An experiment by an New York ad executive who offered a panhandler the keys to his personal American Express Platinum Card prompted one journalist to try an experiment of his own. Is offering plastic gift cards to a panhandler better than sparing change? The results might surprise you. Apparently, prepaid gift cards - think Visa/MasterCard - and a little trust go a long way. Of course, a prepaid card is a little easier to let go of than the card that carries your LCD TV balance. Based on the results from the journalist's case studies, food and cigarettes are hot commodities. Has the thought of forking over a gift card ever crossed your mind? After all, that change in your pocket keeps the meter maid away.
Read the full story @ [The Star]
