Ruby Lane Gift Cards, how will that work?

I did not see an ongoing discussion about this, so here it is.

I'm hoping Carol can explain how this is going to be paid to the shopkeepers. Will it be a Paypal credit? I do hope it will not be a shop credit; I'd rather have my money go to Paypal where I can use it as I see fit, than to have my money tied up in a shop credit that may or may not be needed for each month.

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Permalink Reply by Graceful Antiques on January 23, 2012 at 11:25am

Good ?

I am wondering where Carol is lately period.

On VFG she asked a ? and many have responded to it.

Permalink Reply by Grapenut Glass & More on January 23, 2012 at 11:29am

What is VFG?

Permalink Reply by CheriShops - Admin on January 23, 2012 at 11:29am

I absolutely hope it will not be a shop credit! for the same reasons you listed above

This was the email:

We are pleased to announce that Ruby Lane will soon be offering its very own Gift Card!

Ruby Lane Advantage Gift Cards can be purchased on Ruby Lane and can be redeemed in any Ruby Lane shop. Soon you'll be able to purchase a Ruby Lane Gift Card and send it to the recipient of your choice via email.

Gift Cards will be available in denominations of $10, $25, $50, $100, and $250. Recipients redeem their gift card, using a new field for the card's code, when they purchase an item. In turn, Ruby Lane shop owners can cash out the Gift Cards they receive at any time within 60 days of a transaction.

We want to let all shops know that the new Advantage Gift Card will go Live in the very near future. Of course the new card is designed to make Ruby Lane gift-giving easy, thus promoting additional sales.

Once the Advantage Gift Card is Live, you'll find a detailed FAQ for both buyers and shop owners, a long with the card's Terms of Use.

Stay tuned!

Permalink Reply by CheriShops - Admin on January 23, 2012 at 11:46am

Carol says she will be here in a bit :)

Permalink Reply by The Old Grey Mare on January 23, 2012 at 11:52am

I was wondering myself how this was going to work. I suppose it was silly of me to think they might give us all the details before hand. Instead, once it is LIVE, they'll let us know all the FAQ's, so we can digest it AFTER the buyers have a chance to start using it.... Apparently, there is no opting out of it, as it WILL be redeemable in any RL shop. I'm curious about lots of things regarding a gift card. If they have one for $100, and they want to use part of it in our shop, how does that work? Do we get the $100 and have to refund it if the item is priced less? If not, who is going to keep track of how much is on their gift card? Will it be able to be used to cover shipping as well as the item cost? And of course, most importantly, how do WE get our money? I assume that RL gets the money for the gift card, and then the buyer uses it to purchase something that we have listed, that WE own. What if they decide to return the item? How does the money go back on their gift card? I've got lots more questions, and I'm not really excited about trying to wing it as it unfolds.....

Permalink Reply by Grapenut Glass & More on January 23, 2012 at 11:58am

Excellent questions, Dexter.

Permalink Reply by Ruby Lane on January 23, 2012 at 2:20pm

Hi Folks,

I know you have many questions about the new "Gift Card" program! I am excited about the new program.

As is stated in the email announcement, "We want to let all shops know that the new Advantage Gift Card will go Live in the very near future. Of course the new card is designed to make Ruby Lane gift-giving easy, thus promoting additional sales.

Once the Advantage Gift Card is Live, you'll find a detailed FAQ for both buyers and shop owners, along with the card's Terms of Use.

Until the Gift Card is launched I cannot answer your questions at this time. Once the program is launched I will be here to answer your questions.

So, stay tuned!

Carol

Permalink Reply by The Old Grey Mare on January 23, 2012 at 5:23pm

We have no choice but to accept the fact that you can't talk about it Carol. And I know you can't answer this, but I seriously question why Ruby Lane feels they need to keep the details on this secret until it goes live. This strikes me as not only odd, but extremely curious and worrisome. Ruby Lane is instituting a new program that will impact all shop owners, and those shop owners won't learn anything about it until the buyers do. This is my business, it's not a part time hobby, and I don't make business decisions without careful thought and attempting to understand all the ramifications of a decision. But now I am faced with accepting Ruby Lane's new gift card, with no clue as to how it works or how I and other shop owners can "Cash out the gift card they receive within 60 days of a transaction." We will be presented with a fait accompli, and, judging by the statement "can be redeemed in any Ruby Lane shop" we will have no choice but to agree to whatever terms Ruby Lane decides on, and live with it.

Permalink Reply by Ruby Lane on January 25, 2012 at 1:23pm

Ah, did you miss me?

Folks, I am working on this very project and a few others. I promise you as soon as I have it under my belt and can give you 'accurate answers' I will. We 'plan'to launch the program by next week. We are not 'keeping' it a 'secret', we just wanted to let you know we have a nice little tool coming your way. I may even be able to start answering your questions prior to the launch but I know how 'tuff' you gals are and I want to make sure I give you the exact right answer.

I appreciate your patience and I will catch up on all your questions on the various discussions as soon as I can. I promise.

Carol

PS I normally inform Cheri or Cathy when I am going to be out of the loop.I think I missed this one. I will do better.

Permalink Reply by Ruby Lane on January 27, 2012 at 5:31pm

Hi folks,

I understand what you are saying and that you have lots of questions. I had lots of questions too and work to do and problems to solve, etc. But whenever we launch a new tool, this is how it is done. As we work on a program we have many, many meetings: some creative, some to anticipate questions, some to problem solve, FAQ's to write, etc. And we all know if we 'only' sent out notices, etc., to the shopowner's it would be over the wires in two minutes and then we are bombarded with the questions such as the ones above before we are ready to answer them.I don't want to answer a question one day, just to turn around the next day, and say hold the presses. Lots of things have to be put in place first. We work on it, we test and test and test, come up with more ideas and problems to solve. It is not an easy thing. The best thing to do is to just wait, don't try to figure out how it will work, that it will crash and burn. Think positive. This is a tool, not an upgrade. And, yes, we may need to make a few changes after the launch but that is where you come in. Your feedback is valuable. You will have ideas on how to improve the process or new little gizmo's to add, etc. We have no choice but to launch a program when it is completed and ready to go and not before. We sent out the email for two reasons: one to give you a heads up a new tool was coming; and two, we hoped you would be excited. This is a COOL tool. It is meant to increase your sales and I firmly believe it will and... I am going out on a limb here, I think you will really like it.

Carol

Permalink Reply by Ruby Lane on January 27, 2012 at 5:33pm

PS I really hate to do this to you but it is quitting time for me and my brain needs a rest. See you on Monday. Carol

Permalink Reply by Gardenartus Antiques on January 27, 2012 at 8:36pm

I can understand there are questions and concerns about this but I really, mean a whole lot of really, like this. I think it will bring more business to our shops. I also think this is a great idea if you have special customers you might like to treat to a little something (why not keep it in the RL shops), friends, family, etc.. I think this is long over due.