Editing Scrip (section)

==Modern usage==
Scrip survives in modern times in various forms.

===Community-issued scrip===
{{update|section|date=August 2020}}
The use of locally issued scrip accepted by multiple businesses within a community increased during the [[late-2000s recession]].{{cn|date=October 2024}}{{dubious|date=October 2024}} Community-wide scrip usage has begun or is on the rise in [[Ithaca Hours|Ithaca]], New York; [[Detroit Community Scrip|Detroit]]; [[The Berkshires]]; [[Pittsboro, North Carolina]]; [[Traverse City, Michigan]]; [[Lamar, Colorado]]; [[Calgary Dollars|Calgary, Canada]];  [[Bristol Pound|Bristol, UK]]; and [[Hagen|Hagen, Germany]].<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_bs291 Homegrown Stimulus]</ref><ref>Detroit cash keeps hometown humming ''Detroit News'', [http://www.detnews.com/article/20090323/BIZ/903230389/Detroit+cash+keeps+hometown+humming Detnews.com]</ref><ref>In Hagen you can pay with local currency, [http://www.wdr.de/themen/wirtschaft/geld-_und_kreditwesen/regiogeld/index.jhtml WDR.de]</ref><ref>Overview of Hagen′s Notgeld, the Volmetaler, [http://www.volmetaler.org/ Volmetaler.org]</ref>{{broken citation|date=October 2024}}

[[Breadcoin]] scrip was created in Washington DC in 2016 to address food insecurity.<ref>{{cite news |last= Iati |first= Marisa |date= 2019-01-11 |title= 'Breadcoin' is a new currency in D.C. for people in need |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/01/11/breadcoin-is-new-currency-dc-people-need/|newspaper= Washington Post |location= Washington DC |access-date=2021-10-18}}</ref>

[[Thailand]]'s [[township]] [[Kut Chum District|Amphoe Kut Chum]] once issued its own local scrip called ''Bia Kut Chum'': [[Thai baht|Bia]] is [[Thai language|Thai]] for [[cowry]] shell, which was once used as small change, and still so used in metaphorical expressions. To side-step implications that the community intended their scrip as an unlawful substitute for currency, it now issues [[barter|exchange]] [[coupon]]s called ''[[Merit (Buddhism)|Boon]]'' Kut Chum.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/archive/index.php/t-2224.html |title=A Boon to Kut Chum archive |access-date=2008-07-27 |archive-date=2008-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921155229/http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/archive/index.php/t-2224.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Company-issued customer scrip===
Some companies still issue scrip notes and [[token coin]], good for use at company points of sale. Among these are the [[Canadian Tire money]] for the [[Canadian Tire]] stores and gasbars in Canada, and [[Disney Dollar]]s (no longer printed, but still accepted), in circulation at The Magic Kingdoms and at other establishments owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company.

===Scrip gift cards and gift certificates===
[[File:Capitol Hill Babysitting Coop scrip.jpg|thumb|A scrip card from a [[babysitting]] group]]
In the retail and fundraising industries, scrip is now issued in the form of [[gift card]]s, eCards, or less commonly paper gift certificates. Physical gift cards often have a magnetic strip or optically readable bar code to facilitate redemption at the point of sale.

In the late 1980s, the term scrip evolved to include a fundraising method popular with non-profit organizations like schools, bands and athletic groups.<ref>[http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2835321-181/following-the-scriphow-a-sr-based?page=3 "Following the Scrip: How an SR-Based Group Revolutionized the Hottest Method of School Fundraising"]. Santa Rosa Press Democrat</ref> With scrip fundraising, retailers offer the gift certificates and gift cards to non-profit organizations at a discount. The non-profit organizations sell the gift cards to member's families at full face value. The families redeem the gift cards at full face value, and the discount or rebate is retained by the non-profit organization as revenue.<ref>[http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/1031-managing-your-scrip-program "Managing Your Scrip Program"]. PTO Today</ref>

===Commercial gift cards===
{{main|Gift card}}
[[Visa Inc.|Visa]], [[Mastercard]] and [[American Express]] gift cards are initially funded by a credit card or bank account, after which the funding account and gift card are not connected to one another. Once the predetermined funds are consumed, the card number expires. A gift of a gift card, maybe in an attractive wrapper, may be seen as more socially acceptable than a gift of cash. It also prevents the gift being spent on something the giver views as undesirable (or used as savings).

However, unless the gift card is obtained at a discount (paying less than the actual value of the card), buying scrip with ordinary money is arguably pointless, as it then ties up the money until it is used, and usually it may only be used at one store. Furthermore, not all gift cards issued are redeemed. In 2006, the value of unredeemed gift cards was estimated at almost US$8 billion.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071202/BIZ/712020348/1076|title=Gift cards popular, unused|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|date=December 2, 2007|access-date=January 16, 2014|first=John|last=Eckberg}}{{subscription required|date=January 2014}}</ref>

Another disadvantage of gift cards is that some issuers charge "maintenance fees" on the cards, particularly if they are not used after a certain period of time; or the card will expire after a given period of time.<ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07042/760921-68.stm "Gift cards may bear unwanted fees"], ''[[Post-Gazette]]'', February 11, 2007</ref> Some provinces and states in North America (e.g. [[California]], [[Ontario]], [[Massachusetts]], [[Ohio]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]) have enacted laws to eliminate non-use fees or expirations,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://consumersunion.org/pdf/State-Gift-Card-Laws.pdf |title=State Gift Card Consumer Protection Laws |publisher=[[Consumers Union]] |date=July 19, 2011}}</ref> but because the laws often only apply to single-merchant cards<ref>[http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20071229/NEWS/712290331/1036/BUSINESS01 "Keeping the change"], December 29, 2007''[[Press Democrat]]''</ref> buyers have to review the gift card conditions prior to purchase to determine exact restrictions and fees.<ref>[http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2007/11/04/business/295328.txt "Card games: Read the fine print on gift cards"], ''[[Republican-American]]'', November 4, 2007</ref> Additionally, if a retailer goes bankrupt, gift cards can suddenly become worthless. Even if stores do not close immediately, the company may stop accepting the cards.<ref>"But what happens when the store files for bankruptcy? Instead of a gift you may be stuck with a worthless piece of plastic. Earlier this year, when Sharper Image filed for [[Chapter 11]], people holding its gift cards were told that they could not get their money back or use the card to make a purchase." [http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2008/09/gift_cards_the_gift_that_can_s.html "Gift Cards: The gift that can stop giving"], ''Defend Your Dollars'', [[Consumers Union]], September 12, 2008.</ref> This became a significant issue during the [[2008 financial crisis]], prompting the [[Consumers Union]] to call upon the [[Federal Trade Commission]] to regulate the issue.<ref>Popken, Ben. [http://consumerist.com/2008/09/12/ftc-protect-gift-card-holders-when-companies-go-bankrupt "FTC: Protect Gift Card Holders When Companies Go Bankrupt"], [[Consumerist]], September 12, 2008</ref>