Gift Certificate Research Articles

Analysis on the Customers Usage of Gift Cards and Gift Vouchers through Online Payment in Coimbatore

In the dynamic landscape of contemporary consumer culture, the concept of gift-giving has undergone a profound transformation. Gone are the days when selecting the perfect gift involved hours of browsing crowded malls and meticulous consideration of personal preferences. Enter the era of Online Gift Cards—a revolution in the art of gifting that has not only streamlined the process but has also added a new layer of versatility and personalization to the age-old tradition of exchanging presents. A Online Gift Card, in its simplest form, is a prepaid card that carries a monetary value and is typically issued by retailers or businesses. These cards have transcended traditional gifting norms, offering recipients the freedom to choose their desired items from a vast array of products or services. The evolution of Online Gift Cards has been a fascinating journey, marked by technological advancements, shifting consumer behaviors, and a redefinition of the emotional and social aspects associated with gift-giving. The origins of Online Gift Cards can be traced back to the mid-20th century when retailers began experimenting with the idea of providing customers with a convenient alternative to traditional gift certificates. However, it wasn't until the late 20th century and the early 21st century that Online Gift Cards truly gained widespread popularity, becoming a ubiquitous and preferred choice for both gift-givers and receivers. The transition from tangible, paper-based gift certificates to sleek, plastic cards with magnetic strips or electronic chips marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of gift-giving. One of the primary reasons behind the meteoric rise of Online Gift Cards is their unparalleled convenience. Unlike traditional gifts, which may require exhaustive deliberation and might still miss the mark, Online Gift Cards empower both givers and recipients with flexibility. Givers no longer need to navigate the labyrinth of individual preferences, sizes, or colors, and recipients no longer have to feign enthusiasm for ill-fitting sweaters or mismatched kitchen appliances. Instead, the Online Gift Card offers a passport to a retail wonderland or a digital marketplace where the possibilities are as diverse as the personalities of the recipients.

Does participation in municipality-initiated incentivized health promotion programs promote physical activity among the physically inactive? Verification in six Japanese municipalities.

Physical activity can prevent lifestyle-related diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes. However, many people in society are physically inactive, especially middle-aged and older adults over 40. Therefore, this study examined the effects of a municipality-led incentivized health promotion program to clarify: (1) whether the average number of steps increased from the preparticipation period to the 18th month following the program; and (2) whether such increases were influenced by financial incentives. This study analyzed gender, age, step, and incentive type data from 5688 middle-aged and elderly participants in an incentivized health promotion program. The incentives were regional gift certificates that could only be used in local areas, national gift certificates, common points that could be used in department and convenience stores nationwide, and donations. The incentives were worth a maximum of 24,000 yen per year. Both the physically active group and the physically inactive group had increased the step count markedly 18 months post-participation; however those participants chosing financial incentives showed significantly higher steps after 18 months than those who opted for non-financial incentives (time: p < 0.05, time × group: p < 0.05). Municipality-led financially incentivized health promotion programs could motivate increases in the average number of steps taken by those physically inactive residents.

Option similarity modulates the link between choice and memory.

Choices made in everyday life are highly variable. Sometimes, you may find yourself choosing between two similar options (e.g., breakfast foods to eat) and other times between two dissimilar options (e.g., what to buy with a gift certificate). The goal of the present study was tounderstand how the similarity of choice options affectsour ability to remember what we choose and what we did not choose.We hypothesized that choosing between similar as compared to dissimilar options would evoke a comparison-based strategy (evaluating options with respect to one another), fostering a relational form of encoding and leading to better memory for both the chosen and unchosen options. In Experiment 1, participants reported their strategy when choosing between pairs of similar or dissimilar options, revealingthat participants were more likely to use a comparison-based strategy when faced with similar options. In Experiment 2, we testedmemoryafter participants made choices between similar or dissimilar options, finding improvedmemory forboth chosen and unchosenoptionsfrom thesimilar compared to dissimilar choice trials. In Experiment 3, we examinedstrategy usewhen choosing between pairs of similar or dissimilar optionsand memory for these options.Replicating and extending the results of the first two experiments,we found that participants were more likely to use a comparison-based strategy when choosing between similar than dissimilar options, and thatthe positive effect of similarity on memory was stronger for unchosen than chosen options when controlling for strategy use. We interpret our results as evidence that option similarity impacts the mnemonic processes used during choice, altering what we encode and ultimatelyremember about our choices.

