Are gift cards impersonal?

[The Mystery Machine]

Gift cards may be "impersonal" but that is OK. Unless you know someone intimately you really can't shop around for them.

 

[MushyMushy]

I've been hinting around to DH that I want GCs for Christmas and I hope he comes through! Especially if he'll take me shopping with them.

Barnes & Noble, the outlet mall... I'd be in heaven.

 

[golfgal]

I put depends. DS14 asked for gift cards this year so we got him one. I know he wants an XBox game of some sort but this way he can pick whatever one he wants. The twins are getting gift cards to a sporting goods store for new basketball shoes. This way they can pick out what they want. I know that my nieces love gift cards because that is the only way they can pick out things that THEY want, vs what their MOM wants for them .

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I think they're very impersonal. I don't care for getting them myself.

Last year, I attended a holiday party with a new office where I didn't really know anyone. It was about 30 women. It was one of those types of gift exchanges where you can "steal" someone else's gift or pick from the pile. I brought a $50 Visa gift card. I was the only one who brought a gift card, and I had wrapped it in a box so the other guests wouldn't guess what it was. The look of disappointment on the woman's face when she opened it and saw what it was! And no one stole it. No one evidently wanted it, not when there were things to pick from like wine glasses, trendy books, vases filled with ornaments, Lamp Bergers (sp?), Bath & Body Works baskets, cool kitchen gadgets. Ugh...I felt soooo lame!

Plus, the LAST thing I want to do after a month of shopping is deal with more shopping and stores and decision-making. I'd much rather just play with what's under the tree

 

[Todd&Copper]

I like receiving gift cards rather than getting presents from some people. Like my grandma. SHe hasn't seen me in about 3 years and still insists on buying a present. I told her last year to get me a table cloth, and she got me 2 (we had just gotten a new table). This year, she got me a christmas ensemble for the table - definitely not something I would have picked out myself, but alright. Two Christmas's ago, she got us a gift card, and I raved about how great it was - how I loved the freedom to pick out what I wanted, and I went into detail telling her about the things I actually chose. She is just one of those people who NEEDS to give a gift, even if it is a craptastic piece of junk she saw on QVC.
I'd rather give someone a gift card and know they'll enjoy using it to get what they truly want, instead of giving them a present they may or may not like. Now, if my DH gives me a gift card, unless it is for Starbucks, that is too impersonal, but to give my DSis and Mom and Dad gift cards, that is acceptable.

 

[C.Ann]

One of my stepdaughter's always used to give me a gift card to Barnes and Noble or Walden books - knowing what a "book junkie" I am... I LOVED them!!

 

[Amy]

I voted for "depends" because it depends on the gift card. If you buy the person a gift card for a restaurant or store that you know they usually go to, then it's fine. But if you buy a gift card from a restaurant/store that YOU like without giving thought to the other person, then it's impersonal. (I'm thinking something like giving a Macy's gift card to a young child who would be more interested in Toys R Us.)

On the other hand, my father always gives us cash. To me, THAT's the most impersonal gift of all, like he can't be bothered to go to Best Buy for a gift card (he knows we watch a lot of DVD's) or even Target (I'm there at least once a week). Cash or a check gets deposited in the bank and used to pay bills; a gift card is something that you can use to treat yourself to something extra.

 

[NMAmy]

One of my stepdaughter's always used to give me a gift card to Barnes and Noble or Walden books - knowing what a "book junkie" I am... I LOVED them!!

I'm with you, C.Ann. I read constantly so it's hard for friends and family members to know what books I've already read unless they come right out and ask me. Since DH and DD do know what books I want, they get me those for Christmas and I can save the gift card for later in the year. My sister got me one this Christmas and I loved it!

I always give my mom gift cards & a refillable popcorn bucket to the movie theater. She's on a fixed income and loves to go to the movies so this lets her go more often than she might normally go. From the way she acts, I think it's one of her favorite gifts.

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

I think gift cards are the best invention ever. Also, I love receiving them. I'd much rather give and get that then just add or get more clutter.

 

[Mermaid02]

I think they're very impersonal. I don't care for getting them myself.

Last year, I attended a holiday party with a new office where I didn't really know anyone. It was about 30 women. It was one of those types of gift exchanges where you can "steal" someone else's gift or pick from the pile. I brought a $50 Visa gift card. I was the only one who brought a gift card, and I had wrapped it in a box so the other guests wouldn't guess what it was. The look of disappointment on the woman's face when she opened it and saw what it was! And no one stole it. No one evidently wanted it, not when there were things to pick from like wine glasses, trendy books, vases filled with ornaments, Lamp Bergers (sp?), Bath & Body Works baskets, cool kitchen gadgets. Ugh...I felt soooo lame!

