Are gift cards a good or bad present?

[Luv2shop]

Originally Posted by DivaJen

I agree, and good for teachers too, who don't need yet another cutesy "Teachers touch the future" mug or pin...

I totally Agree!

[robex]

I love getting gift cards! If it's to a place where I don't usually shop, I go and purchase a gift for someone else there (on sale, of course!). My brother and I usually spend about 20 bucks on each niece and nephew. This year we sat down together, picked 5 different stores that suited each one's tastes and bought each child a gift card for 'their store'. The kids are between ages 5 and 11, and were thrilled!

[jodi]

I love to receive gift cards as presents because it will often allow me to do something I normally wouldn't do otherwise, i.e. go out to dinner, to the movies, buy some new clothes, etc.
As for giving, I always get an enthusiastic response when I give them as gifts. This year we got MIL a g.c. to Joanne Fabric (we got her one for her birthday last month and she let us know how much she liked it and wouldn't mind getting another!) and FIL a gift card for I-tunes, on the suggestion of MIL. He went out of his way to let us know how much he appreciated it. So, carefully chosen, I think they can be wonderful gifts.
I agree with a pp (I think it was Princess Perky) that if I receive money, I will use it for a regular expense. But if I get a gift card...well, then I just HAVE to spend it on myself

[Fern]

I LOVE getting gift cards. Cash is not as good cus then i'll probably end up saving the $$ and not spending it on anything special for myself.

I think it's more likely that you, as the gift giver, will possibly give something the gift receiver doesn't like than the receiver not being able to find anything they like in a given store.

[PRICEPLUS]

Gift cards are good in a pinch for people you know little about. As for family and close friends I don't give them. It is also a problem that many people spend more than the gift card amount. Not a good gift for those unable to control their spending!

[lrjohnson]

I really love everyone's thoughtful responses, I agreed with so many of you. I am a "depends" person. I like the idea of choosing an appropriate personal gift. Also, that way, maybe a $3 garage sale item makes a nice gift with a larger "value" than $3 (I always admit I bought it used, on sale, etc., if asked-I like people to know how many great things are out there for cheap).

On the other hand, it's nice to spoil someone (or be spoiled) so that they might treat themselves to something they might not otherwise do. And, I really dislike clutter and people decorating for me-I like the sparse, non-patterned, empty, wood only look, and I'm sensitive to buying any non-consumable, non-book item for people I'm not SURE of. This Christmas I got some WAY off gifts-things I really don't like. I totally appreciate the gift, and bestowed my honest gratitude for being thought of, and my boyfriend assured me that I showed no disappointment (though he could tell from second one that these were just serious misses) but I really don't like the items-a card would have worked.

[abowers]

As a preschool teacher, I enjoyed receiving a Starbucks gift card, a Kohls gift card, a Barnes and Noble gift card, and a gift certificate for the nearby mall. Some of the parents knew that I like coffee, and that I like to read, so I think those were fitting gifts, i.e. instead of guessing on what books I already have, or buying me a bag of coffee beans.

[cercis]

Instead of sending cash to my teen and preteen niece and nephews, we sent giftcards to Borders. We hope to foster a love of reading (they all do like to read now) and have no way to know which books they've already got and what books they're into right now (tastes change so quickly at those ages). Plus, it's fun for preteens to have money to spend all on their own, and a giftcard is an easy way for them to do it.

[BillsGirl]

I hate gift cards they are SO impersonal, nothing says "I gave you no thought" than a gift card!!!! JHMO I got a gift card from my SIL & BIL for bath n body works and I hate that place so I had t waiste $20 on something i really didn't want! I ended up getting shaving cream for my hubby! we are both so allergic to stuff everything in there makes us sneeze!

[cercis]

Billsgirl - that was a thoughtless gift.

