What's the point of gift cards/certificates?

[Armitage]

Why is it considered tacky to give somebody cash as a gift, but it's ok to give them a gift card that is basically cash only much less versatile?

 

[EagleKeeper]

It is intended to show some thought into what to get the person.

 

[Drakkon]

becasue at least you know (hopefully) which store they like to shop at whcih shows you somewhat are considerate of the person.

I'd rather have cash and dont consider it tacky at all, but people will be more likely to give you better funds on a GC beause they can charge on their CC a lot more than they would dole out a greenback

 

[JS80]

the whole "cash is tacky" myth is a conspiracy by retailers to promote gift cards

 

[new2AMD]

I never understood it either. You start with cash, which is good EVERYWHERE....

 

[batmang]

Originally posted by: Armitage
Why is it considered tacky to give somebody cash as a gift, but it's ok to give them a gift card that is basically cash only much less versatile?

because its directed at a store/place that they like to go. so its a gift, it has thought and meaning. if you got someone a gift card to savers but they like ameican eagle, im pretty sure they would be offended, so no, its not the same as cash.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I was invited to a wedding recently for a co-worker who was registered at Target of all places...I looked at their gift registry online and found a bunch of useless crap the most expensive of which was about $30. I just bought her a $50 gift certificate to Macy's. She loved it! I scored major points with that gift. :thumbsup:

 

[vi edit]

Because with a gift card you can write in there "I know you liked a certain shirt at this store, but I didn't know what size to get you."

 

[batmang]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Because with a gift card you can write in there "I know you liked a certain shirt at this store, but I didn't know what size to get you."

word.

instead of buying them a shirt, and its too small, so then the person has to take it back and get a bigger size, but the bigger shirt is $5 more, so then they waste $5 omg roflcakes. :|

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Because with a gift card you can write in there "I know you liked a certain shirt at this store, but I didn't know what size to get you."

you can't write that on the card you put the money in?

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: batmang

Originally posted by: Armitage
Why is it considered tacky to give somebody cash as a gift, but it's ok to give them a gift card that is basically cash only much less versatile?

because its directed at a store/place that they like to go. so its a gift, it has thought and meaning. if you got someone a gift card to savers but they like ameican eagle, im pretty sure they would be offended, so no, its not the same as cash.

So what does it say when you get a giftcard to walmart :evil:

But seriously, I don't see a giftcard as showing any thought went into it. To me it just says "I didn't know what to get you" (which is fine IMO) "but greenbacks seem so tacky, so here's some cash that you can spend at only one place, whether you need/want something there or not".

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Because with a gift card you can write in there "I know you liked a certain shirt at this store, but I didn't know what size to get you."

you can't write that on the card you put the money in?

GC's give the giver some control. If you really want to give somebody something, but not sure what color or size, you can at least pre-pay for it at that store. With cash, they could just turn around and blow it on hookers and booze.

🙂

 

[Injury]

Because giving someone cash says "I didn't want to spend anymore time on you than it took me to go to the ATM" while a Gift Certificate says "At least I know something about your likes and dislikes".

Truth be told, though, I would be happy getting either. However, I like gift cards more because if I have cash, I tend to spend it on everyday things. I get cash, I put it in my wallet, I buy dumb crap. It's the equivlent of someone buying me a tank of gas... or lightbulbs, laundry detergent and some ice cream as a gift.


Whereas with a gift certificate, I can go to the store, wonder around for 30 minutes and think of all the cool things I can get with it without blowing it on stupid crap.

 

[batmang]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Because with a gift card you can write in there "I know you liked a certain shirt at this store, but I didn't know what size to get you."

you can't write that on the card you put the money in?

GC's give the giver some control. If you really want to give somebody something, but not sure what color or size, you can at least pre-pay for it at that store. With cash, they could just turn around and blow it on hookers and booze.

🙂

word.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Because with a gift card you can write in there "I know you liked a certain shirt at this store, but I didn't know what size to get you."

you can't write that on the card you put the money in?

GC's give the giver some control. If you really want to give somebody something, but not sure what color or size, you can at least pre-pay for it at that store. With cash, they could just turn around and blow it on hookers and booze.