키워드 분석을 통한 코로나-19 팬데믹 발생 전, 후의 소비자, 음식점 점주의 배달앱에 대한 인식변화 연구

The purpose of this study is to analyze changes in consumers' and restaurant owners' perceptions of delivery apps before and after the COVID-19 pandemic to provide useful information on government institutions' policymaking or restaurant owners and prospective entrepreneurs preparing to start a restaurant. To this end, big data was collected and analyzed from Blogs and Cafes provided by Naver, Google, and Daum under the keyword of “Baemin”, a representative delivery platform. The collection period was five years and seven months before and after the pandemic, and the analysis was conducted on 13,130 cases excluding duplicate or unavailable data. TEXTOM 5.0 and UCINET 6 were used for analysis, and Word Cloud analysis, network analysis, CONCOR analysis, and centrality analysis were used for analysis techniques. According to Word Cloud analysis, after the pandemic, traditional delivery food “chicken” was not included in the top keywords of frequency, but “menu”, “order”, and “review” appeared at the top, indicating that consumers are interested in various “menus” through “reviews”. According to the network analysis results, keywords showing a strong connection with the keyword “Baemin” were “Service”, “Payment”, “App”, “Possible”, “Card”, “Fee”, and “Food” while new keywords were “Hyundai Card”, “Cashwork”, “Gift Certificate”, “Coupangeats”, and “Platform”. This means that demand for delivery food is increasing, and competition in the delivery food market is intensifying with the advent of the new delivery platform Coupangeats, and consumers' demands for delivery food are diversifying. CONCOR analysis shows that, unlike before the pandemic, four main clusters and one subcluster were clearly formed after the pandemic. This is seen as a result of reflecting consumers' increased expectations for delivery apps. According to the results of the centrality analysis, keywords such as “service”, “review”, “menu”, “commission”, and “platform” appeared at the top after the pandemic. This is seen as a result of reflecting the increasing demand for “menu” selection through “review” search and high-end “service” delivery, not just food delivery. The implications of this study are of academic significance in that it has identified changes in the perception of delivery apps more comprehensively and objectively through SNS big data, not through a survey method. Based on the results of the study, delivery app operators and restaurant owners (founders) will need to cultivate a management mind for co-prosperity and establish a system that actively responds to the needs of changed consumers. In addition, the government should make more efforts to prevent the monopolization of feared delivery app operators and establish a system that can coexist with restaurant owners.

事業参加前に運動を行っていない地域住民が選好する金銭的インセンティブの種類 -インセンティブ付き健康づくり事業を実施する6自治体での検証-

This study collected the questionnaire from the new participants who are middle-aged and elderly people in project of incentives led by local governments. This study focuses on the exercise group and non-exercise groups proportion of pefered incentives and the correlation of perfered incentives in these two groups. This study analyzed 9,590 middle-aged and elderly people who participated in a health promotion project with incentives and answered a questionnaire during the period of participation. The incentives were included 4 types: (1.) regional gift cards; (2.) national gift cards; (3.) rewards points that could be used at department stores and convenience stores nationwide, and (4.) donations. The result shows that both non-exercise and exercise groups preferred financial incentives over non-financial incentives. By type of monetary incentive, non-exercise group were more likely to prefer national gift certificates 1.39 times (OR: 1.39, 95%CI: 1.03-1.89); significantly more likely to prefer rewards point 1.44 times (OR: 1.44, 95%CI: 1.07-1.95) over non-monetary incentives compared to exercise group. Among the middle-aged and elderly people who participated in a health promotion program with incentives, the majority of two groups showed the preference that financial incentives over nonfinancial incentives. Comparing monetary incentives, both groups preferred local gift certificates than national gift certificates and rewards point.

