Are gift cards bad gifts to give?
- Thread starter loganss
- Start date
gift card, especially something universal like a visa gift card used anywhere, it perfect.
who knows what ladies want?? they return 98% of the stuff they get cuz they're so damn picky anyways. might as well give them plastic money to use as they please.
who knows what ladies want?? they return 98% of the stuff they get cuz they're so damn picky anyways. might as well give them plastic money to use as they please.
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- Black RX-8
I saw a commercial last night for the "mcdonalds arch card" ..I'd have to say that's a pretty inconsiderate gift card to give, I bet the women folk wouldnt b**** if it was a victorias secret "angel card" lol
i think it's because you don't spend time choosing the gift that suits or fits them. It doesn't reflect what you or other people see in them. My girlfriend wants something personal most of the time, "from the heart" LoL whatever that means... hahaha jk
gift cards are cool but she says that she'd rather have me pick something out for her... how frustrating!
gift cards are cool but she says that she'd rather have me pick something out for her... how frustrating!
It's a tough call, gift cards are great to get, but I feel kind of cheesy giving them.
If you have a friend or family member who's really into say, golf, and you want to get them something golf related, you're automatically in over your head, and will probably get them something too basic for their hobby, or something they already have. However, if they have one of those big golf superstores in thier area, getting them a gift card allows them to grab whatever they want, so it's a good gift.
Likewise, if you know someone wants an MP3 player, or something like that, but you don't know what kind, where they want to get it, what features matter to them, etc., a gift card with a note saying something like "for that MP3 player you wanted" is good gift.
The only problem is that they're kind of impersonal. Perhaps a gift card plus something that's maybe inexpensive, but a bit more thoughtful, so they know you tried.
For a spouse or sig. other, gift cards prob. won't cut it.
If you have a friend or family member who's really into say, golf, and you want to get them something golf related, you're automatically in over your head, and will probably get them something too basic for their hobby, or something they already have. However, if they have one of those big golf superstores in thier area, getting them a gift card allows them to grab whatever they want, so it's a good gift.
Likewise, if you know someone wants an MP3 player, or something like that, but you don't know what kind, where they want to get it, what features matter to them, etc., a gift card with a note saying something like "for that MP3 player you wanted" is good gift.
The only problem is that they're kind of impersonal. Perhaps a gift card plus something that's maybe inexpensive, but a bit more thoughtful, so they know you tried.
For a spouse or sig. other, gift cards prob. won't cut it.
The way you present the gift card is also an important thing.
Statement A: I didn't know what to get you so I just got you a gift card
Statement B: I noticed how much you enjoy woorking on computers and listening to music so I got you this best buy gift card so you can pick out the stuff you want.
Statement A would get on my nerves if someone said that, but B shows that the person paid attention to my interests.
Here's an example of not getting a gift card turning into a not so good gift:
My g/f gets me roses, a cake, and a necklace for my B-Day. (boom07) Hmmmm.
I don't like flowers. I won't take care of them and they die so quickly anyway. The cake is cool but kinda big. I can't eat all of it before it becomes hard a stale. The necklace is tiny and had a heart symbol on it. There is no way I'm rockin that in public. So basically these gifts she got me weren't too considerate even though she put time into it.
This could've all been avoided w/ a gift card to newegg.com or bestbuy.
Statement A: I didn't know what to get you so I just got you a gift card
Statement B: I noticed how much you enjoy woorking on computers and listening to music so I got you this best buy gift card so you can pick out the stuff you want.
Statement A would get on my nerves if someone said that, but B shows that the person paid attention to my interests.
Here's an example of not getting a gift card turning into a not so good gift:
My g/f gets me roses, a cake, and a necklace for my B-Day. (boom07) Hmmmm.
I don't like flowers. I won't take care of them and they die so quickly anyway. The cake is cool but kinda big. I can't eat all of it before it becomes hard a stale. The necklace is tiny and had a heart symbol on it. There is no way I'm rockin that in public. So basically these gifts she got me weren't too considerate even though she put time into it.
