Define the word "the"

Off and on for the last month or so, I've been designing an in-store display that will be used to sell gift cards. Once again, I'll try to describe things without giving away too many specifics. The system is suppose to work like this: You see the display in-store, the display has a number of cards on it each relating to a different item, you pick one, take it to the cashier, pay for the card, when you get home you go online to fill out your info and in about a week you get your customized item.

It's not a complicated system really. Especially, if you've ever bought a gift card and used it (as I'm sure most of you have). My problems surfaced yesterday when Carl returned from his vacation and had gone a whole week without getting his troll thumbprints on any artwork. Carl is like that cat you have that even after you give him his own space, have him neutered, and separate him from other animals he still pisses on everything.

So, the client wanted us to come up with a header for this display that had a 1-2-3 step process clearly and simply defined. While Carl was away I wrote the copy. I came up with some rough wording with the understanding that the client may want to change it up a bit...but it should get me in the ball park.

Then Carl comes into my office at the end of the day and has me pull up the file on my monitor so that he can work with it through me (and I just love being Bonzo's puppet!).

What I had was:

1. Select the Card with the "Item" you like.

2. Purchase card in-store to activate.

3. Go online to fill out your info and redeem your card.

Carl, tried to re-word all of it one line at a time. He would say the same thing I had but add another sentence or two. After 20 minutes, I got him to leave the first 2 steps alone. By that time, I just wanted to go home.

For the third step he says, "What does redeem mean?"

I say, "You know, after you buy a gift card, you redeem it online...use it to buy something."

Carl, "Yeah, but do people know what the word redeem means?"

Me, "I think most people have used a gift card and they ALL say 'Redeem" it on the card somewhere."

Carl, "Yeah, I don't know".

A few minutes of this circular conversation, where I'm sure I suffered some kind of head trauma, and I just let him re-write step 3.

It now reads:

3. Go online to enter your custom "item" information. Redeem your card and your "item" will be delivered to your home in 7-10 days.

I suggested that we add "Sit down at your computer" at the beginning of step 3, but the idea was shot down.

Pass it on.