I’ve been straddling the gift card fence for far too long, and I’d love to know what everybody thinks about them. Are they tacky to give a a gift? Something that says “I didn’t know what to get you, so buy it yourself”? Or are they a considerate “I didn’t want to get you something you might not like, and now you can pick out whatever you want”?
And what’s an appropriate value to place on a gift card? Too little and they’ll have to chip in their own cash to buy anything. Too much and your wallet is going to start to ache.
Gift card ettiquette time folks — how much, how many, and how appropriate?
Love gift cards. I ask for the every year. Rather get those than some gift that I have to pretend to love and then never use it, or regift. So when you are not sure what to get someone, the gift cards are the best bet. My parents exchange those every year.
and you can use them after christmas when stuff is on sale
I think it depends on the occasion and how well you know the person. I might be a bit insulted if my husband gave me a gift card for our anniversary instead of an actual gift. However, I actually prefer that most people give me a gift card because I don’t have “set” tastes.…I have to see something to know if I will like it instead of being able to say that I like this and this and that. So I like gift cards because it means I can get something I really wanted instead of something that someone else thought I really wanted. On top of that, we don’t always know people’s personal situations.…if they’re having a rough financial situation that we’re unaware of, a gift card to somewhere like Wal-Mart where they could get groceries or something else they really need could be a lifesaver.
Also what you could do is give them something small that is personal and pair it with a gift card. For example if you know they love coffee, you could make them a small basket with coffee mugs and stuff and then put in a gift card.
I like gift cards if they’re for practical places (somewhere I’ll need it) such as: Esso, Grocery Stores, Mall gift cards, etc. My friends usually get me gift cards to places they know I’ve been eying something from
We usually do $20 or $40–60 if we’re feeling generous 
I also love gift cards, i usually save them and when money is a bit tight,and am feeling a bit down and i feel like shopping i know i always have my gift cards to pick me up again.
A big YES to gift cards, the exception being immediate family. Vibrantflame’s suggestion of a small gift + gift card is excellent, especially for close friends who might be put off by just a crad. People tend to appreciate something immediately tangible, and are more likely to be grateful.
I once got a $50 card from MEXX. I had to add another $40 just to buy an expensive skirt that I wouldn’t have bought. So be sure the card value do have enough to buy most things at that store! ($20 for Tim Horton is great, but $20 card for Banana Republic is just mean!)
Actually, I prefer gift cards from older relatives and friends. They usually don’t know what I like. (Tacky red handbag, high waist jeans, old lady perfume, Kenny G albums…)
Some gift cards are very thoughtful gifts. I love the ones from bookstores. It says, “I know you love books, but I’m not sure which one you have already read. So here you go, but some more books you like.”
I love giftcards, as long as there for somewhere that I can use them.
Be careful this year with gift cards.
A gift card could turn cold in a hurry if the retailer that issued the card goes out of business.
See the following article.
You’d better watch out: Gift cards can be lumps of coal
http://tinyurl.com/5njzwa
And the following list of companies:
http://tinyurl.com/5rt87r
I’m with E. I’d rather a gift card rather than something that they wouldn’t know if I liked or not.
I’m a big fan of the gift card!!!
Last year my husband got me gift cards for a hair salon, old navy, suzy, la senza, winners, and American eagle. It was the best thing he could have given me! I had a 9 month old baby and needed a good pick me up and an excuse to get out and splurge on myself!!!!
love gift cards. i’d say any less than $25 and don’t bother though. lol
Two years ago I bought a wallet for my wife. In every credit card slot I put in a different gift card. In the other slots I put in cash, lottery tickets, a gift certificate for the casino and some Tim Horton gift certificates. I put the wallet in a purse I bought from the Dollar Store and wrapped it up. Although she gaged at the purse when she saw it (it was meant to be a joke but she thought I had very bad taste)she loved the idea. Women love to shop and I repeated the idea again last year. She wants the same again this year, but the idea is getting kind of old.
I love getting them, but I don’t like giving them. It feels like such a lazy choice to give because there is little thought put into it. But sometimes when you don’t know the person really well to know what they really want then I guess it’s ok to give. It’s better than to give something that they won’t use.
Well amounts are what would you spend for the gift? Couponing is more work but more bang for the buck. I could care less if I get a gift card but I don’t dislike them as to amount well again what were you planning to spend?
Most of us do not spend enough time to know each other. Yes, that include families and friends. So give card is a good alternative to getting unwanted gift. And gift card is warmer than giving cash unless you are at least a generation older or younger.
i LOVE gift cards! i ask for them every year. i am very picky with the things that I buy and 9 times out of 10, someone will get me something i will never use. i personally don’t like to give gift cards though. i like to show that i actually put thought into the gift. however, if someone flat out says they only want gift cards, then i would get one.
Hate ‘em– Absolutely hate them. Screams to me that (1) I am too lazy to put any thought into your gift or (2) You are an obligation that I feel I have to buy for but haven’t got a clue what you like or need.Point number 2 seems to have gotten way to rampant in our culture and perhaps if we started getting back to the true meaning of Christmas then commercial exploitation and consumer debt would be lessened. I see very few times that a gift card might be appropriate and believe that it is yet another way that stores and such have devised to seperate as much money as they can from you and your wallet
Gift cards??? Be very careful. Ask questions.Read the fine print.