🙂

Which means the recipient really wanted hookers & booze more then some overpriced shirt at the Gap. I thought the goal was to give them something they wanted 😀

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Because with a gift card you can write in there "I know you liked a certain shirt at this store, but I didn't know what size to get you."

you can't write that on the card you put the money in?

GC's give the giver some control. If you really want to give somebody something, but not sure what color or size, you can at least pre-pay for it at that store. With cash, they could just turn around and blow it on hookers and booze.

🙂

who cares about the giver? its the receiver that needs the control.

my aunt and uncle gave me a gift card to GAP one year for Xmas. Do you know how many times in the 26 years that I've been on this Earth that I've gone into a GAP? ZERO!


btw, whats wrong with booze and hookers?

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Because with a gift card you can write in there "I know you liked a certain shirt at this store, but I didn't know what size to get you."

you can't write that on the card you put the money in?

GC's give the giver some control. If you really want to give somebody something, but not sure what color or size, you can at least pre-pay for it at that store. With cash, they could just turn around and blow it on hookers and booze.

🙂

who cares about the giver? its the receiver that needs the control.

my aunt and uncle gave me a gift card to GAP one year for Xmas. Do you know how many times in the 26 years that I've been on this Earth that I've gone into a GAP? ZERO!


btw, whats wrong with booze and hookers?

LMAO - posted at the same time and we both came up with GAP.

 

[batmang]

Originally posted by: Injury
Because giving someone cash says "I didn't want to spend anymore time on you than it took me to go to the ATM" while a Gift Certificate says "At least I know something about your likes and dislikes".

Truth be told, though, I would be happy getting either. However, I like gift cards more because if I have cash, I tend to spend it on everyday things. I get cash, I put it in my wallet, I buy dumb crap. It's the equivlent of someone buying me a tank of gas... or lightbulbs, laundry detergent and some ice cream as a gift.


Whereas with a gift certificate, I can go to the store, wonder around for 30 minutes and think of all the cool things I can get with it without blowing it on stupid crap.

exactly! this is the exact reason i buy gift cards for people. it is aimed at a certain store so people cant buy dumb crap.

 

[lokiju]

I'd rather have cash.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

With a gift card they can't blow it on useful crap like food and rent. They're forced to buy something they'd enjoy 🙂

<-- happy with whatever he gets.

 

[batmang]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Because with a gift card you can write in there "I know you liked a certain shirt at this store, but I didn't know what size to get you."

you can't write that on the card you put the money in?

GC's give the giver some control. If you really want to give somebody something, but not sure what color or size, you can at least pre-pay for it at that store. With cash, they could just turn around and blow it on hookers and booze.

🙂

who cares about the giver? its the receiver that needs the control.

my aunt and uncle gave me a gift card to GAP one year for Xmas. Do you know how many times in the 26 years that I've been on this Earth that I've gone into a GAP? ZERO!


btw, whats wrong with booze and hookers?

your aunt and uncle should pay closer attention to what you like instead of trying to make you preppy. its their fault, but you should be greatful because you got it free. or if you were smart, you'd blow all of the gift card on clothes, spend $5 more over the gift card value in cash, and then take it all back and get cash in return. 🙂

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: batmang

Originally posted by: Injury
Because giving someone cash says "I didn't want to spend anymore time on you than it took me to go to the ATM" while a Gift Certificate says "At least I know something about your likes and dislikes".

Truth be told, though, I would be happy getting either. However, I like gift cards more because if I have cash, I tend to spend it on everyday things. I get cash, I put it in my wallet, I buy dumb crap. It's the equivlent of someone buying me a tank of gas... or lightbulbs, laundry detergent and some ice cream as a gift.


Whereas with a gift certificate, I can go to the store, wonder around for 30 minutes and think of all the cool things I can get with it without blowing it on stupid crap.

exactly! this is the exact reason i buy gift cards for people. it is aimed at a certain store so people cant buy dumb crap.

Meh - back in college I sold a $30 gift certificate for $25 so I could pay the rent on time.
Sorry Nana 🙁

 

[batmang]

see, it has more value too. 🙂

 

[ArchCenturion]

sometimes i think you can get like a 50 credit card that can be spent anywhere.

 

[batmang]

id max it out and charge the buyer. 😛