Gift giving etiquette

[poohbear2]

Do you think it improper to give someone a restaurant bonus gift card. The ones you get for free when you buy so many gift cards to the restaurant. Except this card says only good after January 1 and only good for three months and actually states its a bonus card on it? I am not giving it but just wanted to know what others thought.

 

[shoney]

No, I wouldn't.

My MIL did give me one for Outback one year, but it went along with the $100.00 gift card she purchased. That is the only way I would give one...if I was actually giving the gift card that went along with it.

 

[sissy_ib]

Do you think it improper to give someone a restaurant bonus gift card. The ones you get for free when you buy so many gift cards to the restaurant. Except this card says only good after January 1 and only good for three months and actually states its a bonus card on it? I am not giving it but just wanted to know what others thought.

I would not because of the time limitation. I could see parents giving it to a teenager in a Christmas stocking or something but not to someone outside of the family as a gift. If in passing a friend gave one to me and said "Hey this is only good until March and I'm not going to use it, do you want it?" that is fine and nice to pass it on. But an actual gift? No.

ETA: or what Shoney said, with the larger gift card.

 

[MrsPete]

I'm with Shoney 100%.

 

[Tiger926]

No, due to time limitation.

Tiger

 

[BearcatsFan]

No, I wouldn't.

My MIL did give me one for Outback one year, but it went along with the $100.00 gift card she purchased. That is the only way I would give one...if I was actually giving the gift card that went along with it.

This exactly. No way would I give a gift that said "Bonus Card" on it. Sorry, but to me, that just screams "cheap".

 

[LuLuO]

No.

 

[ilovemk76]

If I was buying a person a restaurant gift card and I get a free card with purchase, then I include it. My original purchase was the amount I was going to spend. The free card is a bonus.

I would not give the free card as a gift or reduce my gift by that amount.

 

[LBIJim]

I've never seen a bonus gift card labeled as such. Usually they just give another regular card for the bonus amount.

I wouldn't give such a card as a stand alone gift. Tacky tacky tacky. Either use it for yourself or include it with one of the other gift cards.

Jim

 

[foreUT]

Interesting thread: I almost sent a friend a 5$ off card with her Christmas card that a local bakery/bistro had sent me. We don't exchange gifts, but she loves their Tomato Basil Soup and the 5$ would have bought her most of a meal. Decided against it. I don't think she would have been offended, but worried she might think I was wrangling for something in exchange and certainly did not want her to think that. Holidays: too bad they can't be simple.

Also, OP, I agree that it would only be appropriate with the initial gift card.

 

[poohbear2]

I would not because of the time limitation. I could see parents giving it to a teenager in a Christmas stocking or something but not to someone outside of the family as a gift. If in passing a friend gave one to me and said "Hey this is only good until March and I'm not going to use it, do you want it?" that is fine and nice to pass it on. But an actual gift? No.

ETA: or what Shoney said, with the larger gift card.

That's how I felt. To me it would like giving someone your Kohls dollars for a gift.

 

[wilma-bride]

No I wouldn't. Like a PP said, I might give it in addition to another gift card or to a child as a stocking gift but not on its own.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I wouldn't give it as a holiday gift, but if I had a friend that enjoyed that restaurant and I wasn't going to use it, I'd give it to them. Just a, hey, would you like this free card? I have a couple of friends that would like to receive something like that knowing I won't be using it.

 

[owl0306]

no no no. Tacky with a capital "T"

 

[POOHsie]

If you are getting the bonus card because of the purchase of so many gift cards, give one of the gift cards as the present and keep the bonus card for yourself. That would be classy.

 

[Bluestars]

Interesting thread: I almost sent a friend a 5$ off card with her Christmas card that a local bakery/bistro had sent me. We don't exchange gifts, but she loves their Tomato Basil Soup and the 5$ would have bought her most of a meal. Decided against it. I don't think she would have been offended, but worried she might think I was wrangling for something in exchange and certainly did not want her to think that. Holidays: too bad they can't be simple.

Also, OP, I agree that it would only be appropriate with the initial gift card.

This wouldn't bother me at all. If one of my friends included a $5 off coupon in their Christmas card to me because they knew it would be something I would use, I would appreciate it. Now if they put it in a box, wrapped it up like a gift, and tried to pass it off as a present I would think it's tacky.

As for the OP's question, I think it's tacky and would not do it.