{"id":209770,"date":"2021-08-31T19:05:18","date_gmt":"2021-08-31T06:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/?p=209770"},"modified":"2025-11-07T18:35:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T05:35:11","slug":"selling-gift-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/regulatory-and-compliance\/selling-gift-cards\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are My Legal Obligations When Selling Gift Cards in NZ?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Offering different payment options for your customers gives them greater choice and flexibility. <\/strong>One of the payment options you may offer is gift cards, which customers can pre-purchase and use at a later point or share with friends and family. However, if you want to include gift cards as part of your potential payment options, ensure you offer them legally and fairly. Otherwise, you run the risk of increased customer complaints and, in some cases, legal consequences. This article explains the various legal obligations associated with selling gift cards in New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Gift Cards Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gift cards are a common alternative payment option to credit cards or cash that many businesses offer in New Zealand. These are cards that customers can purchase and pre-load with a specific amount of money. Then, they can use this gift card at a later date to purchase your goods or services for an amount up to what they pre-loaded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You may offer gift cards for your own goods or services, or have an agreement with other businesses to accept gift cards that apply across your network.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

If the customer does not spend the full amount on a single item, they can return and use the remaining amount later. For example, you may offer gift cards in specific amounts, such as $20, $50, and $70. Customers can then purchase those cards for the specified amounts and redeem them at a later date or across multiple purchases until the amounts are spent. It is important to note that gift cards exist as a\u00a0binding contract<\/a>\u00a0between you and the customers who purchase them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notably, gift cards operate differently from customers offering cash because you will be able to set various\u00a0terms and conditions<\/a>\u00a0that govern how customers can use them, including any restrictions or limitations on what goods or services customers can purchase with the gift cards you offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Informing Customers of Your Gift Card Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you wish to set your own requirements for how customers can use the gift cards you offer, you must take reasonable steps to ensure that customers are aware of these requirements. For example, consider displaying a gift card policy or terms and conditions document in your store and making it available on your website, accessible at the time your customers make a gift card purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A gift card policy may include clauses covering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n