branv
<font color=blue>The safety feature in my parents
- Joined
- May 20, 2005
- Messages
- 3,891
OP, I think it's really sweet that you're trying to think outside the box, in addition to giving them something that might have "added value." I think most of us run into this when giving gifts for a large function, as we don't want to give a "boring" gift, even when it's something on their registry. I mean...it feels a little lame to give a box of knives, even when we know how much we appreciated the functional gifts we received at our own wedding.
That being said, I agree with the bulk of the people on here. I wouldn't do the groupon. While you like and use them, I think it's clear that just as many people do NOT use groupon...and they could be one of them. I don't know about you, but when I give a gift, nothing frustrates me more when it's not used. And by that, I mean it's so important to me that my gift is something someone likes/can use that I 100% would even want them to return or exchange a gift I gave them for something they actually wanted. My goal is to give them something THEY want, not something I want them to have. That, and I don't want my money to go to waste on something that may languish on a shelf
So the question is, are you willing to risk the $100 you spend being not used at all, basically being a waste of money? Because, there's a good chance that could happen. But cash? Cash is ALWAYS used. And it really is always a well appreciated gift.
I will also add that I know lots of upper-20-somethings and hipsters (hard to not, living near Austin ), and only a few of them use Groupon/Living Social. And now that I think of it, the only one I know that used it regularly doesn't anymore because she kept running into problems with them. But that is, of course, strictly anecdotal with zero statistical proof behind it 
If you really want to do this, however, have you thought about maybe splitting the difference and getting them a $50 groupon and $50 cash?
Edited to add: sorry, must have been typing while you were posting your decision! Glad you came to a decision, and as stated, it's very thoughtful of you to put so much thought into it but still be open to opinions.
That being said, I agree with the bulk of the people on here. I wouldn't do the groupon. While you like and use them, I think it's clear that just as many people do NOT use groupon...and they could be one of them. I don't know about you, but when I give a gift, nothing frustrates me more when it's not used. And by that, I mean it's so important to me that my gift is something someone likes/can use that I 100% would even want them to return or exchange a gift I gave them for something they actually wanted. My goal is to give them something THEY want, not something I want them to have. That, and I don't want my money to go to waste on something that may languish on a shelf
So the question is, are you willing to risk the $100 you spend being not used at all, basically being a waste of money? Because, there's a good chance that could happen. But cash? Cash is ALWAYS used. And it really is always a well appreciated gift. I will also add that I know lots of upper-20-somethings and hipsters (hard to not, living near Austin
), and only a few of them use Groupon/Living Social. And now that I think of it, the only one I know that used it regularly doesn't anymore because she kept running into problems with them. But that is, of course, strictly anecdotal with zero statistical proof behind it If you really want to do this, however, have you thought about maybe splitting the difference and getting them a $50 groupon and $50 cash?
Edited to add: sorry, must have been typing while you were posting your decision! Glad you came to a decision, and as stated, it's very thoughtful of you to put so much thought into it but still be open to opinions.
(and yes, I know the OP buckled to all the negative replies).
!