Plus, the LAST thing I want to do after a month of shopping is deal with more shopping and stores and decision-making. I'd much rather just play with what's under the tree

You've got to be kidding. Who in their right mind would pick a set of wine glasses over a $50 gift card.

 

[SC Minnie]

I chose 'Depends'. I usually get my niece and nephews GCs. They are teenagers and I have no idea what they like or what they want. This way they can buy something that they will use instead of something that will sit in the closet or be in next years yard sale.

I prefer something more personal from DH but after seeing some of his choices I wish he would have gotten me a GC (although I would never tell him that).

TO the poster who said her co-worker was disappointed in the $50 Visa card. Those people must be freaking nuts. I would LOVE something like that!!!!

 

[NJDad18]

For my wife's extended family we pick secret santa's at Thanksgiving. When we put our name in the hat we list 3 items that we would like to receive. After several year's in a row of not receiving what I had asked for and receiving something different, very often they said that they could not find the items that I had asked for, I now simply ask for a gift card to the store that I will buy the item that I want.

 

[MsLeFever]

TO the poster who said her co-worker was disappointed in the $50 Visa card. Those people must be freaking nuts. I would LOVE something like that!!!!

Totally! I would have stealing that sucker in a second! (note - within the context of the game...not out of her pocket or anything....)

 

[PlutoLuvr]

You've got to be kidding. Who in their right mind would pick a set of wine glasses over a $50 gift card.

Someone who obviously loves wine, might need a set of eight beautiful wine glasses and probably wouldn't go out and just drop that kind of money on wine glasses for themselves

 

[Chicago526]

I put "depends". First off, some people ASK for gift cards, often they want something expensive that is too much for one person to get, so if several people give gift cards, they can go get their item for little or no cost. My brother asked for a Lowes gift card because there is some kind of power tool he wants.

Second, my parents and one brother live out of state and fly home for Christmas. Gift cards are easy because they don't have to worry if it will fit in their suit case. All three asked for either cash or gift certs for this reason.

That said, I do try and mix it up, if I give a person a gift card one year, I try and buy a "real" gift the next. I also pair the gift card with a box of candy or another favorite treat so the person has a box to open. Opening a present is the best part of getting a gift, I think!

 

[mickeysgal]

When you live cross country from family like we do, GCs are handy. We don't see family as much, so we're not in tune with their current likes and dislikes, which makes it harder to hand pick a gift for them. Also, the cost of shipping things adds so much to the budget, that we've found GCs an easy solution. I now call it the Annual Gift Card Exchange. So yes, its certainly more impersonal, but I guess its a sign of the times.

 

[Muffin]

Last year, I attended a holiday party with a new office where I didn't really know anyone. It was about 30 women. It was one of those types of gift exchanges where you can "steal" someone else's gift or pick from the pile. I brought a $50 Visa gift card. I was the only one who brought a gift card, and I had wrapped it in a box so the other guests wouldn't guess what it was. The look of disappointment on the woman's face when she opened it and saw what it was! And no one stole it. No one evidently wanted it, not when there were things to pick from like wine glasses, trendy books, vases filled with ornaments, Lamp Bergers (sp?), Bath & Body Works baskets, cool kitchen gadgets. Ugh...I felt soooo lame!

I would have so stolen that gift card too. If someone ever gives me one of those lamps, it's going back to the store. I have enough wine glasses that match my dishes. I'm very picky about books. I wouldn't want vases or ornaments unless they went with my home decor. I hate kitchen gadgets. The B&BW basket would have been alright.

I hope I don't come across as too picky, but I just don't like stuff. My house is very minimalist, I cook and bake old-fashionedly, I get most books from the library, I hate tchotkes(sp?).

I think you did good with the gift card, especially since you didn't really know anyone well enough to know their taste.

Someone who obviously loves wine, might need a set of eight beautiful wine glasses and probably wouldn't go out and just drop that kind of money on wine glasses for themselves.

Some people may not agree about what's beautiful.

 

[azgal81]

Gift cards are great!

 

[Mermaid02]

Someone who obviously loves wine, might need a set of eight beautiful wine glasses and probably wouldn't go out and just drop that kind of money on wine glasses for themselves

Somehow I feel like "my chain is being yanked"

 

[cardaway]

I don't mind them because I buy stuff for myself all the time and it's hard for people to know what specific things I want that I don't already have. But give me an iTunes card an I'm a happy guy.

Actually any time somebody gets somebody the only thing they asked for when questioned, it's impersonal. Doesn't matter if it's an iTunes card or a PS3. But as I just posted above, some people are just really hard to buy for.