees or expiration date.

For more information, click on: homedepot.com/videogiftcard

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