Gift Cards the laziest of gifts

I hate getting gift cards as gifts, so so annoying its practically the same as giving people money and saying "here you get something" put some thought into it for god sake

it's from a store that *I* like (as opposed to a store that the giver likes). :shrug:

Lazy? Sure. But they aren't thoughtless. I bought my sister a Crate & Barrel card because she just moved into a brand new house and I know that is what she wants the most. Besides, I had to drive to suburbia hell to get to that C&B for the gift card....so they aren't even that lazy.

return my gift otherwise.

If I give my picky, picky sister-in-law a gift card from a store she likes I know it will be used. Give her a gift from the same store and I know she'll return the gift!

McDonald's or Olive Garden gift card? Not so much.

I'd rather pick a gift out myself than a relative who knows nothing about me buy something for me. Unless they pick a crappy store for the gift card. But a book store or music store, can't go wrong.

they want and they either give us a list to choose from or they suggest a gift certificate/card to their favorite places to shop.

ie: one son has a collection of panoramic pics..rather large. The last few years, he's been suggesting gift cards to the place that does his framing. His wife usually makes some suggestions and then asks for the rest to a place where she can buy her favorite DVD's.

My other son just recently married and this year he and his wife both requested gift cards to a home store.

DH and I suggest them for ourselves too. I've bought planters in the spring with Christmas gift cards that I wouldn't have otherwise been able to afford. Last year we actually bought a toilet with one! This year the kids have all gotten us gift cards to use towards a tv since ours went bad. Yeah..nobody keeps a secret in this family.

Gift cards may not be right for everyone..but our family seems to enjoy them. Of course..the grandkids all get toys.

Especially if they're to a place I like to shop. Maybe the giver doesn't know exactly what I would like from that store, so giving me a gift card from it is nice, so that I can get what I want.

Same principle tho.

Where I work, I can always count on several people to call me to purchase G/C's for their parents.

A week ago, I took a phone call from one of my regulars (not just Christmas but birthdays and anniversaries, too). It turns out he will be in the area late next month, so our 'transaction' ended with a "I'll finally get to meet you after all these years" of phone-in gift certificate conversations.

It will be nice to finally put a face to the name.

I never have to worry about not liking the gift and can get exactly what I want.

And, they're the perfectr gifts for teenaged nieces and nephews.

perfect for them, plus a sister that likes to read, but I never know what she already has or has read, hence a B&N gift card for her (plus some other stuff)

They can't be beat for teenaged girls.

you'd think gift cards were beautiful.

I hate buying them. Some of my nieces are getting older and their mom told me just to get them gift cards. I really like hunting for a gift, but I got them gift cards anyway. Oh well.

But, hey, it beats the damned jumper cables I got in the office white elephant exchange. :eyes: Now, maybe this wouldn't seem so bad, except I live in Colorado. If there is ANYONE over the age of 16 that doesn't already own at least one set (I have three, plus a prestone charger and a plug in cigarette lighter booster plus AAA subscription)they had to have JUST ARRIVED in the state. I know of no one who doesn't drive around with them in the winter time. I don't need them, don't want them, don't want to store them and have no way to return them, so I can assure you these will be regifted (along with something much more substantial) to the first high school graduate I find to acknowledge!



And, no, in this case it isn't the "thought that counts." There was no thought.. OH, well.

I wish people would stop with the commercial gifts anyway and just do something nice for someone else...:shrug:

They're definitely something I could use, and NEED.

Jumper cables? I'm thinking someone forgot about the exchange and grabbed 'em right quick on the way to work. Maybe you could check with meals on wheels or a mobile food pantry (the ones who go around in winter giving out coffee and sandwiches and blankets to the homeless who won't go to shelters), see if they could use them. But really, what an odd gift.

storing them along with three other sets I'm not using...

re: Yes, I would definitely use the grocery gift cards... It isn't that. I guess it goes back to that time in young childhood when you had your heart set on some toy or bicycle or whatever (never anything extravagant in my house) and you get.... socks. The practical can be sort of a letdown because once consumed, well, there is no memory.

Oh, how I hated getting them!! The only thing worse was the sweatshirts my mum would pick out (truly blech! and usually too small). On the other hand, I, I mean Santa *wink*, got Dropkid 3 pairs of really fuzzy soft socks this year and she was over the moon (of course, she's been asking for them for quite a while, so it is different).

My Pier one card bought me the candlesticks and candles that were perfect for my boat, plus a gift (forty percent off for a wedding I was invited to over Christmas). And lots of wonderful smelly stuff that I wouldn't have spent the money for myself.

