Artemis Windsong
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The love in me salutes the love in you. M. Williamson
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USPS
Jan 28, 2014 15:50:27 GMT -5
Post by Artemis Windsong on Jan 28, 2014 15:50:27 GMT -5
Someone at coffee told me that gift cards with magnetic strips had to have a special something from the post office when they are mailed or their magnetic readers would wipe the dollar amount off.
Anyone know anything? I looked on the USPS site and found nothing.
---------------------- ETA: I found it. It is for gift cards going out of the country. A custom form has to be filled out.
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mollyanna58
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Jan 28, 2014 16:15:45 GMT -5
Opti likes this
Post by mollyanna58 on Jan 28, 2014 16:15:45 GMT -5
Aren't they the same strips used on credit cards? I get CCs and gift cards through the mail and never noticed anything special about the envelopes.
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Deleted
Joined: May 19, 2024 7:27:24 GMT -5
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USPS
Jan 28, 2014 16:58:57 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2014 16:58:57 GMT -5
I've never heard of that. I'm not sure what magnetic readers the postal service uses. They use optical character readers for the addresses and barcodes on the envelopes.
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ZaireinHD
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Jan 28, 2014 20:38:43 GMT -5
Post by ZaireinHD on Jan 28, 2014 20:38:43 GMT -5
Hmmm....maybe at coffee was a story that a magnet if mailed together with a gift card can damage the gift card? for example if you receive a store promotion to receive a $10 gift card and is mailed to your home with a refrigerator store magnet with logo and number and address on the magnet, then that's a problem. well then again gift cards are individually wrapped so that's not a problem, because the magnet would have to be in contact with the gift card. oh well - sorry don't know
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ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ
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USPS
Jan 28, 2014 20:55:26 GMT -5
Post by ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ on Jan 28, 2014 20:55:26 GMT -5
Someone at coffee told me that gift cards with magnetic strips had to have a special something from the post office when they are mailed or their magnetic readers would wipe the dollar amount off. Anyone know anything? I looked on the USPS site and found nothing. Nope - when I get any CC or other bank or ID card with a magnetic strip in the mail, it usually has a cover letter enclosed, and the card is attached to that, and then folded/inserted into the envelope like a regular letter.
The envelope is also usually marked "Do Not Bend".
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Opti
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Jan 28, 2014 21:01:36 GMT -5
Post by Opti on Jan 28, 2014 21:01:36 GMT -5
I think someone is pulling your leg or mis-informed. You can always ask them how come the magnetic information on the CC you receive in the mail works? Of course, perhaps they are gullible and someone once sent them a used gift card in the mail with a $0 balance for a birthday or something. Said person then told them the balance was lost in the mail.
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Opti
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Jan 28, 2014 21:03:25 GMT -5
Post by Opti on Jan 28, 2014 21:03:25 GMT -5
I've received GCs in the mail as promotions. They all arrived with the balance intact and at most they were wrapped in a letter like most CCs that arrive via mail.
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grits
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Jan 28, 2014 21:03:31 GMT -5
Post by grits on Jan 28, 2014 21:03:31 GMT -5
I have not heard of any such thing. I have received many cards through the mail, and it never wipes them clean.
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ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ
Community Leader
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Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:12:51 GMT -5
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Favorite Drink: Chilled White Zin
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USPS
Jan 28, 2014 21:09:35 GMT -5
Post by ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ on Jan 28, 2014 21:09:35 GMT -5
I think someone is pulling your leg or mis-informed. You can always ask them how come the magnetic information on the CC you receive in the mail works? Of course, perhaps they are gullible and someone once sent them a used gift card in the mail with a $0 balance for a birthday or something. Said person then told them the balance was lost in the mail. LOL - I like the way you think. What a great gag to pull on that one relative in your family that ticks you off the most.
A special gift card - that has all (if not most) of the balance already used up. Priceless ! (literally).
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steph08
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Jan 28, 2014 21:16:14 GMT -5
Post by steph08 on Jan 28, 2014 21:16:14 GMT -5
Never heard that - we have received dozens of gift cards through the mail with no issues.
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Artemis Windsong
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The love in me salutes the love in you. M. Williamson
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USPS
Jan 28, 2014 21:52:35 GMT -5
Post by Artemis Windsong on Jan 28, 2014 21:52:35 GMT -5
I will try to check it out at our main post office. The person said there was a sign up at a satellite PO that a special envelope had to be used and had to be gotten from the main PO.
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grits
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Jan 28, 2014 21:59:14 GMT -5
Post by grits on Jan 28, 2014 21:59:14 GMT -5
There are some recordings that can be affected by certain types of scanners. I guess that theoretically it is possible to erase a gift card.
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grits
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Jan 28, 2014 23:03:53 GMT -5
Post by grits on Jan 28, 2014 23:03:53 GMT -5
I will try, and ask about this within the week.
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Artemis Windsong
Senior Associate
The love in me salutes the love in you. M. Williamson
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 19:32:12 GMT -5
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Today's Mood: Twinkling
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Favorite Drink: Fresh, clean cold bottled water.
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Jan 29, 2014 10:04:31 GMT -5
Post by Artemis Windsong on Jan 29, 2014 10:04:31 GMT -5
Grits, thanks for checking.
I appreciate everyone's comments.
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Artemis Windsong
Senior Associate
The love in me salutes the love in you. M. Williamson
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 19:32:12 GMT -5
Posts: 12,326
Today's Mood: Twinkling
Location: Wishing Star
Favorite Drink: Fresh, clean cold bottled water.
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USPS
Feb 2, 2014 17:58:12 GMT -5
Post by Artemis Windsong on Feb 2, 2014 17:58:12 GMT -5
I found it. It is for gift cards going out of the country. A custom form has to be filled out.
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