Can you return a gift card if it doesnt work?
Emma Miller
Updated on February 03, 2026
Generally speaking, gift cards are considered non-refundable. When you purchase a card, you use it once and stick to what you bought. In practice, buyers are given a lot more leeway and they can refund most products under the right circumstances.
Is it OK to return a gift to the giver?
Yes it is rude to return a gift to the giver. It is extremely hurtful. It is also rude to ask for a receipt so you can take a gift back to the store it was purchased at to get the money. It is also rude to un-gift, to take a gift back from the person you gifted.
Should a gift be returned?
There are some that think it’s never polite to return a gift unless it’s the wrong size or you’re allergic to it. She explains that returning a gift does not negate the spirit of the gift. The gift-giver “should want the other person to be happy rather than forcing their own choice” upon the recipient.
Can you return a gift card if you have the receipt?
The issuer they refuse to accept a return of the gift card unless you have the purchase receipt. This can be awkward anytime you are returning a gift, including a gift card. The issuer may provide an in-store credit, which will do you very little good if you don’t shop at their outlets in the first place.
Can you activate gift cards without buying them?
Many gift cards are activated when they’re purchased, so they don’t need to be activated by the recipient. However, some do need to be activated by the recipient before they can be used. You can activate a gift card by calling the merchant or accessing the provided URL and inputting the correct activation numbers.
Is it rude to reject a gift?
Refusing gifts is generally considered to be rude. However, there are exceptions in some cultures where refusing the gift before actually accepting it would be the norm. Everyone deserves to experience happiness in giving gifts. People are afraid that declining a gift can harm the relationship.
Is asking for a gift back rude?
Yes. If you give a gift it means someone else owns that gift. It doesn’t entitle you the rights to have it back or even use it because it’s no longer your property. You had a lack in respect for asking for the gift back and being rude when you were told no.
When is it better to give a gift back or give it back?
If you’re gift didn’t come with a gift receipt the person might feel it better to give the gift back to you instead of re-gifting it or trying to sell it. They already have one. Great minds think alike and someone else might have beat you to the pass.
What to do if your gift card doesn’t work?
●Make sure your receipt matches the gift card that you purchased. ●Save your gift card receipt. “There are any number of reasons why the card may not have been properly activated,” LaRocca said. ●Give the gift-card recipient the receipt (you may want to make a copy of it for your records).
Do you have to give a gift in return for a gift?
If you’re given a gift but didn’t purchase one: Unless you’re dealing with someone close who you really should have purchased a gift for, you don’t need to worry. In an interview with CNN, etiquette teacher Peter Post sums it up nicely, “There’s nothing about having received a gift that says you have to give a gift in return.”
What happens when you use a gift card?
The crooks then frequently call the toll-free numbers on the back of the cards or go online to see when the cards become activated. Once this happens, the money placed on the gift cards is immediately spent, leaving the purchaser or recipient empty-handed.