Gift Certificate: Problem of Uncertainty of Legal Nature

Currently, there is no clear definition of the legal nature of a gift certificate in Russian law, which is very popular among consumers in retail sales. Due to the fact that the civil law does not regulate the status of a gift certificate, the law enforcement practice does not contain a single approach and does not differ in uniformity, which creates a problem in the protection of consumer rights. The purpose of this article is to analyze the judicial practice and position of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on the legal nature of gift certificates, as well as, based on the experience of leading states on this issue, to propose a solution taking into account the specifics of the Russian legal system. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were set: 1) consider the concept of a gift certificate; 2) analyze the positions that determine the function of a gift certificate on the example of foreign experience, individual contracts and judicial practice; 3) analysis of the position of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on the recognition of a gift certificate as a form of advance payment; 4) establishment of a range of problems related to the legal nature of the gift certificate and the issues arising from it, as well as putting forward its position on solving this problem. When writing this article, such methods of scientific research as the system method, formal-legal and comparative-legal methods, as well as methods of synthesis, analysis, induction and deduction were used. The results of this research were the range of issues to determine the legal nature of a gift certificate and hotel developed by the authors for solving problems, taking account of the specific characteristics of gift certificates.

Taxation of trade: current state, problems and prospects

In the modern world, the sphere of trade is one of the dominant spheres of economic activity. The subject of the study is the peculiarities of taxation of wholesale and retail trade entities, as well as the problems arising from these features. Despite the development of the industry in terms of taxation, there are problematic issues that are worth paying attention to for the further development and improvement of not only the taxation of a particular industry, but also the entire taxation system, as well as the stimulation and development of the industry by organizations. The research methodology consists of analysis, synthesis, deduction and modeling, tabular and graphical methods of data visualization. As a result of consideration of the main features of taxation of the trade industry, the main goal of the work was achieved – problems were identified and ways of improvement that can be applied in practice were proposed. In the author's research, several elements of novelty and practical significance can be identified: the systemic features of taxation of economic entities in the field of trade are identified and formulated based on the analysis of scientific literature and regulatory acts; the problems of taxation when trading with gift certificates, when applying discounts and margins are identified; directions for improving the taxation of trading companies aimed at concretization are proposed tax legislation and minimization of tax risks of all participants in tax legal relations.

A Study on the Effect the Infected Number of COVID-19 on the Number of Food Deliveries: Focusing on the Mediating Effect of the National Disaster Fund and Social Distancing

Purpose This is an empirical analysis of the impact of the number of COVID-19 patients on the number of food deliveries, focusing on the mediating effects of social distancing and the national disaster fund, which are key among government countermeasures. Design/Methodology/Approach It is assumed that the government response, such as social distancing and national disaster funds, will affect the amount of food delivery. This study is based on 10,126 food delivery data in the metropolitan area from August 1, 2019 to April 30, 2021, and the main variables are composed of social distancing and the national disaster fund. Findings As the number of COVID-19 patients increases, the level of social distancing increases, and more national disaster funds are provided. However, it was found that there was no direct correlation between the national disaster fund and the amount of delivery food. It was revealed that social distancing steps indirectly affected food deliveries and, as found in previous studies, coupons or gift certificates were more effective than direct cash to increase the sales of small businesses. Research Implications Under a national emergency such as COVID-19, all economic activities slow, and the country’s management and fiscal policies should be operated most efficiently. National disaster funds should be designed in advance to meet the intended purpose, and the most common cash payment may not be the best way for small business owners and the self-employed. In addition, due to the decline of existing commercial zones after Corona 19, it is necessary to focus on the emergence of residential and suburban commercial districts to which it is easy to deliver. Along with the growing demand for healthier and fresher food, it is time to improve the diet and service offerings.

Cultivating Community Resilience With Agency and Sociality in Gardens for Health and Healing

