Q: Where can Gift Local E-Gift Cards be purchased?
A: You can purchase the Gift Local E-Gift Cards online and send them via email or text to your recipient, or you can print them to give to your recipient. You can also purchase Gift Local E-Gift Cards at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber office and receive a printed copy. You can purchase the e-gift card in whatever denomination you want. The e-gift Cards only work at participating merchants who opt-in to the program.
Q: Where can Gift Local E-Gift Cards be redeemed and how are they redeemed?
A: The gift cards are redeemable at a variety of local businesses throughout North Central Massachusetts, including restaurants, coffee shops, retail shops, inns, farms, attractions and more. For a current list of participating Gift Local E-Gift Card merchants, visit our participating merchant page. The e-gift cards are easy to redeem. The card is keyed in manually into the participating business’ POS or terminal systems as a credit card. It cannot be swiped.
Q: What if I own an old plastic Gift Local Gift card?
A: The Chamber is transitioning to Yiftee as its new gift card technology partner. The Chamber selected Yiftee because its gift card platform is user friendly and easier for recipients to redeem their gift cards. The old plastic Gift Local Gift Cards are still valid, but will not operate on the new platform. Existing old Gift Local Gift Card holders (that operated on the prior system) can convert their unused plastic card to the new format by coming to the Chamber office. The Chamber will absorb the processing fees for exchanging and activating the new card and, as a courtesy, will add a $5 bonus to the balance on any old gift cards exchanged for a new Gift Local E-Gift Card.
Q: Why should I purchase a GIFT LOCAL E-Gift Card?
A: Consumers can purchase the Card as gifts or for self-use, and companies can use it for employee rewards, anniversary gifts, customer appreciation, survey incentives, contests and anything they might have used a gift card for. Because the Gift Local E-Gift Cards cannot be spent outside of North Central Massachusetts, it keeps more dollars circulating in the region and helps support small businesses and our local communities.
Q: Is there a cost associated with purchasing a Gift Local E-Gift Card? How much does it cost to purchase a Gift Local E-Gift Card?
A: The card purchaser pays an eDelivery fee to cover processing costs ($1.00 per card and 5.0% of the total value of the gift amount), unless this has been paid by a third party. The card recipient and merchant receive the full value for the card, providing maximum benefit to local businesses.
Q: What if the purchase is for more than the Gift Local E-Gift Card value?
A: Your E-Gift Card will cover the remaining balance on the card. You will be asked for a different form of payment to cover the rest of the transaction. Card holders can check balance on Yiftee.com or go to https://c.yiftee.com/check-gift-balance or use the link at the bottom of the printed gifts.
Q: What do I do if the Gift Local E-Gift Card is ‘declined’?
A: If your card is declined, it could be because:
1. The information is entered into the POS or terminal system incorrectly, try re-entering the
information
2. The value on the card is less than what is trying to be redeemed. Have an additional payment form ready in this instance.
3. You are trying to redeem it at a non-participating business
Go to https://c.yiftee.com/check-gift-balance to check the balance of a card or use the link at the bottom of printed gifts.
Q: Is tipping allowed on the Gift Local E-Gift Card?
A: No, unless you pre-authorize the amount with the tip included, since this is a prepaid card.
Q: Does the Gift Local E-Gift Card function as a ‘pre-paid’ credit card regarding automatic tipping hold-backs?
A: No. It can be redeemed for the full value. But there is no tipping allowed on the Community Card.
Q: Since the Gift Local E-Gift Card is like a Mastercard, can it be redeemed anywhere?
A: No. They can only be redeemed at participating locations who have run their Activation Card.
Q: Are physical cards an option?
A: There are no plastic cards available. The card is available electronically or if recipients choose to print it on a piece of paper.
Q: Can the Gift Local E-Gift Card be used more than once?
A: Yes. They are multi-use and the current balance and expiration date are always reflected on the digital voucher. Recipients receive monthly reminders to redeem. You can check balance on Yiftee.com or https://c.yiftee.com/check-gift-balance or use the link at the bottom of printed gifts.
Q: What if I don’t use my Gift Local E-Gift Card?
A: Cards do not expire. However, unless prohibited by law, a $3 fee will be deducted monthly from the eGift balance starting the 1 st day after 12 consecutive months of inactivity. Activity means any action resulting in a change in eGift balance, other than fee imposition or adjustment due to error or prior transaction reversal.
Q: Can I use the Gift Local E-Gift Card with a third-party delivery service?
A: These gifts are intended to be used in store or over the phone with the listed participating merchants. They will not work with delivery services who cannot specify a participating merchant’s point of sale system (e.g. Grubhub, Doordash, Uber Eats, Postmates) because enabling those third parties would allow gifts to be redeemed outside our communities. Online purchases will be declined if the purchase amount is greater than the current card balance; ecommerce engines don’t take multiple cards.
Q: Where Can Gift Local E-Gift Cards be Redeemed and What types of businesses can participate?
A: The Gift Local E-Gift Cards are redeemable at a variety of local businesses throughout North Central Massachusetts, including restaurants, coffee shops, retail shops, inns, farms, attractions and more. For a current list of participating Gift Local merchants, visit our participating merchant page. Any member of the Chamber or Visit North Central Massachusetts can participate. Restaurants, retail shops, museums, hair salons, amusements, coffee shops, attractions and other related businesses that cater to consumers would benefit the most from participating in the Gift Local E-Gift Card Program.
Q: Do I have to be a member of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and/or the Visit North Central Massachusetts to participate?
