Are gift cards impersonal?

[DisneyBeagle]

Do you think that giving gift cards (aka gift certificates) for Christmas (or other occasion) is impersonal?

 

[sweetspicy]

I used to never buy them, but I started a year or so ago. Some people, like my dad, are just too hard to shop for.

 

[letterdavidman]

Not at all. I actually prefer them to "real gifts".

 

[Disneyland1084]

It really depends on who I'm buying for. If it's someone I don't know well, then I would probably get them a gift certificate.

 

[kennancat]

I also chose "It Depends" but not because some people are hard to shop for. Sometimes, I think a gift card shows that you do know what they want/need. For example, BIL just bought a house, so we're getting him a Home Depot gift card for Christmas. We know he's not going to know what he needs yet, but will definitely be visiting the depot! Another friend is a movie nut, so we get him AMC cards a lot. So, sometimes a gift card can be personal - it depends on the situation

 

[brasswillow]

I’m usually very uneasy about buying gift cards, but this year, my two good friends were moving two weeks before Christmas, so I wanted to get them something small. I bought gift cards, but then I got little cardboard boxes, the kind jewelry comes in, and decorated them to match the personality of the recipient and put the gift card inside. It was more personal than just a gift card, but flexible enough that they could get what they want when they get to where they’re going.

 

[JVL1018]

Well teachers always get GC from me, because I think it IS what they really want. LOL
My SIl is getting a sweater and a Yankee Candle GC-my brother always gets Home Depot GC from us, but I also buy him something like his favorite good chocolates and wrap them up with it.
My FIL literally opens gifts and says did you get the right size? Do you have the receipt, woould you be upset if I returned it? @@
He gets annoyed with GC to Target and Macys as well, because he can;t find anything-how that is possible I have no idea.
Last year we bought him a DVD player and DVDs and he actually kept them!He did say he was going to return them because he couldn't get both his VCR and DVD player hooked up at the same time, but DH fixed it, so he kept it.

This year, GC to his favorite restaurant and a GC to the grocery store--he's 79, these GC are ones I know he'll use and like! Much better than a gift he'll only return.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I actually hate when I receive a gift card. I got one for my birthday and I would have rather just been given cash; I hated being tied to a certain store for something and it was a pain.

Unless the person knows without a shadow of a doubt that someone shops often at a certain store, I think cash is always better than a GC. There is nothing worse than carrying around a giftcard for months on end because you don't want anything from that store. I held onto one from Kirklands for 11 months before finally blowing it on something I didn't want or need. I don't like that store!

I don't give giftcards unless someone specifically mentions a store that they'd like one for (like, a teenager hoping to buy a big item out of giftcards). Otherwise, we give cash or an actual gift.

(it's esp annoying when we exchange giftcards in the same amount. Like, I give SIL a $25 GC to Dillards while she gives me a $25 GC to Gap. We might as well saved ourselves the hassle of hitting the mall and called it even!)

Can you tell I've thought way too much about this?

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I picked depends....

Depends on the person it is for and circumstances around it. Many times if I know someone if saving for something special I will give a gift card to "help" with the cause. Other times the GC is for something I could not give otherwise - spa treatments, movie passes, manicures, etc.

But I will also admit to buying one because I was pinched for time, too busy, couldn't be bothered but had to buy a gift , etc.

 

[Cool-Beans]

My dad gives me cash every Christmas and birthday. Always has. It is the least personal gift I get, and always my favorite (Shh! Don't tell!)

I give gift cards / cash for situations where I want to get a gift, but don't know the person - teachers, mailmen, secret Santa at work, etc. That way, they get something they'll like. If I don't know what store to get the card for, I either get a gas card or just give cash.

I get the best Thank-You notes from the mailman, and he gets cash every year.

I go find gifts and wrap them up for people I know.

 

[letterdavidman]

Well teachers always get GC from me, because I think it IS what they really want. LOL
My SIl is getting a sweater and a Yankee Candle GC-my brother always gets Home Depot GC from us, but I also buy him something like his favorite good chocolates and wrap them up with it.
My FIL literally opens gifts and says did you get the right size? Do you have the receipt, woould you be upset if I returned it? @@
He gets annoyed with GC to Target and Macys as well, because he can;t find anything-how that is possible I have no idea.
Last year we bought him a DVD player and DVDs and he actually kept them!He did say he was going to return them because he couldn't get both his VCR and DVD player hooked up at the same time, but DH fixed it, so he kept it.

This year, GC to his favorite restaurant and a GC to the grocery store--he's 79, these GC are ones I know he'll use and like! Much better than a gift he'll only return.

I would never say this, but, boy, have I thought it a lot!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I love to get them- my sister usually gets me an Amazon one, since my wish list on there is over 400 items long!

I think it depends on your relationship with the person. From a spouse or s/o, it may feel a little impersonal- I'd want them to put some thought into the present. From most other people though, I like getting to pick what I get!

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

I much prefer to buy a gift, but some people are insanely hard to shop for! For people like that, gift cards are the way to go.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

I chose "it depends" because there are some people on our list who request gift cards from certain stores. Usually I try to find an actual gift, but when Uncle Joe's wish list is "gift cards to Barnes & Noble, Home Depot, Sears, or Best Buy", then that's what we get for Uncle Joe. Now, we do try to package the gift card with something else, so this year Uncle Joe's gift card for B&N was tucked inside of an inexpensive book that DH thought UJ would like. Kind of fun to be creative that way, and UJ still gets his gift card that he wants.

 

[daisyduck123]

Well teachers always get GC from me, because I think it IS what they really want. LOL

That is true for me & every teacher I work with.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Gift cards are not a bad thing I think(for some reason I get Best Buy and Blockbuster because my DVD wish list is insane)

 

[dreamcometrue]

I think the "gift cards are too impersonal" cliche is long gone! Personally, I prefer gift cards, I wish everyone would give them to me, and everytime people ask me what I want, I tell them gift cards. I'd much rather buy something for myself. Besides, I love to shop

I got my kids teachers gift cards this year! God knows they get plenty of "#1 teacher" items. I bought them gift cards to restaurants around the school (casual dining) that they can go to on their lunch break. I also got them both a gift card to Starbucks!

 

[shortbun]

Yep, the teachers got Starbucks giftcards from us this year. All my neices, nephews and godchildren get giftcards too! Young people love to have their own "money!" I do try to buy gifts for adults unless they specifiy giftcards. My brother said he wanted to add to his music collection this year and unless he got giftcards, he wouldn't probably spend his money on music. He gets a Bestbuy giftcard! My son will find a couple giftcards in his stocking.

 

[JulyGirl]

I love gift cards!

 

[Mermaid02]

What's more personal than letting someone go out and buy what they want?? I love to receive gift cards.... my favorite gift as a matter of fact!