"Gift" cards ARE NOT "gifts"?

[Disney Doll]

I think a gift card is most definitely a gift and a nice one at that!!!!!

Purchasing a gift card to a store you know someone will enjoy shopping in takes a lot more thought than going to Wal-Mart at 5AM to buy a $12.99 on special sale for $8.99.

 

[bettyann29]

No I dont agree... I like giftcards.. Id rather get a giftcard any day than something I will never use.. This allows me to go and get what I want and also if Im getting it for someone else it allows them to pick what they want.. My daughter only asked for an mp3 player for christmas and giftcards because she wants to go to the mall and get some clothes and makeup.. I feel bad if she only opens a few things, so I went ahead and got the mp3 player and went ahead and got her 5 shirts.. 2 I know she will love.. the other 3 are up in the air, but she can take them back and they will exchange without the receipt or give her the money with the receipt and then I got her 2 giftcards to other stores in the mall.. Giftcards are the bomb..

 

[Meezers]

Another gift card lover....got them last year for...

Yankee Candle
Macaroni Grill
Red Lobster
Barnes & Noble (now my brother carries it and uses his employee discount for me!)
Car Wash

This way I can indulge myself on some really nice stuff without breaking my budget! I saved my B&N card for the new Harry Potter book!

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

Actually, you still have to put a lot of thought into getting just the right gift card for each person.... I wouldn't recommend it in every case. But it some cases it really is the best "gift."

ITA I would much rather get someone a giftcard to a type of store I know they frequent, than try to figure out something, and have them never use it or not like it.
And on the receiving end, also, if someone at least knows me well enough to know that I love to read, or sew, etc. a gift card to a bookstore or craft/fabric store would be much preferred to some item they chose that will sit in the back of the closet!

 

[Kahana-ri]

I love to give and receive gift cards. My whole family and childhood friends all live in CA. I send everyone a gift card from a favorite store or restaurant. I usually include something small and personal to go with the GC-but I find them very convenient. I have yet to meet anyone disappointed for getting a GC.

 

[eeyore kelly]

Next year is gift card year. I already decided that. MY DS will be almost 14. Santa will bring him a couple of big gifts, and a stocking of gift cards. DD who will be almost 11 will get a few more gifts from Santa, but she will need gift cards so she won't be jealous.

All nieces and nephews are getting GC's. (really liked the build a bear idea. I am going to steal it. Thanks)

I am going to give both sets of parents gift cards to resturants they love. That will leave me my grandparents, my godfather, and a set of friends to buy for.

Also, there are times when I wish my grandparents would give gift cards instead of socks, a overbaker, freezer burnt turkey with the guts still inside. Then you have to take her shopping for the kids which mean xanax afterward.

Gift cards can be a good thing.

 

[JulyGirl]

I love gift cards. Unless I specifically request a gift, people don't know what to get me. Give the gift card everytime.

 

[nwdisgal]

I use them for people who are extremely hard to buy for..

As for me - I LOVE them - and would much rather have a gift card than a Chia pet; hand-clapper light; etc..

I agree.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

Personally, DH & I love getting GC's. In fact, we asked my mom for a Lowe's gc b/c we have some home improvements we'd like to do. Our older nieces and nephews usually get GC's from us to one of their favorite stores, this way they can pick out exactly what they want.

 

[helenabear]

I love getting g/c... I have lost a lot of weight and had to buy a whole new wardrobe in the last year. W/o gifts from malls or stores I do buy in, I wouldn't have half of what I do now!

They sure are gifts to me! The thought comes in when you actually get one from the places you like to shop! No less thought than a few other things I've gotten.

 

[disneychrista]

I agree but I would much prefer a giftcard to a store that I like then the cash that I currently get each year.

On the other hand kids seem to love getting cash or a giftcard so they can "spend" it themselves. I will likely get my nephews and teenage niece a giftcards. I only see my nephews 2 -3 times a year and have no clue what teenage / pre-teen boys like. And my neice will most likely want make-up and of course will want to pick it out herself.

 

[MoniqueU]

While I personally would prefer to give a nice gift that someone loves that isn't always possible. MY MIL is getting a giftcard to a book store this year because she is so hard to buy for. Thats what she wanted.
I also got one to blockbuster for my sons stocking so he could rent games this year. And my daughter for her birthday is getting some so she can pick out her own clothes.