But, I tell you, what made that so thoughtless was that you are allergic. My aunts used to buy me things that my cousin was into (Hello Kitty, I never liked Hello Kitty, same for teddy bears, velour clothing, etc). I would have rather had a gift card, at least that would show the thought that they realized they didn't know me well. What they did was to lump me with my cousin and assume I was the same (we're the same age). Even when they asked me what I wanted (cats or clowns, I said) they got me what they got her which was something she had been raving about and was not cats nor clowns.

Right now I'm really hard to buy for. I'm in a different stage. I don't want anything that will clutter my home. I'm on a "house diet" where I severely limit what comes in to my house and often make myself get rid of somethings before I buy new. I'm also dieting, so food is out.

[Optsol]

Back to the original post, they're awful....

[niki_the_tiger]

I think gift cards are awesome gifts... I love them! I mean, as long as you choose something you know the person likes, or a general store you know they go to...

Even with my best friends, sometimes I just don't know exactly what they "want" at that time... but I know where they like to shop... so I can get them a card there, and let them pick out something for themselves.

Not that I give a lot of gift cards... I do like to pick out gifts when I can.

But I know that for my parents anniversary, we are surprising them with two nights in a hotel and I want to also buy them a gift card to one of the restaurants in the area... which reminds me, I need to find a gift card quick. I'm thinking of Smokey Bones restaurant... because they would probably never go there on their own and we tried it and loved it. Anyone have a Smokey Bones gift card they need to sell?

[abecedarian]

I love gift cards! They're better than cash since I have to use them someplace besides debt reduction, and they're usually for fun stuff. Even a gift card from my local grocery store would be most welcome.

[jacquelynrose]

I got one this year! It was GREAT!

[abowers]

I meant to add-- not only did I get some gift cards from the parents of my preschoolers, but my work also gave every teacher a gift card to Target, back at the beginning of December. This was EXCELLENT because I was able to do some of my christmas shopping with the gift card, instead of my own small supply of cash :-)

My sister has given me a gift card to Michael's before -- because she knows that I like knitting, and knew I could use knitting needles in different sizes, or new yarn, but she didn't know exactly what I needed.

I have given my parents a gift certificate to new restaurants before, which they've enjoyed.

Usually if I give some kind of gift card, I get another gift too. For my friend's birthday I made her a purse, and I sent her gift certificates for Dunkin Donuts (because we both like their coffee, and when we were in college together we'd go get DD coffee together all the time). I thought (and she did too) that it was a nice addition because it was a reminder of a tradition we used to have!

Also, for Christmas, we went to my boyfriend's parents in Florida. They wanted to get him a tool set, but because it was easier to not deal with bringing that on the plane back home to NJ with us, they gave him a Home Depot gift card so he could get it when were back home.

[Ima saver]

I personally do not like to receive gift cards unless they are from my favorite restaurant.
I have a $75 gift card from a framing place and there is nothing I want there. I also have a $500 gift certificate from the Grove Park Inn in Ashville that I have had for 4 years. since they won't take small dogs, we won't go there. I wish I had the money instead.
I would rather give checks and let people buy what they want.

[BillsGirl]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

I personally do not like to receive gift cards unless they are from my favorite restaurant.
I have a $75 gift card from a framing place and there is nothing I want there. I also have a $500 gift certificate from the Grove Park Inn in Ashville that I have had for 4 years. since they won't take small dogs, we won't go there. I wish I had the money instead.
I would rather give checks and let people buy what they want.

have you considered selling them? I have heard of people selling gift cards on ebay!

[Ima saver]

They have our name on it, so I thought they would not be transferable. I guess i should call and ask. I am not familar with computers so i don't know about e bay.

[BillsGirl]

mmm yeah that might be a problem, but it wont hurt to ask!!

[asmom]

I like gift cards and I like to give them because I am always so worried about giving someone a gift they won't like or use. I usually try to give them to a "neutral" place like Kroger or Target.

Oh and thanks for the suggestion of Ebay for a gift card, I never knew!