A: Yes, this is a member benefit and participating businesses must be a member in good standing of the Chamber and/or the Visit North Central Massachusetts. Participating members who allow their memberships to lapse will have their Gift Local accounts suspended and their business will be removed from the GiftLocal.net and from other advertising that we conduct for the program.
Q: Is there a deadline to participate?
A: We are planning a launch on September 1, 2022 to introduce the community to our new Community eGift Card. Sign up before then so that you are a part of the launch program and get this incremental business.
Q: How do merchants sign up?
A: Tell the North Central Massachusetts Chamber office that you want to participate and they will add you to the Card and send you an Activation Card, which is a 10-cent prepaid Mastercard. Running the Activation Card is your authorization to opt-in to the program which means you agree to the Yiftee Merchant Agreement here: https://yifteeutil.com/merchant_agreement.pdf
Q: What if my business had already signed up to participate in the Chamber’s Old Gift Local Gift Card program that used plastic gift cards and a web terminal? Do I still need to sign up and run an activation card?
A: Yes, you will still need to run an activation card to opt-in to the new Yiftee platform and be able to accept the new Gift Local E-Gift Cards. The Chamber has transitioned to Yiftee as its new gift card technology partner. The new Yiftee platform is very user-friendly and makes it much easier for you to process the new E-Gift Cards, and for the public to redeem them. There will no longer be any need for a separate web terminal for processing, dual entries into the terminal and POS system, or any costly POS integration. The Chamber selected YIftee because its gift card platform is user friendly and easy to use. To accept the new Gift Local e-Gift Cards you just need to accept Mastercard and process it via a key-entry.
Q: What if I can’t process the Activation Card, which is a $0.10 credit card transaction?
A: No problem. Process the Activation Card for your minimum amount. It will be declined but Yiftee will get the information they need to add you to the program.
Q: What if I can’t key in a Mastercard?
A: This is very unusual. Ask your processor as this is a configuration and usually not a technical limitation. Some national chains like Walmart and McDonalds HQs do not allow their cashiers to key in the codes but the local businesses can do it.
Q: What if the purchase is for more than the Gift Local E-Gift Card value?
A: Run the Gift Local E-Gift Card for the remaining balance on the card, and ask the customer for a different form of payment to cover the rest of the transaction. Gift recipients can check balance on Yiftee.com or go to https://c.yiftee.com/check-gift-balance or use the link at the bottom of the printed gifts.
Q: What do I do if the Gift Local E-Gift Card is ‘declined’?
A: The transaction is declined if you try to redeem more than the value of the card, or if any of the redemption information is mis-typed. Start the transaction over with the correct value and info. Go to https://c.yiftee.com/check-gift-balance to check the balance of a card or use the link at the bottom of printed gifts.
Q: Is tipping allowed on the Gift Local E-Gift Card?
A: No, unless you pre-authorize the amount with the tip included, since this is a prepaid card.
Q: Does the Gift Local E-Gift Card function as a ‘pre-paid’ credit card regarding automatic tipping hold-backs?
A: No. It can be redeemed for the full value. But there is no tipping allowed on the Gift Local E-Gift Card.
Q: Since the Gift Local E-Gift Card is like a Mastercard, can it be redeemed anywhere?
A: No. They can only be redeemed at participating locations who have run their Activation Card.
Q: Is there a fee to purchase the Gift Local E-Gift Card?
A: The gift sender pays $1.00 plus 5% of the gift value. The gift recipient gets 100% of the gift value. The store is paid the full value of the card, less their normal card-not-present (CNP) Mastercard fee.
Q: Are physical cards an option?
A: There are no plastic cards available. The card is available electronically or if recipients choose to print it on a piece of paper.
Q: What if someone tries to redeem an old plastic Gift Local Gift card at my business?
A: The Chamber has transitioned to Yiftee as its new gift card technology partner. The Chamber selected YIftee because its gift card platform is user friendly and easier for recipients to redeem their gift cards at participating merchants. The old plastic Gift Local Gift Cards are still valid, but will not operate on the new platform. You can refer the plastic gift card holder to the Chamber. Existing old Gift Local Gift Card holders (that operated on the prior system) can convert their unused plastic card to the new format by coming to the Chamber office. The Chamber will absorb the processing fees for exchanging and activating the new card and, as a courtesy, will add a $5 bonus to the balance on any old gift cards exchanged for a new Gift Local E-Gift Card.
Q: Can the Gift Local E-Gift Card be used more than once?
A: Yes. They are multi-use and the current balance and expiration date are always reflected on the digital voucher. Recipients receive monthly reminders to redeem. You can check balance on Yiftee.com or https://c.yiftee.com/check-gift-balance or use the link at the bottom of printed gifts.
Q: Can I apply a refund to the Gift Local E-Gift Card?
A: Yes. Refunds can be applied to a valid (unexpired) card just as you would to a credit card.
Q: What if I don’t use my Gift Local E-Gift Card?
A: Gift Local E-Gift Cards do not expire. However, unless prohibited by law, a $3 fee will be deducted monthly from the eGift balance starting the 1st day after 12 consecutive months of inactivity. Activity means any action resulting in a change in eGift balance, other than fee imposition or adjustment due to error or prior transaction reversal.
Q: Can I cancel my participation?
A: Yes. Anytime, by notifying the North Central Massachusetts Chamber office. You will be removed from the marketing materials online and can no longer process the cards.
Q: Does the Chamber market the Gift Local E-Gift Cards and the participating merchants? Do you provide merchants with marketing materials?
A: Yes, the Chamber actively advertises to promote the sale of the Gift Local E-Gift Cards and the participating merchants. All participating merchants are also highlighted on Giftlocal.net. We also have decals and other materials that participating merchants can use in their business if they so choose.