Mastering the Complex Use of Department Store Gift Certificates
Paper Gift Certificates: Use Both Online and Offline After Entering Serial Number
Mobile "Exchange Vouchers": Swap for Paper Certificates at Offline Stores
Available at Department Stores, Outlets, Hotels, and More
Around last month's Lunar New Year holiday, it has become common to exchange gift certificates instead of heavy gift sets. In particular, mobile gift certificates are frequently gifted through platforms like 'KakaoTalk Gift'. However, many mobile department store gift certificates are actually 'exchange vouchers', making them difficult to use immediately.
Paper gift certificates have also become quite cumbersome to use nowadays, as online shopping has become the norm. We have analyzed department store gift certificates, which differ in usage locations and methods.
Lotte Gift Certificates
Lotte Group, considered the 'big brother' of distribution, offers two types of gift certificates: ▲paper gift certificates and ▲mobile exchange vouchers. Paper gift certificates can be used at about 70 affiliated locations including shopping (Lotte Department Store, Lotte Mart, Lotte Super, Lotte Duty Free, etc.), hotels (Lotte Hotel, Signiel, Lotte City Hotel, Grand Walkerhill Seoul, Seoul Plaza Hotel, etc.), dining (T.G.I.F, VIPS, Outback Steakhouse, Mad for Garlic, Din Tai Fung, Yukgaene Dakgalbi, etc.), leisure and golf (Lotte Skyhill, Lotte Resort, Lotte World, Seoul Land, Seorak Waterpia, Hanwha Resort, etc.), and culture and arts (Lotte Concert Hall, Lotte Museum, Lotte Cinema, Youngpoong Bookstore, Rian Hair, etc.).
When using at offline stores, you can present the gift certificate like cash. If you want to use it online, you need to convert it to L.Point through the gift certificate desk or the L.Point app before use.
If you received the gift certificate as a mobile voucher, it corresponds to a 'mobile exchange voucher', so you can exchange it for a paper certificate at the gift certificate desks or kiosks in Lotte Department Store, Lotte Mart, Lotte Outlet, or Lotte Mall nationwide. If you don't have time to visit a store, you can install the Lotte Mobile Gift Certificate app, log in with your L.Point ID, and register the exchange voucher to use it both online and offline.
Shinsegae Gift Certificates
Shinsegae Group gift certificates include ▲paper gift certificates ▲mobile exchange vouchers ▲SSG gift certificates ▲e-maticons. Paper gift certificates can be used like cash at stores. For online use, you need to scratch off the hologram on the paper gift certificate, then enter the PIN number and Shinsegae gift certificate number in the SSGPAY app to exchange it for SSG Money. However, paper gift certificates without holograms, such as the 10,000 KRW denomination, cannot be exchanged for SSG Money.
If you received a gift certificate via KakaoTalk Gift or 11st, it corresponds to a 'mobile exchange voucher', so you must visit a nearby Shinsegae Department Store or E-Mart offline store to exchange it for a paper gift certificate before use. To use it online, first exchange it for a paper gift certificate, then download the SSG PAY app and enter the gift certificate number to charge it.
Shinsegae Department Store gift certificates can be used at shopping locations (Shinsegae Department Store, E-Mart, SSG.COM, Shinsegae Duty Free, Starfield, etc.), dining (Starbucks, VIPS, Outback Steakhouse, Bibigo, Mad for Garlic, Pizza Hut, etc.), hotels (JW Marriott Hotel, Westin Chosun, Grand Chosun, L'Escape, Four Points by Sheraton Chosun, etc.), and leisure and culture (CGV, Megabox, Kyobo Bookstore, etc.).
If the gift certificate you received is an SSG gift certificate, you can use it online immediately without exchanging it for paper at stores. By exchanging the received gift certificate for SSG Points in the SSG PAY app, you can use it at all Shinsegae Department Store branches, E-Mart, and Starbucks both online and offline. E-maticons are mobile cash vouchers usable at E-Mart, Traders, and other stores; simply present the barcode to the store staff for immediate payment.
Hyundai Department Store Gift Certificates
Hyundai Department Store Group gift certificates include ▲paper gift certificates ▲mobile exchange vouchers ▲Hyundai mobile gift certificates ▲integrated dining gift certificates (e-gift cards). Like Lotte and Shinsegae paper gift certificates, paper certificates can be used like cash at stores. For online use, you need to install the H.Point app and register the mobile gift certificate as H.Point to use it.
Mobile exchange vouchers sold through platforms like 'KakaoTalk Gift' must be exchanged for paper gift certificates at the Hyundai Department Store gift certificate desk before use. Hyundai mobile gift certificates can be registered in the H.Point app and used like cash. The integrated dining gift certificate e-gift card operated by Hyundai Green Food is a balance-based voucher; simply present the barcode printed on the gift certificate to the store staff for immediate payment.
Hyundai Department Store gift certificates can be used at shopping locations (Hyundai Department Store, Hyundai Outlet, Hyundai Home Shopping, Handsome, Livart, etc.), hotels (SeaMark Hotel, Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, InterContinental Seoul COEX, Park Hyatt Seoul, Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, etc.), culture and leisure (Welli Hilli Park, Jeju Haevichi Resort, etc.), and golf (Geumgang CC, Welli Hilli CC, etc.).
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