They’re exactly the same as money except you can only spend it in one place. You take money, walk into the shop and leave with their less good private money. Just giving the cash is better.
And worse, they’re used by scammers all the time!
They’re exactly the same as money except you can only spend it in one place. You take money, walk into the shop and leave with their less good private money. Just giving the cash is better.
And worse, they’re used by scammers all the time!
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Have you tried a visa gift card? I think that solves majority of your complaints
If you don’t want your gift cards, can I have them?
Yeah I’d say money is better especially as a gift but people have different opinions about it. Some people think a gift card “looks nicer.” But who the hell doesn’t like cold hard cash?? Put it in a card if you think it looks better.
I used to think so, until I had a realization. If you give someone cash, they might feel obligated to put it towards necessities. Whereas if you give them a giftcard to their favorite store, they have no choice but to spend it on something they enjoy.
if some knows I like a certain store, and they buy me a gift card for that store I’d be very grateful.
The point is it shows someone has given the slightest bit of consideration about what you, as a person, like.
By the same token, you could bemoan literally any present you receive and suggest you’d prefer to have received the cash value. After all, even if they get you something you’ve wanted really badly, you still could just buy it yourself, yes? Literally no reason not to receive cash!
Unless, you know, you’re not completely socially oblivious.
Gift cards are a nice way to say “We would have given you the money but we think you’ll buy drugs.”
A comic did a bit about OP’s dilemma.
Something like, I was going to give you cash, where you can spend anywhere, but instead I got you a Cheesecake Factory gift card, which you can use in one place.
I share your take on gift cards, and I’d go further. They’re a scam. You spend real money and walk away with nothing. The recipient might never use it, or there’s leftover money that just disappears into the company’s pocket. And when the card is for a store I’d never shop at…
I have a better concept. Instead of a Visa card or fixed amount, the gift is tied to an actual item, like a dress, not just a number. The giver picks a website and a general category (say, dresses to celebrate spring). If dresses on that site range from $40 to $199, the giver sets a max cap of $200. The seller holds that amount temporarily. Once the recipient chooses their dress, the final charge is adjusted based on what they picked.
No leftover money. No meaningless dollar amount. And the gift still feels like a gift, thoughtful, personal, and intact.
I don’t know. If you give me cash, I’m just going to buy cocaine. But if you get me a Home Depot gift card, I can buy a drill, which I will then trade for coke.
I give gift cards to places I know the person frequents, or a visa cash card. Otherwise I Venmo or give cash directly.
I would rather get cash
Do we feel the same about Amazon gift cards? 99.9% chance it’s all getting spent by whoever I send one to.