Book gift cards and vouchers
Give bookworms their beloved reading material without worrying if they’ll like your selection with a book gift card or voucher.
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Books are a timeless gift, but buying a book as a present always runs the risk of the recipient already owning the book or not liking the title. In short, a gift card is purchased with a designated amount of monetary value for a specific product or service from a specific provider. Gift cards are used in lieu of carrying cash or using a credit or debit card to cover the cost of the product or service.
Most gift cards are purchased for recipients of special occasions like Christmas or birthdays, although some choose to purchase gift cards for personal use to avoid carrying large amounts of cash around or to help with budgeting for such things like groceries or fuel.
Purchasing a gift card or gift voucher is a wonderful way of giving a thoughtful gift that allows the recipient to use it for what he or she would like to buy, instead of you having to buy a gift that might not be what they want. Gift cards can be purchased to cover grocery bills, for the spa, travel services, and books.
Where can I purchase book gift cards and vouchers?
Amazon Amazon is the world’s top retailer in affordable books and e-readers. They offer select products and fast shipping to Australia. | Book Depository Quickly becoming the most popular online bookstore, Book Depository offers access to thousands of popular titles and free worldwide shipping. | Booktopia Booktopia is an Australian online bookstore that offers a physical location in Sydney.This retailer has a large selection of books and e-books and ships worldwide. | Audible Readers who are time-poor can make the most out of Audible. This merchant specialises in audio books, so whether you’re in the car or while on your morning jog, you can always keep up-to-date by listening to the latest reads. |
How to purchase book gift cards and vouchers
Buying a gift card can be a bit daunting, especially if you’re unfamiliar with how and where to buy it. The first step you should take when picking out a book gift card or voucher is to pick a local store that has an outstanding reputation, or that you’ve had positive personal experience with. Take Booktopia for example. Although they ship worldwide, they also have a physical store in Sydney, an excellent reputation, and 100% Australian owned.
When purchasing your book gift card, always make sure that it allows you to make purchases online and instore. The good thing about Booktopia is that it offers several vouchers and gift cards that does just that.
Vouchers can be purchased for buying books online and covering other expenses like shipping and handling, so that your purchase arrives safely at your front door. This makes covering the cost of getting the right book delivered into your eager hands simple and convenient.
When it comes to online audio book stores like Audible, gift cards are a little harder to come by. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t purchase an audio book for someone who’s more inclined to listen to a novel rather than read one, physically. Audible offers monthly memberships, so you can sign your friend up for a months worth of audio books, which they can choose at their own pleasure. Alternatively, if they’re already with Audible, you might like to offer to credit their account with a novel. The beauty about Audible is that they offer a Great Listen Guarantee, so if your friend doesn’t enjoy your choice of book as much as you thought they would, they can exchange it for something they like absolutely free.
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Some examples of gift cards & vouchers online
For a great example of online book gift cards, you can look to Booktopia. The proudly Australian online bookstore has a specific webpage with information about their gift certificates, and also shows you how the certificates will look when printed out or if bought as a plastic card. The page makes a point of displaying the terms and conditions, expiry information, what to expect after purchasing the gift card online, and prominently displays contact information for its customer service. This is convenient particularly if it’s your first time buying an online gift card. The Booktopia website also states that the gift cards can be used online or in their physical Sydney location, and clarifies that the certificates can be used for more than one transaction.
Another example of an online book gift cards comes from the most internationally recognised online bookstore: Amazon. Amazon has a very credible reputation as a retailer, and the gift cards offered by them may be redeemed for anything sold on their website, including e-books and e-readers. Buying a gift card from Amazon’s online bookstore is convenient and easy, just click on the “Gift Cards” tab at the top centre of the site’s homepage, select from the different designs, and indicate if you’d like the card to be delivered in a sleek gift box, personalised online greeting card, or if via email for you to print at home. For the extreme bibliophiles, Amazon’s gift cards can be purchased at a maximum value of $2,000.
How to use a book gift card or voucher
Using your gift card or voucher is convenient and straightforward with many bookstores, whether they be online or in-store. Many retailers allow the balance of the gift card to be put towards an online account that can be easily created, or, if the recipient of the gift card is already an avid bookworm, the value of the card can be applied towards an already existing account.
For example, redeeming a gift card on Amazon is made simple:
- Click on “Your Account”
- Enter your log-in information or to create an account
- Under the “Payment” tab, click on the link to “Apply a Gift Card to Your Account”
- Enter in the Gift Card Claim Code found underneath the barcode on your gift certificate or voucher. If you are having trouble finding it, click “How do I find the claim code?”
- Click “Apply to Your Account” and the value on the gift card will be added towards your account. Your gift card balance does not expire, and Amazon will automatically apply it to the next purchase made on that account, but it can always be deselected as a form of payment if you choose not to use it at that time.
This is the general process for using online gift certificates and vouchers; the balance can be applied to an online account and is redeemed by applying the value to a transaction or punching in the card’s code upon purchase. If you’re unable to find information on the retailer’s website about where or how to use your gift card or voucher, typing “gift card” into the search bar should bring up the correct webpage. For online bookstores with physical locations, the gift certificate should be presented to the register staff.
Why give book gift cards and vouchers as gifts
Gift cards for books and bookstores are perfect for a bookworm’s birthday or other major event. Some might think that gift cards are impersonal or boring, but a gift card for someone who loves books, or even just occasionally reads, allows them to peruse an online bookstore at will and purchase what they truly want to read. So often books are purchased for Christmas or birthdays and either the recipient already has it, aren’t familiar with the author, or don’t like the read. Gift cards make it easy for picky readers to select their preferred reading material without having to worry about having to return that unwanted gifted book. For stores like Amazon, the recipient doesn’t even have to spend the gift card on books, but can put it towards a larger purchase like an e-reader or other items available.
Book gift cards and vouchers can make a great gift for teenagers or university-age students to assist fund novels or textbooks required for class. Students are often able to purchase books needed for classes at a less expensive price than the university’s store sells it for, and can select priority shipping to get receive it in time for the semester.
Versatile and convenient, gift cards and vouchers for bookstores always make a great gift whether for a loved one, a friend, or even an acquaintance or co-worker. Books create worlds to get lost in, and buying a gift card for a new book inspires the recipient to lose his or herself in an adventure within the pages.
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