Giving away gc's or stays for advertising/promotions

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JBloggs

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Do you add this to your annual tax return? If so, what category: Marketing and Advertising?
 
I think this comes up everytime someone tells me I can write off the donated GC on my taxes. No, you can't.
Now, if like you're saying, you've traded the GC for an advertisement, I think that's different than 'giving a donation'.
In which case, my marketing/advertising is the same category for tax purposes. So that's where a trade would go. But probably only if the GC was used. If it wasn't used, you didn't spend anything.
That didn't help, did it?
 
I think this comes up everytime someone tells me I can write off the donated GC on my taxes. No, you can't.
Now, if like you're saying, you've traded the GC for an advertisement, I think that's different than 'giving a donation'.
In which case, my marketing/advertising is the same category for tax purposes. So that's where a trade would go. But probably only if the GC was used. If it wasn't used, you didn't spend anything.
That didn't help, did it?.
I agree with Mort.
 
Yes that is what it was, radio & tv time ad for a GC as the prize for a winner for this promotion, joint advertising. Ours was a one night stay, they paid cash or traded for the ad air time on tv and radio.
JB - adds: BY THE WAY in case any one is interested, the winning recipient never even said thank you, didn't act like they won anything special...and no they are not knocking our door down because of it. In fact I only did it to he a "partner" in this here. I went with this as music is radio, so I had to be on board. I just wish it was someone perky who loved it and told everyone they knew about how wonderful it was to win and stay! (I got overweight, unhappy, who the heck cares that i won guest and a friend)
 
Put it in marketing. It was a trade, not a freebie. That is why I no lomger do freebies. never brought another paid rez (stopped giving to on "cause" I actually believed in when a winner said he was told this was a great one to get - wait and choose it next year which they did.
That is why I started giving roasts of coffee - I am giving an item so can claim my actual costs. With a freebie I could only claim that part that was food & laundry etc expenses.
Just got hit with another one for this Sunday - I made a certificate for them to choose 4 countries of coffee for me to roast and will give them a Gillum House mug to go with the certificate.
 
We only do GC's that can be considered tradeouts for advertising.
And we provide them in dollar amounts that are slightly less than a one-night stay, usually $100. That way when guests come, they have to put some skin in the game. And when they have to spend a few bucks, they usually opt to stay for 2 nights, and thus we make a few pennies on the deal.
 
We only do GC's that can be considered tradeouts for advertising.
And we provide them in dollar amounts that are slightly less than a one-night stay, usually $100. That way when guests come, they have to put some skin in the game. And when they have to spend a few bucks, they usually opt to stay for 2 nights, and thus we make a few pennies on the deal..
I've only given gift certificates as an offer for a wonderful cause that I felt that I could contribute to. Never expected anything in return, but they were used as a silent auction item. And the winning bids were always very happy, gracious and grateful.
 
I think this comes up everytime someone tells me I can write off the donated GC on my taxes. No, you can't.
Now, if like you're saying, you've traded the GC for an advertisement, I think that's different than 'giving a donation'.
In which case, my marketing/advertising is the same category for tax purposes. So that's where a trade would go. But probably only if the GC was used. If it wasn't used, you didn't spend anything.
That didn't help, did it?.
She's right. Can only deduct what it costs you out of pocket, not even including the cost of your non-wage labor, not what it might have been worth to someone else. Ironically, the winner technically has to claim what it is worth as income.
 
Yes that is what it was, radio & tv time ad for a GC as the prize for a winner for this promotion, joint advertising. Ours was a one night stay, they paid cash or traded for the ad air time on tv and radio.
JB - adds: BY THE WAY in case any one is interested, the winning recipient never even said thank you, didn't act like they won anything special...and no they are not knocking our door down because of it. In fact I only did it to he a "partner" in this here. I went with this as music is radio, so I had to be on board. I just wish it was someone perky who loved it and told everyone they knew about how wonderful it was to win and stay! (I got overweight, unhappy, who the heck cares that i won guest and a friend).
Same experience here with a radio station promotion. During the one-week of promotional air time I got only one phone call and from a guy who wanted to pay about half of our standard room rate. The actual contest winner never notified us and apparently gave the stay voucher as a gift to her sister. Her sister forgot about it until the week it was to expire (because it is a voucher with no cash value, it can expire, unlike a gift card). So the sister calls and wants to book that weekend which was full; just to be a nice guy, I let her book another weekend although technically it was after the expiration date. They show up, stay for free, never said thanks, didn't leave a tip.
In our first few years we did several similar promotions and found they were all worthless.
 
