Gift Ideas Faqs
Why do people give gift cards?
When someone doesn't know what to get for someone, they often get them a gift-card. Why not just send a check, say, the amount of what the card cost. It won't cost the giver an extra cent, and money is always nice! With money, I can buy what I want at what store I want when I want! Or if I want to at all! There are times when just having the money is better than a new DVD player or an Old Navy shirt! Gas and groceries ain't cheap these days! With a gift card, they sometimes expire, and of course you have to use them at certain stores - or, as in my case, I've gotten cards where the store it's for isn't even in my part of the country! Or is so far away from my home that it's not worth driving to. And if you don't want a gift card, you can seldom trade it in for cash. Even if you buy something with a gift card then return the item, you rarely get cash back, but instead the amount gets put back on the gift card, or you get some other kind of store credit.' So why not just give money But I've gotten gift cards for Old Navy - not only do I not shop there, but it's SO far away from my home that the price of the gas would exceed the value of the gift card. And 'Caribou Coffee'...they don't even *have* those in my part of the country! And as much as getting a plastic card that entitles me to a new sweater or video game...I'd much rather have cash so I could spent it where I want... ...and I'm talking about *important* stuff here...like food. Water. Gas. Rent money. Tutition. Books. A new big screen TV will do me no good if I'm kicked out of my apartment for late rent, or my electricity is shut off due to past-due bills... To 'mobydick': When I really need it, no, I don't finding accepting charity a problem. Better to suck up your pride and accept a kind donation than move into your new digs in a cardboard box under the freeway. And to 'Imagine': I'm glad you're financially secure, but last year there were times when I wasn't. I was a struggling student, burdened with too much work, too much school and not enough TIME or energy. I never missed rent or utility payments, but I was darn close! ...and during those times, I'd much rather have gotten some cash than a gift card!
Public Comments
- Cheques take time to clear, a gift card can be used as soon as it's received. It also means that the card has to be used to buy something, rather than wasted on drink, ciggys, drugs etc etc
- it's easy and takes some of the guess work out.
- So they won't have to much money, or stalkers.
- You've stated all the reasons why I don't give gift cards. I think CASH is best.
- Wow...Merry Christmas to you too! EDIT: All the stuff you're talking about are things that you're supposed to be able to supply for yourself. Christmas gifts are just that...gifts...not financial support.
- It depends on the nature of the relationship. And the reason why is that they know that they are going to actually buy something that the need or want. Not spend it on something that does not mean anything. My grandmother gives me 50 dollars and 50 dollars in gift card, some to spend and some to buy something that I want. I usually get gift card at stores I know they like to shop at.
- well, picture this. A very good friend of yours who you've known for a while comes to give you a present. You think it must be really good cause were so tight, and he gives you money. Doesn't it seem like he's giving you charity now? A gift card is meant to just be something that a person couldn't think what to get you and just decided to give you something so you could find it yourself, but calling it a gift card makes it not a charity, but i gift. Good question!
- They're trying to make it special and get something other than money. They think it shows they thought about it more since anybody can put money in a card, no offense though. They also think that the person can get what they want and you will not have to worry weather or not they'll like the gift or not.