Communities must develop ever greater resilience as they face the climate emergency and concomitant health and food system challenges. Sustainable food systems research tends to adopt broad and often theoretical social-ecological systems perspectives on resilience. Models theorize that community self-organization for mobilizing change and agency in taking planned action are key processes for community resilience. Empirically, however, how individuals come together to engage in collective action for community resilience remains little explored. In this research, we examine strategies for resilience employed by 19 participants with multiple chronic health conditions in Gardens for Health and Healing, a community-based participatory research project conducted in southeast Wyoming. Through random assignment, participants either received a home garden or designed their own 16-week wellbeing program from a menu of community health and food systems services (e.g., cooking classes, farmers' market gift certificates, home garden). Using a pre-post wellbeing survey, interviews, and 14 months of ethnographic research, we explored the role of choice—or agency—for participants' wellbeing. Survey results suggest that receiving a garden more greatly benefitted participants' physical health while designing and implementing a wellbeing plan more greatly benefitted mental health. Qualitative results find that participants in both the garden and menu conditions identified their intervention as empowering them to take action to improve their own health and wellbeing. Participants attributed their wellbeing less to what condition they were in (garden or menu), and more to the relational processes they engaged in through the project. These processes included bringing the family together; associating with friends, neighbors, and colleagues; caring for garden environments; and engaging with the community-based organization that supported both the gardens and the wellbeing plans. We find that this sociality can help promote and explain a move from individual wellbeing and agency to the collective forms of agency and self-organization necessary to cultivate community resilience for sustainable food systems.

Социальный сертификат на получение государственной (муниципальной) услуги в социальной сфере: к вопросу о правовой природе

One of the actual directions of the modern legislation development in Russia remains legal provision of social sphere transition from state to private sector of economy. Along with the new legal phenomenon – social entrepreneurship – a number of other legal categories requiring theoretical understanding have appeared. This article analyzes the legal nature of the social certificate for public municipal services in the social sphere. According to the law, the social certificate is a registered document certifying the right of the consumer of services or his legal representative to choose a provider of social services in a certain volume and on certain conditions, as well as in the cases established by regulatory legal acts of a certain quality and the right of the provider of services to receive from the appropriate budget of the budgetary system of the Russian Federation funds for financial support (compensation) of costs associated with the provision of the relevant state (municipal) service. Due to the fact that the process of providing social services is regulated by both social and civil legislation, the study of the legal nature of the certificate for rendering services in the social sphere is carried out through the analysis of similar legal structures characteristic of both public (housing certificate, certificate for the right to receive maternity capital) and private law (securities, gift certificate). The author substantiates the conclusion that the certificate for the provision of state (municipal) services in the social sphere can be characterized as an obligation of option type with a number of features determined by the specifics of services that constitute the subject of this contract.

An entrepreneurial activity implementation and assessment among pharmacy students amid the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

Objective: To implement and assess innovation and entrepreneurship (IE) learning experience in professional pharmacy students using presentations based on the Shark Tank model. Methods: First-year doctor of pharmacy students were invited to participate in an IE learning experience emphasising the importance of self-care needs of the society during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Students’ proposals were assessed by Sharks (inquisitors) based on a grading rubric, and a post-activity survey captured students’ reflections of their experience. Results: Twelve students participated in the IE activity, and presented their proposals virtually in a Shark Tank style format. Students’ scores for the proposals ranged from 87.5% (capable entrepreneurs) to 56.8% (incapable entrepreneurs), with the winner receiving a gift certificate. Survey ratings given by students on a scale of one to five for the IE activity were overwhelmingly favourable, with both the activity (4.73 (1.09)) and presentation style (4.27 (0.37)) viewed to be timely and relevant. Conclusion: An IE learning activity was implemented and assessed in the pharmacy programme using Shark Tank style presentations. The authors believe such initiatives, conducted either virtually or face-to-face, could serve as prototypes for professional pharmacy schools interested in creating exciting ways to implement IE activities in their programmes.

Reproducibility and feasibility of an online self-administered food frequency questionnaire for use among adult Norwegians.

