I went shopping today (got really hot suddenly and I need some new short sleeve shirts).

I was surprised when my better half informed me that TJ Maxx and Marshalls are owned by the same parent company, and that gift cards for one store can be used at the other. I'm not a major retail shopper (unlike, I might add, my better half), so I didn't realize these arrangements are common among brother/sister corporations with a single parent. So I did some more digging and more of the gift cards are multi use than you would think.

Marshalls/TJ Maxx GCs are interchangeable, and can also be used at HomeGoods and A.J. Wright
Lands End and Sears GCs are interchangeable, and can also be used at K-Mart
All the Gap GCs are interchangable, but strangely aren't valid at other B&M stores owned by the Gap, such as Old Navy or Banana Republic. They can be used on OldNavy.com or bananarepublica.com, just not in store.
The Old Navy GCs can be used at Gap.com or BananaRepublic.com but not in store at the Gap or Banana Republic.
"Romano's Macaroni Grill" and "Chili's Grill and Bar" GCs are interchangeable, and can also be used at "On the Border Cafe" and "Maggiano's Little Italy" (I've never heard of these)
west elm, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBTeen, Williams-Sonoma, and Williams-Sonoma Home GCs are all interchangeable.
Motherhood Maternity GCs can be used at mimi maternity, a pea in the pod and destination maternity

Hopes this helps someone else.

mttatkns said:oopsz said:I went shopping today (got really hot suddenly and I need some new short sleeve shirts).

I was surprised when my better half informed me that TJ Maxx and Marshalls are owned by the same parent company, and that gift cards for one store can be used at the other. I'm not a major retail shopper (unlike, I might add, my better half), so I didn't realize these arrangements are common among brother/sister corporations with a single parent. So I did some more digging and more of the gift cards are multi use than you would think.

Marshalls/TJ Maxx GCs are interchangeable, and can also be used at HomeGoods and A.J. Wright
Lands End and Sears GCs are interchangeable, and can also be used at K-Mart
All the Gap GCs are interchangable, but strangely aren't valid at other B&M stores owned by the Gap, such as Old Navy or Banana Republic. They can be used on OldNavy.com or bananarepublica.com, just not in store.
The Old Navy GCs can be used at Gap.com or BananaRepublic.com but not in store at the Gap or Banana Republic.
"Romano's Macaroni Grill" and "Chili's Grill and Bar" GCs are interchangeable, and can also be used at "On the Border Cafe" and "Maggiano's Little Italy" (I've never heard of these)
west elm, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBTeen, Williams-Sonoma, and Williams-Sonoma Home GCs are all interchangeable.
Motherhood Maternity GCs can be used at mimi maternity, a pea in the pod and destination maternity

Hopes this helps someone else.What is your source for this information? My understanding on some of these was that there were different types of gift cards, some of which are interchangeable and others which are for specific stores only. For example, I've seen gift cards for Chili's only and others that can be used at all restaurants owned by the parent ("On the Border", "Maggiano's", etc.) advertised on the same site at different prices. If they're interchangeable, it's strange that two different cards would be offered.

All of the Chili's GCs I've had showed they could be used at any of those four restaurants right on the card. I don't think I've ever seen a gift card for Chili's only, although I have a gift cheque/coupon/certificate that I got from Chili's corporate that doesn't mention the other restaurants.

oopsz said:All the Gap GCs are interchangable, but strangely aren't valid at other B&M stores owned by the Gap, such as Old Navy or Banana Republic. They can be used on OldNavy.com or bananarepublica.com, just not in store.
The Old Navy GCs can be used at Gap.com or BananaRepublic.com but not in store at the Gap or Banana Republic.Gap has the Options GiftCard that's redeemable online and all B&M stores.

scripta said:Gap has the Options GiftCard that's redeemable online and all B&M stores.

The options giftcard isn't available as a thank you redemption. Only gap/gapkids/gapbody/babygap and Old Navy.

mrlandlord said:red lobster=olive garden

This is true. I only looked at cards available for 10,000TYP=$100.

The olive garden/red lobster GCs are 6,000TYP=$50, 20% more expensive. Rather than than redeem 12,000 TYP for a $100 GC, I would go ahead and redeem 12,700 for a $100 SLR check. Spend the $100 on a 5% restaurant CashBack card like MTVU, the net difference is $2 and you can eat anywhere, not just a miserable chain restaurant.

mrlandlord said:red lobster=olive garden

Don't forget the others...

red lobster = olive garden = longhorn steakhouse = seasons 52 = bahama breeze = capital grille

All the same parent... Darden Restaurants Inc. You can use any of their restaurant's gift cards at any of their restaurants.

Technologist said:Just received checks today (after banks closed of course!), exactly 20 days after ordering.... $725 in rebate checks being deposited tomorrow.... thanks again for the warning OP!

since it's over $600, you may unfortunately get a tax from from Citi.

mttatkns said:tomprc said:Technologist said:Just received checks today (after banks closed of course!), exactly 20 days after ordering.... $725 in rebate checks being deposited tomorrow.... thanks again for the warning OP!

since it's over $600, you may unfortunately get a tax from from Citi.The tax isn't exactly from Citi, it's from Uncle Sam. And the $600 threshold you mention has nothing to do with determination of income's taxable status - $1 is no different than $601, Citi just doesn't have to send you a 1099 for $1.

well, correct, sort of. I meant to say "get a tax form from citi". It's a typo. but what if you do when citi sends you 1099? simply ignore it? Then you will have a great chance of been audited.

And even if you redeem >$600, you shouldn't get a 1099 unless you earned those TYP from banking products. (a 1099-int).

Credit card CashBack is not taxable. Instead it should be considered as reducing the original basis in whatever you bought.

tomprc said:
only partially true. The historic fact is that Citi sent 1099 form to people that redeemed more than $600, no matter it's from bank or credit.

I put more than $2k through them last year, and received no 1099

DAMNIT!!!!! I have 130k points, and I was just about to pull the trigger on the SLR... UGH!!!!