doesn't anyone else think gift cards are rotten presents?

Question

If you are giving a gift card...give cash instead or a cheque. something that the person would have an option of using elsewhere.
When it comes to Holiday gifts and people literally exchanging gift cards these days it seems ludicrious ..."jimmy gives Jane a $30 gift card to the GAP and Jane amazingly enough gave a $35 gift gard to Jimmy for the gas station! YOOHOO isnt that the true spirit of giving....

why dont they each buy themselves a present and get together for eggnog around the fireplace to talk about it. It would save two trips to the mall soley spent to buy the darn gift cards.
Buy a real present..make a present or go home!!!

Answer 1

I'm appreciative of any gift someone took the effort and money to get me

Answer 2

Lately, gift cards have become a convenience. It's easier to buy a gift card and let the recipient buy something he/she wants.

Buying a gift and wrapping it is still the way to go. However, some people are picky and may not like the gift. Even if it has a gift receipt in it, the recipient may exchange it for something else in the store, not cash.

Perhaps exchanging lists early in November would alleviate some of the confusion and disappointment at the holidays. But, this is not always possible.

So, if it's cash you're after and not a gift, gift card or whatever, what kind of person does that make you? Greedy?

Answer 3

I understand where your coming. Christmas has been media and commercial ised. It has lost its special meaning of giving gifts and remembering what is important to you.(no i am not religious at all) i love christmas and i have younger siblings and i love watching in amazement when they see the tree. We have lots of traditions in our house that makes it special. like mum or dad put on a santa hat and hand out the presents one at a time and we can't just run to the tree and open everything. I agree with you on points 4 and 1. I love getting presents cause our family goes to alot of trouble and we get a few good present rather than lots of cheap ones. Also i love buying presents and wrapping them. As for 5 i know what you mean but i still feel the christmas spirit through my younger siblings.

Answer 4

Rude or not, I have given money as gifts a few times. Just last year my parents who were out of jobs at the time were very thankful for the cash I gave them. They were actually able to go buy whatever they needed. When I give cash I tell the people to use it anyway they want to whether it be for food or gas or just that special something they wanted that they didn't get. And the best part is you don't have to worry about them returning it for something else because they didn't like it.
On another note I hate gift cards because they aren't reliable. My child was given one for christmas a couple of years ago and when he went to spend it the thing wouldn't work. I was told they had a store clerk that had figured out someway to scan like she was putting money on them but somehow was pocketing the money instead. So the person that had given the card to my son ended up giving that woman the money instead. It was a good thing I had the money to buy him the toy he had picked out, or he would have been very dissapointed.

Answer 5

It's all what you make of it.. when having a negative attitude like that.. and seeing the glass half empty instead of half full... then yes, it does seem ludicrious! Gift cards, however, are what people enjoy getting because then they can still go spend what they want on things.. and I think gift cards are a much nicer gift than plain old cash. I agree with you in that gift cards aren't fun to give.. I still prefer to give actual gifts.. but I see nothing wrong with getting or giving a gift card. The most wonderful part of the holiday is GIVING.. gift card or not. Best Wishes!

Answer 6

I agree. It's especially bad when $8 billion went unused with gift cards last year. There are fees to buy them, if you don't use them, etc. They are major pains. I'm giving my husband cash. He wants gift cards but he knows I won't do it. Why should the company make money on the interest? That's another reason not to buy gift cards. Give cash or buy a gift. Include a gift receipt.

Answer 7

I hate gift cards with a passion. I can't understand why people buy this trash?

With a gift card you take perfectly good money and limit it to one store. In addition the gift card loses value with time if not used. Does your money, sitting in a drawer for years suddenly disappear?

And to top it off, the recipient of the gift card knows exactly how much you spent on him/her.

I see no purpose for buying a gift card except to benefit the store.

Answer 8

So you would rather receive an awesome plaid sweater vest that Uncle Henry would wear. End up returning it, waiting in line with all the other returnee's. Then come to find out that there isn't anything left that you like.

At the end, you end up with a Gift card anyways.

So why not save someone all that hassle. They can make there purchase online or in the store. And almost anytiime of year (depending on the store). And yes now there's a Visa card, so they can even bring it on vacations.

Wish I get one or a few this year.

Answer 9

My mom hates them. She says its the sloths way out of the Christmas frenzy. She refuses to get any of us gift cards lol.
My grandpa from out of state sends all the grandkids mastercard giftcards ($20 each) with a note updating us on his life and what not and he always signs it don't spend it all in one place, and buy something that makes ya smile!
So I think it depends how the card is given. I have so many useless $5 starbucks cards lying around from last christmas, but the ones given the right way with a little heart and humor are okay by me!
Happy Holidays!

Answer 10

I don't like gift cards for a couple reasons. First, the recipient should never know the amount that was spent. It is the thought that counts instead.

Secondly, they are a lazy copout that says "I don't know anything about you or your interests and hobbies and I have no desire to find out either".

Either give a tangible gift or skip it entirely.

Answer 11

Wal Mart gift cards are the way to go babe. Most everything is sold there and lots of people wish they had a little money left after the holiday to get something for themselves that they put off to get something for someone else.