We only do GC's that can be considered tradeouts for advertising.
And we provide them in dollar amounts that are slightly less than a one-night stay, usually $100. That way when guests come, they have to put some skin in the game. And when they have to spend a few bucks, they usually opt to stay for 2 nights, and thus we make a few pennies on the deal..
PhineasSwann said:
We only do GC's that can be considered tradeouts for advertising.
And we provide them in dollar amounts that are slightly less than a one-night stay, usually $100. That way when guests come, they have to put some skin in the game. And when they have to spend a few bucks, they usually opt to stay for 2 nights, and thus we make a few pennies on the deal.
This could not have been used in that way, it i\was a big radio promotion and part of the winning package included - dinner, overnight stay, show.
 
Yes that is what it was, radio & tv time ad for a GC as the prize for a winner for this promotion, joint advertising. Ours was a one night stay, they paid cash or traded for the ad air time on tv and radio.
JB - adds: BY THE WAY in case any one is interested, the winning recipient never even said thank you, didn't act like they won anything special...and no they are not knocking our door down because of it. In fact I only did it to he a "partner" in this here. I went with this as music is radio, so I had to be on board. I just wish it was someone perky who loved it and told everyone they knew about how wonderful it was to win and stay! (I got overweight, unhappy, who the heck cares that i won guest and a friend).
Same experience here with a radio station promotion. During the one-week of promotional air time I got only one phone call and from a guy who wanted to pay about half of our standard room rate. The actual contest winner never notified us and apparently gave the stay voucher as a gift to her sister. Her sister forgot about it until the week it was to expire (because it is a voucher with no cash value, it can expire, unlike a gift card). So the sister calls and wants to book that weekend which was full; just to be a nice guy, I let her book another weekend although technically it was after the expiration date. They show up, stay for free, never said thanks, didn't leave a tip.
In our first few years we did several similar promotions and found they were all worthless.
.
Tom said:
Same experience here with a radio station promotion. During the one-week of promotional air time I got only one phone call and from a guy who wanted to pay about half of our standard room rate. The actual contest winner never notified us and apparently gave the stay voucher as a gift to her sister. Her sister forgot about it until the week it was to expire (because it is a voucher with no cash value, it can expire, unlike a gift card). So the sister calls and wants to book that weekend which was full; just to be a nice guy, I let her book another weekend although technically it was after the expiration date. They show up, stay for free, never said thanks, didn't leave a tip.
In our first few years we did several similar promotions and found they were all worthless.
Like a mirror.
I hear you.
There has been a benefit from doing this, I won't bore you will all those details, but the recipient and the gobs of guests overflowing was not one of them. :)
 
Yes that is what it was, radio & tv time ad for a GC as the prize for a winner for this promotion, joint advertising. Ours was a one night stay, they paid cash or traded for the ad air time on tv and radio.
JB - adds: BY THE WAY in case any one is interested, the winning recipient never even said thank you, didn't act like they won anything special...and no they are not knocking our door down because of it. In fact I only did it to he a "partner" in this here. I went with this as music is radio, so I had to be on board. I just wish it was someone perky who loved it and told everyone they knew about how wonderful it was to win and stay! (I got overweight, unhappy, who the heck cares that i won guest and a friend).
Same experience here with a radio station promotion. During the one-week of promotional air time I got only one phone call and from a guy who wanted to pay about half of our standard room rate. The actual contest winner never notified us and apparently gave the stay voucher as a gift to her sister. Her sister forgot about it until the week it was to expire (because it is a voucher with no cash value, it can expire, unlike a gift card). So the sister calls and wants to book that weekend which was full; just to be a nice guy, I let her book another weekend although technically it was after the expiration date. They show up, stay for free, never said thanks, didn't leave a tip.
In our first few years we did several similar promotions and found they were all worthless.
.
Tom said:
Same experience here with a radio station promotion. During the one-week of promotional air time I got only one phone call and from a guy who wanted to pay about half of our standard room rate. The actual contest winner never notified us and apparently gave the stay voucher as a gift to her sister. Her sister forgot about it until the week it was to expire (because it is a voucher with no cash value, it can expire, unlike a gift card). So the sister calls and wants to book that weekend which was full; just to be a nice guy, I let her book another weekend although technically it was after the expiration date. They show up, stay for free, never said thanks, didn't leave a tip.
In our first few years we did several similar promotions and found they were all worthless.
Like a mirror.
I hear you.
There has been a benefit from doing this, I won't bore you will all those details, but the recipient and the gobs of guests overflowing was not one of them. :)
.
Joey Bloggs said:
Like a mirror.
I hear you.
There has been a benefit from doing this, I won't bore you will all those details, but the recipient and the gobs of guests overflowing was not one of them. :)
And yet people are insulted when you try to tell them you don't get any return for your investment in their ad or giveaway or whatever.
Still, l'm doing another giveaway next year for another 'worthy cause'. Not an ad, a fund raiser for scholarships.
 
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