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Compute the gift card liability without assuming unredeemed cards

  • For Small business owners
  • You practice Setting limits and rules
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Beginner

About this exercise

You're reporting the gift card liability for a small shop. Write a prompt for plain text with lines starting "Sold:", "Redeemed:", "Liability:" and "Policy:", each with the math. The liability is cards sold minus cards redeemed. The Policy line says in one sentence that no breakage (unredeemed amounts) is recognized. Don't mention expected unredeemed cards or estimates of revenue from them. Under 60 words. No bullets or numbering.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Estimating breakage. The AI reduces the liability by a fifth. Try: Add: "No breakage is recognized; do not mention unredeemed estimates."
  • Reporting redemptions as revenue. The AI shows $7,800 as profit. Try: Say: "Liability = sold minus redeemed."
  • Missing policy line. The AI doesn't state the no-breakage policy. Try: Add: "Policy: one sentence saying no breakage is recognized."
  • Markdown extras. The AI adds bold labels, headings and a closing note. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold. Output only the lines asked for."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits. Try: Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each line short.

What a strong prompt includes

  • Names the four lines
  • Gives the formula
  • States the policy
  • Bans the expectation
  • Caps length

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