 

[mom2boys]

agree or disagree?

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Savinganddebt/Finddealsonline/P133902.asp

I tend to agree, actually. I would never buy one for someone unless I totally had no idea what they would enjoy that they didn't already have.

Have you ever had to buy for teenagers? They perfer to pick out their own clothes, CDs, Video games... They WANT cash or gift cards.

 

[Fire14]

I love gift cards so that I can spoil myself. I actually asked for GC's to stores I shop at so that when I see a must have item or am running low on cash I can still pamper myself and my poor dad and bothers have it easy.

Now my friend and I will exchange gifts but we also tend to know each other well enough and can shop all year for lil things that by time dec rolls around we each have pretty nice gift bags waiting for us.

 

[foolishmortal]

Oh, I don't disagree that "some" people would prefer getting them. But I'm talking about what you think after reading the story.

ETA: I ask my wife to not get me cards, and she asks me to get her gift acrds to Avenue, DSW, and Ulta...

I couldn't finish!!! She and Miss Manners should get manners and not try and force thier beliefs on others. I couldn't read pass this line "The harm is that the art of gift-giving is quickly devolving into an entirely commercial exchange. How much longer until we simply start thrusting wads of dollar bills at each other?"

My great grand parents, and also grand parents always gave me money growing up....isn't it the thought that counts and not what you're getting? Well getting a gift card or money says to me hey I thought about you and here is something for you to get what you want, not something I bought because it's the holidays and I had to get you something. They trusted me to get something, anything, not just grin it bear it and take whatever they ended up buying.

Now others may not like what I just said there but that's fine. you can agree or disagree, but others like the author of this story or "MISS MANNERS" herself would rather belittle you for not believing in what they do.

 

[ashjohnson80]

I love gift cards I think gift cards are the best. I think if someone was annoyed by getting a gift card then they probably shouldnt' be getting a gift at all because someone spent money on you either way so be thankful are get coals in your stocking.

 

[Hermosa11]

Well, I read (rather skimmed carefully) the article. I would say I agree.
I am 49---if that means anything to my history of gift giving/receiving.

But....I think they actually make most people on the receiving end much happier. Take for example a 14 yr old getting some blouse/sweater that is just NOT their style....oh how I remember holding up the blouse my mom so carfully thougt out getting for me and me just making a pruney look face behind the blouse like (oh, dear, this is sooo ugly!!)

I have a daughter with her new husband living in Honolulu....I want to spend $200 on them....I am not going to spend $30 on shipping some stuff that I just do NOT know if they need/want/or like.

I think we can sort of go half and present the card in a lovely thought out presentation. I am sure if this technology was invented/available in the 50's It would have been totally enjoyed as well as it has been received presently.

 

[foolishmortal]

Well, I read (rather skimmed carefully) the article. I would say I agree.
I am 49---if that means anything to my history of gift giving/receiving.

But....I think they actually make most people on the receiving end much happier. Take for example a 14 yr old getting some blouse/sweater that is just NOT their style....oh how I remember holding up the blouse my mom so carfully thougt out getting for me and me just making a pruney look face behind the blouse like (oh, dear, this is sooo ugly!!)

I have a daughter with her new husband living in Honolulu....I want to spend $200 on them....I am not going to spend $30 on shipping some stuff that I just do NOT know if they need/want/or like.

I think we can sort of go half and present the card in a lovely thought out presentation. I am sure if this technology was invented/available in the 50's It would have been totally enjoyed as well as it has been received presently.

I can agree with you there.

 

[ilovepcot]

My parents and grandparents would be horrified over a gift card. I was taught that a gift must be personally selected for the recipient or it's bad manners. Well then, guess their grandchildren and great grandchildren better keep their mouths shut this Christmas because DH and I are giving them all tickets (gift cards in my Mother's eyes) to WDW!!!! And we're having dinner Christmas Eve at EPCOT, doing MK next day. How bad a gift can that be?????

 

[Blueeyes101817]

My parents and grandparents would be horrified over a gift card. I was taught that a gift must be personally selected for the recipient or it's bad manners. Well then, guess their grandchildren and great grandchildren better keep their mouths shut this Christmas because DH and I are giving them all tickets (gift cards in my Mother's eyes) to WDW!!!! And we're having dinner Christmas Eve at EPCOT, doing MK next day. How bad a gift can that be?????

could i be apart of your family