BackgroundNew methods of dietary assessment are increasingly making use of online technologies. The development of a new online food frequency questionnaire warranted investigation of its feasibility and the reproducibility of its results.ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and reproducibility of a newly developed online FFQ (WebFFQ).DesignThe semiquantitative WebFFQ was designed to assess the habitual diet the previous year, with questions about frequency of intake and portion sizes. Estimations of portion sizes include both pictures and household measures, depending on the type of food in question. In two independent cross-sectional studies conducted in 2015 and 2016, adults were recruited by post following random selection from the general population. In the first study, participants (n = 229) filled in the WebFFQ and answered questions about its feasibility, and in two subsequent focus group meetings, participants (n = 9) discussed and gave feedback about the feasibility of the WebFFQ. In the second study, the WebFFQ’s reproducibility was assessed by asking participants (n = 164) to fill it in on two separate occasions, 12 weeks apart. Moreover, in the second study, participants were offered personal dietary feedback, a monetary gift certificate, or both, as incentives to complete the study.ResultsIn the feasibility study, evaluation form results showed that participants raised issues regarding the estimation of portion size and the intake of seasonal foods as being particularly challenging; furthermore, in the focus group discussions, personal feedback on diet was perceived to be a more motivating factor than monetary reward. In the reproducibility study, total food intake was lower in the second WebFFQ; however, 63% of the food groups were not significantly different from those in the first WebFFQ. Correlations of food intake ranged from 0.62 to 0.90, >86% of the participants were classified into the same or adjacent quartiles, and misclassification ranged from 0 to 3%. Average energy intake was 3.5% lower (p = 0.001), fiber showed the least difference at 1.6% (p = 0.007), and sugar intake differed the most at −6.8% (borderline significant, p = 0.08). Percentage energy obtained from macronutrients did not differ significantly between the first and second WebFFQs.ConclusionOur results suggest that at group level, the WebFFQ showed good reproducibility for the estimations of intake of food groups, energy, and nutrients. The feasibility of the WebFFQ is good; however, revisions to further improve portion size estimations should be included in future versions. The WebFFQ is considered suitable for dietary assessments for healthy adults in the Norwegian population.

Особенности управления рекламной деятельностью агрохолдинга

Abstract. Relevance. Currently, agroholdings actively use advertising to increase the recognition of agro-products, since advertising effectively affects the target segment, gives consumers new knowledge and opportunities to choose alternative products, which in turn increases satisfaction from purchase. Purpose. The article presents the main provisions of the development of measures aimed at improving the advertising activities of agricultural holdings (using the example of grain specialization). Methods. Among the common promotion methods, the authors distinguish the following: printing materials, online advertising, service, gift certificates, promotions, outdoor advertising. The current system of intra-company advertising was diagnosed and recommendations were made to improve the organization and planning of grain specialization advertising: the development of social networks, creative outdoor advertising. The main research methods are horizontal and vertical analysis, comparison and grouping methods. The proposed recommendations are supported by calculations, the forecast values of indicators and their relationship with the sale of agricultural products are indicated. Scientific novelty. In the analysis of intra-company advertising, it was established that a decrease in the use of advertising funds leads to the fact that the invested funds in advertising do not bring the expected results and show a decrease in the effectiveness of advertising. To solve the problem, the author developed a system of events: the creation of a creative advertising campaign in a magazine, creative outdoor advertising. Results. With increased investment in advertising, the return on investment ratio increases at a much faster pace, which indicates the advantage of online advertising and an increase in the number of visitors and buyers, an increase in profitability by more than 15 percent, and an increase in the level of attention of buyers to advertising will increase to 61 percent by 2022.

Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) Screencasts: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Asynchronous Learning on an Inpatient Hematology-Oncology Service

