One of the questions our clients ask us is what is the difference between a gift certificate, a gift card and a coupon. Ironically, when we started My Town Deals we used these words interchangeably. According to the online Merriam Webster Dictionary the definition for gift certificate is, “a certificate entitling the recipient to receive goods or services of a specified value from the issuer”. A gift card is similar to a gift certificate and it’s definition is, “a card entitling the recipient to receive goods or services of a specified value from the issuer”. A coupon is, “a part of a printed advertisement to be cut off to use as an order blank or inquiry form or to obtain a discount on merchandise or services”.

In a nutshell, a gift certificate and a gift card are of monetary value at the specified establishment while a coupon is a discount. The wonderful part of a gift certificate is that it usually covers the cost of the merchandise or service.

Personally, I love trying a new restaurant with a gift certificate or buying merchandise with out a dime leaving my pocket. The thought of purchasing a gift certificate at half the price for me, a friend or family member is Utopia!