The second card was for Outback, and even though we won't be going there over the holidays...busy busy busy with tourists...we will definitely have at least plenty of drinks and munchies on the card and our friends, once we finally get out that way.

I have no problem with gift cards. Hey, and after the holidays when the sales start, you can double the value of the gift!!

I have half-jokingly told my family that we should have a New Year's gift exchange. That way we can all get more, for less. Or the same for less....whatever.

The act of selecting a gift for someone close to you is part of the process. AS tips or blanket gifts in corporate settings they're fine.
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/FindDealsOnline/GiftCardsAreNotGifts.aspx

That and the fact that you need to read the fine print to make sure that the gift card issuer isn't planning to dock fees for the card make them unappealing to me. If I need to give a gift to someone impossible I'd give them cash.

From Barnes & Noble after I asked my sister-in-law what she might like. My nkiece is 13 and goers throught books like a knife through butter, so we settled on a gift card. That way, she can pick out what she wants.

assholes who whine about getting GIFTS - gee, I cannot imagine why people wouldn't want to waste a lot of time wondering what YOU want

not they don't have their uses.

Along with the gift cards, they also go painted and large chocolate chip cookies, candy canes, lollypops, pencils and holiday erasers. The babies got clothes from the Carter's outlet. My oldest niece's stepchildren got Christmas cards with two $10 gift cards. (Both are teenagers.)

Mainly because we moved out of state and shipping was going to be a pain. They like to get the cards though, they can buy exactly what they want, and there is no danger of duplicate gifts from different family members.

If there's a CD/DVD/book that I want being released several months after Christmas or my birthday, I can set the gift card aside and use it when I need it instead of asking for stuff that I really don't want.

people know what type of things you are into . but they don't know exactly what to get or whether you may already have it.

How is this different from receiving a check or a store gift certificate - of which I've received from time to time.

My uncle got me $75 for Borders once. I was in heaven with that.

:D

OTOH, I hate getting gift cards to stores I don't usually ever go to. Old Navy? Bleaaarrgh. BORDERS, people, BORDERS!

Though at least with the gift card, it often at least shows that the giver knows the genre of things one is interested in (Borders, Best Buy, etc.).

They can be pretty lazy and easy gifts. I'd rather someone took a risk and actually gave me something, because it means that they thought about me - even if it weren't what I'd buy, it's great (to me) to see them trying to think of something, and that they went to the effort to look for something.

But, for some things, gift cards just make sense - I get my sister a gift certificate from her local dinner theater each year, because it would be impossible for me to buy tickets - find a date, seating, and show that they would want to go, and are available to go to. "I got you tickets to see Damn Yankees on October 17, 2007". "Oh, we just bought our Alaska cruise tickets for that week."

And I think that for kids who are just starting out on a hobby, the gift cards are nice to their hobby store, whether it be music, skateboarding, skiing, etc. "Gee, grandma, thanks for the skis, but these are cross country, not downhill, and I'm a size 7, not 5."

But generally, I'm with ya - gift cards are just lazy. They say, "I think enough of you to get you something, but not so much that I actually want to think about a gift, or consider who you really are and take a shot at getting you something you would like, and plus this was so much easier, and there wasn't all that fucking wrapping and wading through the store and all that other stuff that you just aren't worth, I'm sorry."

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/FindDealsOnline/GiftCardsAreNotGifts.aspx


And don't get me started on regifting...

You think for one split second I'm going clothes shopping for her/

Give it up.

And music or videos?

No chance.

She has a car, enough electronics, a great life.

Gift cards are just as much fun as the anticipation grows while the thoughts of retail conquest flow through their brains.


Give it up.

Oh

Merry Giftmas.

Air travel is normally an indulgence she couldn't spare for herself and I'm pretty certain she'll really enjoy this. She can stay in many hotels very inexpensively, but getting there is a big luxury for her.

It's thoughtful and I think they'll laugh about it. Besides, I got 2 free corndogs when buying it.

I can always use more books and at least half the fun is prowling around the stacks.

I don't even like to go down and get a gift card, I usually just give cash. I hate Christmas shopping. I can barely tolerate Christmas music and I don't do well in crowds. So screw it, I give cards with cash. I've never had it returned or had anyone complain. I don't think all the Christmas gift giving has a damn thing to do with the original intent of Christmas anyway. It is just a commercial gimmick and anyone who thinks otherwise has been duped. It is time to spend with your family and help them out in meaningful ways.

incapacitated, gift cards are the way to go.

They aren't able to go out shopping or
do so with great difficulty.

Think about it.

did my shopping on dec. 24 and done in 20 mins:hide: