As someone who has been on both the giving and receiving end of gift cards, it’s safe to say that they are often a disappointment. While they may seem like the perfect present for someone who has everything or is difficult to shop for, they can come across as impersonal and thoughtless. In this article, we’ll explore why gift cards are a terrible gift and provide some tips on how to avoid them.
Why are gift cards a terrible gift?
Gift cards are often seen as a thoughtless and impersonal gift.
How can you avoid giving gift cards?
Consider giving a personalized gift, such as a handmade item or a thoughtful experience.
Are there any situations where gift cards are a good choice?
Yes, if you know that the recipient loves a particular store or service and would appreciate the flexibility to choose their own gift.
After reading this post, you can confidently avoid the pitfalls of gifting generic gift cards that may end up unused or forgotten. Instead, you can choose to personalize your gifts, taking into account the preferences and interests of the recipient. By doing so, you not only save them the disappointment of an uninspired gift, but also show them that you truly care about their happiness and well-being. So, next time you’re brainstorming gift ideas, think beyond the gift card and give a thoughtful, meaningful gift that will be cherished for a long time.
I hate gift cards. Arent you excited? Ill add it to the stack of worthless iTunes cards and cards for restaurants that dont have a franchise within miles Domark on Nov 21, prev next . And some visa gift cards charge you monthly fee after activating them!! And I am also concerned about the environmental damage caused by millions of plastic gift cards.. And to certain extent, it forces over-consumption behavior. In the end, the cards always get used by either myself or the others. If its plain cash, I can just deposit them without buying anything. For these reasons, I always wrap cash in an envelope with a personal hand-written note. Have been gifting this way to teachers, postmen, home-cleaners and no one has complained so far. I could remember wrong but I dont think prepaid cards are allowed to charge fees like that anymore. Gift giving is more than just empty cash transfers. You could level your hate at anything. Now Im stuck playing with this one corporations toy instead of having the cash to buy whatever I want. Ugh, I hate it! Gift cards can be a reasonable gift. For example, you know someone likes hiking etc. But on the whole theyre a bit of a scam based on whats mostly a relatively upper class attitude, at least on the US, about giving cash as a gift. Hacker News new past comments ask show jobs submit.
Some gift cards take a little more effort to use than others, but I typically find a way to get it done. There are times, however, when the total cost of using a gift card outweighs the benefit. Here are some examples of reasons I find some gift cards difficult to use. Travel Required. Shipping Charges. Though redeeming gift cards online is convenient, I sometimes have a hard time using a gift card online if the cost of shipping and handling is significant. Higher Priced Merchandise. I may not want to spend my own money just to receive a discount off of the total bill. The easiest way to turn a gift card into good, old-fashioned dollars is to sell the card to a gift card exchange site. Although you could find a gift card buyer through social media or online classified ads, reputable gift card resellers are significantly safer to use because they offer money-back guarantees, fraud prevention and secure ways to receive cash back for your gift cards such as PayPal. Plus there are customer service representatives available to answer questions and assist if anything goes awry with the transaction. Fundraising committees for schools, churches, clubs, and charities are always in need of gift cards that can be redeemed for supplies, auctioned at fundraisers or given as prizes. Gift card donations to nonprofit organizations may also be tax-deductible. Here is a post on easy ways to use gift cards at fundraisers. I took one of our Happy Cards gift cards and turned the Happy Teen gift card into a fun Teen-themed gift card basket. I bought some inexpensive items at a dollar store to make the gift more eye-catching. The fundraising committee loved the donation! Benihana is one of our favorite restaurants, but we also happened to be a little pinched financially that year. So we kept one gift card to use and gave the other one to his parents for Christmas. In this case, we certainly wanted the gift card, but decided to regift it in order save money during the holidays. If you have an unwanted gift card that is in good physical shape and has a whole dollar amount left on the card, then consider gifting it to someone else. Although not all stores will let you buy a gift card with a gift card , I have done it multiple times. Since there is no federal or state law governing whether or not a gift card can be used to purchase another gift card, each store is allowed to set its own policy. If you redeem the used-looking gift card online, you may be able to have the new gift card or gift cards wrapped, packaged and delivered to the recipient, free of charge. Make it a group gift! Tie your unused gift card to a gift card tree or wreathe. With birthdays and celebrations happening year round, you should be able to find things that other people will enjoy. A good friend of mine keeps a stash of unopened toys on hand to be given at the revolving-door of birthday parties her kids attend. Because she plans ahead, the toys are purchased on salesaving her a great deal of money. Use unwanted gift cards to create a stash of gifts such as candles, scarves and toys that fit a variety of tastes. You may not be using the gift card as intended by the giver, but taking care of an upcoming expense could ease your budget enough to buy something you really want. The store you have a git card to might not have merchandise you enjoy, but perhaps somebody else will. If you have a gaming store gift card, for example, you can buy the latest video game and sell it via an online auction site or social media. Pay for the shoes she wants with the gift card and she can give you the cash she would have spent on the shoes.