This could've all been avoided w/ a gift card to newegg.com or bestbuy.
romecandleboy
Member
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- 06' MX-5 Miata
Gift cards make sense since everyone is so picky, but it still makes me feel guilty giving one as a gift. It's basically like shaking someones hand and slipping a 50$ bill in there.
My brother and a friend of mine usually get gift cards. My friend adores music, but buys many CDs, no one knows what she currently doesn't have and it doesn't bother her at all. My brother likes to read, but it's a bit eclectic and he doesn't always keep his Amazon list up to date, so he usually gets a gift card and loves them. So, I think it is partially why you are giving a gift card and who you are giving it to. Heck, a friend was going gaa-gaa over the glow-in-the-dark monster gift card at Target yesterday just because she liked how it looked.
Personally, I despise gift cards.
1. I'd rather have a cash or check for the same amount of money so I'm not locked into a store like Best Buy.
2. Most gift cards have a maintenance fee they charge if it's not being used. So you lose money on the card after as little as 6 months.
3. It's easy to forget that the gift card is even in your wallet/purse until it's too late.
4. Companies have done market research and found that on average people with gift cards pay 50% more than they normally would.
Think about it. The product costs pennies to make, yet returns a ton of profit for the companies.
1. I'd rather have a cash or check for the same amount of money so I'm not locked into a store like Best Buy.
2. Most gift cards have a maintenance fee they charge if it's not being used. So you lose money on the card after as little as 6 months.
3. It's easy to forget that the gift card is even in your wallet/purse until it's too late.
4. Companies have done market research and found that on average people with gift cards pay 50% more than they normally would.
Think about it. The product costs pennies to make, yet returns a ton of profit for the companies.
that said, i voted gift card as 'bad gifts', because what if someone bought you a gift card to a store that you DON'T want to shop at, then you're really stuck... bleh 
i think putting a little bit more thought into getting people gifts and actually GET something for them, shows that you're more considerate of others, and people will appreciate the gesture, even if they ended up returning it
i think putting a little bit more thought into getting people gifts and actually GET something for them, shows that you're more considerate of others, and people will appreciate the gesture, even if they ended up returning it
As mentioned, it depends on who it's for. For your guy/gal or favorite aunt that raised you, yes it's a bad gift since you're saying I really can't focus on you well enough to learn your likes and dislikes, or I just can't take the time to invest in our love. But for grandparents several states away, give them to kids as you don't know what stuff they already have- or maybe the kids have reached an age where they'd like to shop for themselves.
sanblaster
Member
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- 2009 CWP Mazda Axela Sport & 2006 Nissan 350z
Gift Card to Circuit City, Best Buy, Their favorite clothing store, Mall Gift Card = Good
Gift Card to Golf Store, Hallmark, Factory Card Outlet, Hardware Store = Bad
Just buying a gift card or spending money on someone in the first place = Good
People who think that gift cards are inconsiderate or those "females" who speak and have spent nothing on others = Stupid & Bad & Shut-up and let me spend my own money on what I want to buy for others. (protest)
Gift Card to Golf Store, Hallmark, Factory Card Outlet, Hardware Store = Bad
Just buying a gift card or spending money on someone in the first place = Good
People who think that gift cards are inconsiderate or those "females" who speak and have spent nothing on others = Stupid & Bad & Shut-up and let me spend my own money on what I want to buy for others. (protest)
bu11dogg2 said:
it can be personal if packaged properly. example for dad, 12 pack of sam adams and a gift card to home depot, he is currently building a barn and virtually lives at the home depot... the beer is his favorite (but he never wants to spend the money on it) and he will need it after working on that barn all day. example for grandma, an 8x10 wedding photo and a gift card to ac moore, she does a lot of knitting and painting. a small personal inexpensive gift paired with a gift card is a good gift. (according to me)