BACKGROUND: JiTT screencasts are effective teaching tools in some medical educational settings, but have not yet been evaluated for trainees on an inpatient adult hematology-oncology service (HOS). Our preceding pilot data identified six high-yield topics for this setting: venous thromboembolism, oncologic emergencies, sickle cell disease, hematologic emergencies, brain metastases, and spinal metastases. This study objective was to determine if the addition of educational screencasts on these six topics would be an effective educational intervention for trainees on a busy HOS. METHODS: All internal medicine residents scheduled to start a rotation on an HOS were eligible. Participants underwent block randomization to the usual educational curriculum either with screencast access (treatment) or without it (control). Allocation was concealed but participants were not blinded. Upon completion of the rotation, all participants received an anonymous online survey about their experiences. The primary outcome was the change in attitude among learners, measured as their self-reported confidence for managing the clinical topics that were covered. All randomized participants received a $20 gift certificate upon completion of the study. Exploratory data was also collected from medical students, fellows, and faculty who opted to participate; they were given access to the screencasts without randomization. RESULTS: Over the 29 week study period (12/9/2019 - 6/30/2020), 67 out of 78 eligible residents (86%) opted to participate; these 67 residents all underwent randomization and were analyzed by intention-to-treat. Enrollment continued to completion of the study. The final participant response rate was high at 91%. Demographic characteristics were well-matched between the arms with the exception of a higher prevalence of male gender (72% vs. 42%, p=0.022) in the screencast arm. The majority (64%) of residents in the screencast arm rated their clinical management comfort level as either "comfortable" or "very comfortable" as compared to just 21% of residents in the usual education arm (p = 0.0008), estimated difference = 43%, (95% CI 21%,66%) using a prespecified cumulative cutoff score. Nearly all participants on the screencast arm either agreed or strongly agreed that the screencasts improved their knowledge base in medical oncology (100%), will improve their care for cancer patients (92%), and enjoyed the format (96%). Most participants on the screencast arm felt that the intervention was optimal in terms of content (96%), length (82%), and accessibility (63%). Preferred viewing speed for the screencasts was 1.5x (52%). Nearly all participants felt that a similar database of screencasts would be helpful for all of their clinical rotations (96%). Medical knowledge as tested by a series of 6 clinical vignette multiple-choice questions was not different between the screencast and control arms (percentage correct: 77% vs. 80%, p=0.56). Burnout as tested by the Maslach Burnout Inventory was not different between the screencast and control arms in terms of total score (71 ± 12 vs. 69 ± 13, p=0.67) or personal accomplishment subscale (46 vs. 45, p=0.71). Exploratory data was also collected from 6 medical students, 8 fellows, and 6 attendings. Half of the students (50%) recommended the screencasts for the IM clerkship. Most fellows and faculty were neutral as to their interest in producing their own educational screencasts (77%) or contributing to a similar project (54%). CONCLUSIONS Resident trainees on a busy inpatient adult hematology-oncology service (HOS) found that a JiTT screencast series increased their clinical comfort level in the management of critical and commonly encountered patient problems unique to the HOS. The screencast content and delivery was overwhelmingly positive with nearly all (96%) wanting screencast series to be created for all their clinical rotations. Furthermore, as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, novel distance and asynchronous learning platforms may be of increasing importance when traditional in-person methods are not feasible. Disclosures Williams: Certus Critical Care: Other: My spouse is co-owner of Certus Critical Care, Inc. This is a medical device company; they currently have no devices on the market.. Woods:Sanofi: Other: Advisory Board 2020.

지역사랑상품권 정책에서 넛지혼합의 필요성

지역사랑상품권 정책에서 넛지혼합의 필요성

지역화폐 기획과 운영 간 상호 조응성에 관한 연구: 지역사랑상품권 운영 사례를 중심으로

지역화폐 기획과 운영 간 상호 조응성에 관한 연구: 지역사랑상품권 운영 사례를 중심으로

Forming the strategy to increase the competitiveness of the restaurant business enterprises

The development of a modern restaurant business depends to a large extent on the adaptation of the enterprises to the new conditions of management in market conditions. This process involves increasing the competitiveness of restaurants and ensuring the creation of competitive advantages in times of market volatility. Enterprise competitiveness management is a set of measures aimed at systemic improvement of the production process, constant search for new sales channels, new customer groups, service improvement, advertising. It should be considered as an integral part of the enterprise management system. The article analyzes the role of strategic behavior of restaurant business executives in increasing competitive advantages and increasing the level of profitability of the company. Criteria related to the development of the vision and mission of the enterprise are considered. A typical strategy for increasing the competitiveness of restaurant business enterprises using the “tree of purpose” method has been developed. This strategy includes four key strategic areas: manufacturing, marketing, staffing, and technology. Within each direction, tactical goals for increasing competitiveness have been formed. The direction of production involves the realization of the following goals: updating of the main menu, development of seasonal dishes and drinks, replacement of imported raw materials with local ones, provision of catering services, development of non-waste production. The marketing goals include the following: development of the official site, promotion in social networks, creation of a closed club, holding thematic parties, development of gift certificates, development of QR codes in the menu. The staff aims to achieve the following goals: development of an effective motivation system, organization of training for workers and workshops from partners. For the technologies, the tactical goals are the following: the introduction of coffee-printing technology, the mobile waiter, and the use of creative IT technologies.

