Safe to use Giftcertificates.com?
 

After reading all of the posts on here about the financial condition of Giftcertificates.com, I am a little leary of using them. It seems like there have been so many companies lately that have declared bankruptcy (cyberrebate, flooz), and rumors that I've seen on this board make this company sound like it's next. Has anyone used them lately with success? I'd like to buy a GC for a friend's birthday, but I don't know if it's worth 'risking it'. Any thoughts??

I do nto know about safe but you might want to read about $10 off $100 at

http://www.valueconsumer.com/Results...rtificates.com

Although it was a couple of weeks ago, I didn't have any trouble with giftcertificates.com -- the certs came quite quickly, as a matter of fact!!

Are you using giftcertificates.com through the Radisson Goldpoints links? If not, check out the Radisson forum http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I used them via goldpoints just over a month ago. The gift certs arrived in a couple of days. No points yet however. If you are nervous about the company, don't buy the super gift certs issued by them (and become one of their creditors) but buy the other direct certs.

If you do decide to sign up for goldpoints, make sure to sign up at www.radisson.com. The redemption rules for airline miles are much more generous than if you sign up directly at goldpoints.com.

I'd say they are a safe bet...for now. Here's a news release from 6/21/01:

CARLSTADT, N.J. (VENTUREWIRE) -- GiftCertificates.com, a provider of gift certificates and related services for
corporate customers and consumers, said it has secured a $21.7-million fifth round of funding, including a $7.5-million
line of credit from Imperial Bank. Mellon Ventures, Barron Private Equity, Gotham Partners, SCP Private Equity, and
the venture arm of insurance firm WR Berkley provided equity. Previous investor Mellon Ventures led the round. WR
Berkley's venture unit was the only new investor in the round, which remains open. A representative from WR Berkley
will take the seventh seat on the company's board of directors. CEO Michael Ahern said there is one open seat
remaining that will go to an independent. The company said it will use the new capital to support general operating
expenses, including inventory financing, additional technology investments, marketing, and to grow its sales force. In
January GiftCertificates.com announced it had laid off 70 employees, a little more than 20% of its total staff, as part of
a restructuring initiative. At that time the company also closed its New York headquarters, relocating that staff to an
existing office in Carlstadt, N.J. GiftCertificates.com also has offices in Omaha, Neb. and Seattle. Late last year, the
company pulled its IPO citing poor market conditions. While the company started out as a business to consumer site,
Mr. Ahern said more than half the company's business now comes from corporate sales. "One of the most fundamental
changes [the company made] was to use successful corporate marketing to bring back consumers to our site, rather
than spend millions on advertising to consumers." Mr. Ahern said GiftCertificates.com, which has raised approximately
$110 million to date, will not seek another round and expects enough revenue to sustain operations by the end of the
year. The company is also backed by Glencarron Investment, Greenlight Capital, Hilal Capital Associates, the Pilgrim
Baxter Hybrid Partners, and Triumph Partners.


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I've used giftcertificates.com to purchase GCs for employees for some time & I've never had a problem with them. The last 2 times I went through Goldpoints.com & had no problems earning my points or receiving my certs, so I say go for it.

jk

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"Hang up my haishirt, put my scourge in place, and pray, Laurent, for Heaven's perpetual grace."

Moliere, "Tartuffe"

I used the $10 off code and went through the Goldpoints site about 4 weeks ago. The GC handling was great, but have not received points. So they may not issue goldpoints in combo with the $10 off.

Giftcertificates.com does issue golpoints even with the $10 off code. Usually it takes less than a week to receive them so yu should check with them. I found out though that they are flagging that code for any certs sent to the same email. I had ordered one under my goldpoints account. About 2 weeks later my husband ordered one. The order appeared to go through with a confirmation. The supercert was never issued and when we called they had cancelled it because he had issued it as a gift to my email address. The supervisor apologized but that was it. Has anyone else had this problem?