The Legal Essence of a Gift Certificate: OOO “Bershka SNG” virsus the Office of Rospotrebnadzor for the city of Moscow (cases No. A40-A40-202419/17 and A40-226793/17)

The article is devoted to examination and analysis of arbitration cases connected with the process of appealing acts of the Office of Rospotrebnadzor in the city of Moscow due to the administrative responsibility of one of the well-known retail organizations for including conditions infringing the rights and legitimate interests of consumers in the consumer agreement when distributing gift certificates (cards). The article contains excerpts from judicial acts issued during the consideration of cases, carries out detailed examination of issues related to the legal qualification of the gift certificate sold by entrepreneurs to consumers, and provides the author’s comment on possible ways of regulation when considering actually developing relations between retailers and consumers when they are making a contract, where the object is a gift certificate (card).

Features of Legal Regulation of the Circulation Order of Gift Certificates

The article analyzes the novels of the legislation of the Republic of Belarus concerning the procedure for using gift certificates when selling goods (performance of works, rendering services). It has been done a comparative analysis of the legal regulation of the procedure for circulation of gift certificates in the Republic of Belarus, Ukraine and some foreign countries (Canada, the USA). The author raises some problems concerning the use of a gift certificate in civil circulation. It is pointed out that there is uncertainty both in the theory of civil law and at the level of legislative regulation regarding the civil law nature of a gift certificate. It is noted that the analysis of the legislation in force in the Republic of Belarus allows us to define a gift certificate as a document certifying the property right (requirement) of its holder (bearer) to receive goods (works, services), and the amount of money contributed when purchasing a gift certificate, as advance payment (advance payment). At the same time, such an approach of the legislator is criticized due to the fact that there is a clear contradiction to the requirements of Art. 402 of the Civil Code of the Republic of Belarus, from the content of which it follows that the advance payment presupposes the existence of a contract in which the subject has been agreed, which is not typical of most gift certificates, due to the fact that they do not contain an indication of the subject of the contract. Having done the analysis of the civil legislation of Ukraine, the author makes a conclusion that there is application of the rules on a purchase agreement to gift certificates, the subject of which may be property rights in accordance with the Civil Code of Ukraine. The conclusion is made about the imperfection of the legal regulation of the procedure for circulation of gift certificates in the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine, as well as about the complex legal nature of the gift certificate, regarding which legal regulation should be more universal, defining a gift certificate as an independent object of civil legal relationship.

Means of increasing response rates in a Norwegian dietary survey among infants \u2013 results from a pseudo-randomized pilot study

BackgroundPostal surveys are widely used in scientific studies, including dietary surveys, but few studies about methods to increase participation in national dietary surveys are published. In the present study we compared response rates in a pilot study to a national dietary survey among infants using two different incentives (gift certificate or lottery), personalization in the form of handwritten name and address vs. a printed label and mode of sending out invitations (e-mail or postal invitation).MethodsIn this parallel-design pseudo-randomized pilot trial, a nationally representative sample of 698 mothers of infants aged 6 and 12 months was drawn from the Norwegian National Registry and invited to complete a food frequency questionnaire about their infant’s diet. One half of the mothers of 6 month olds were randomized by alternation to the lottery group (n = 198) and offered to participate in a lottery of two prizes (500 EUR and 1000 EUR). The other half (n = 200) was offered a gift certificate (50 EUR) upon completion of the questionnaire. Each incentive group was randomized by alternation to receiving an invitation with handwritten name and address or a printed label. For the mothers of infants aged 12 months (n = 300), 150 mothers received an e-mail invitation and 150 mothers received a postal invitation. Logistic regression was used for testing differences between the groups.ResultsThe response rate was significantly higher (p = 0.028) in the gift certificate group (72%) than in the lottery group (62%). No difference was seen between those receiving an invitation with a handwritten name and address (68%) compared to a printed label (66%, p = 0.72). A somewhat higher response rate was seen when using the postal (50%) compared to the e-mail invitation (43%, p = 0.25).ConclusionsIn this pseudo-randomized parallel-design trial of women participating in a national dietary survey among infants, the response rate was higher when offered a gift certificate than when participating in a lottery. Handwritten name and address did not affect participation compared to a printed label. Only a moderate difference was seen between the postal and e-mail invitation. Others conducting similar methodological studies are encouraged to publish their results to expand the knowledge basis in this area.