For years I purchased Mall gift cards for younger family members. They could be cashed in at any store in the mall. I used to buy smaller denominations that would add up to $50 for each child. It was a major mall developer that owns retail space across Canada. If everyone remembers the last few years the fact that these gift cards had expiry dates on them had became a topic of concern. A large number of these gift coupons are not cashed in also, providing a large profit for a store or mall. The government made it illegal to put expiry dates on them. Christmas 2007 I went to purchase them as I did all the other years. I ordered hundreds of dollars worth, but this time there was a charge and the certificates were not paper but plastic cards. I was kind of taken back that I am giving this large regional mall business for their stores and now I have to pay to do so? But what really floored me was when I read the fine print at home. These mall gift cards had a monthly maintanance fee on them. This ment that every month they were not used the cards value would become less and less, until the card would become without any value at all. It was a way of getting around the now illegal expiry dates. The young people I purchased these for every year live all over the province and are only home at certain times.
Never again will I purchase these gift cards. It will only be cash used inside a Christmas card. The mall has lost my business.
Gift Cards depend on the situation.
As a receiver, I am all for it. If someone doesn’t know what I like, or knows what I like but doesn’t know what I have of that kind of item, or just doesn’t have the time to shop, than hey, it’s cool, at least they are thinking of you!
As a giver, I don’t like giving them. That may be because I enjoy the actual thrill of shopping, especially at this time of year, or because I also love to bargain hunt. For instance, if I find a red tag sale somewhere and I am able to get my mother something that I know she likes and normally retails at $40 but I can get it for $10, I’ll buy it, but I would feel bad giving a gift card for “only” $10. Sure, it is about what you can afford and it is the thought that counts which is why as a gift reciever it doesn’t matter if you shop at the dollar store, but as a gift giver, I just enjoy my bargains.
I don’t expect anything from anyone, so whatever they decide to give me, should they decide to, the moneary value isn’t an issue to me.
I think I know what mall gift cards Alex is referring to, but he’s a bit wrong about them. The mall maintenance fee he’s talking about only starts to apply AFTER you haven’t used the card for 15 months. In the 16th month they start taking off $2.00 per month.
Usually people don’t keept a gift card around for a year and a half without using them (especially mall gift cards) so I don’t see this as too much of a problem. True they could do away with the restriction all together, but it doesn’t affect my preference to get them nor does it turn me off to those malls altogether. Shopping at those malls are unavoidable for me anyway.
Oh yeah, and to answer the question, YES! I love getting gift cards. Saves me a bundle and I’d rather have that than another picture frame or candle, which could equally show how lazy and unthoughtful a gift giver can be. =)
Amy I read all of the conditions (there were about 25) and that was not the case. However I am not prepared ever again to purchase one so I leave it with you to direct people others otherwise.
Probably the best advise is to ask for a copy of these conditions before purchasing (and signing) the agreement.
alex, always complaining!
TaraF, very well put.
I don’t use gift cards. I really only buy gifts for my mom, dh, and nephew (small family) BR and I decided long ago that nither one of us really liked going out for buy gifts (I hate crowds and he doesn’t have time (own business). Mom is always a gift (she had shtty xmas growing up so this means a lot to her, and nicely wrapped too! lol) Dh, we usually talk about it before xmas, we’re only 2 so … nephew though was sorta raised by mom and I and that 27 year old has his head on straight, asks for cash so he can shop after xmas sales, and then he proudly shows us all his buys! lol
my fave are for Chapters Indigo
I got a huge one ($175 worth) as a goodbye gift at my old work.. and not only I used it on books, but I got other people gifts with it too (books and cards)
otherwise I think they’re a good solution for occasions like housewarming or as a thank you.. Christmas and Birthdays not so much
Analyst warns retail gift cards may be risky deal this season
Vito Pilieci, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Friday, November 28, 2008
Buying retail gift cards this holiday season may be a bit like playing roulette, says a U.S. retail analyst, and customers and retailers could end up losing their chips.
Because of the declining economy, as many as half of all retailers in the United States may see deep financial trouble next year, said Britt Beemer, chairman of America’s Research Group Ltd., and that could affect their Canadian divisions.
To read this article from the Ottawa Citizen click below:
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/bustech/story.html?id=a0490b8f-7dca-42c3-9b72-300f675cc994
My family has requested gift cards this year. They will be from their favourite stores and they can be mailed in a Christmas card, saving me costly shipping costs. I don’t mind: my parents and my brother are at the stage where I have no clue what to get them and they have enough time and cash of their own to get what they want when they want; they have simple needs and wants.
We got some last year and they were greatly appreciated. The Wal-Mart one I got a few months ago was a life saver, getting us stuff we really needed but didn’t quite have the cash for.
I think they are great when well used and well chosen. But, if ever you find a “real” gift that would be just perfect, then go for it, that’s great too.
I think gift cards are for those too lazy to take the time to find a gift. I would rather have someone buy me something they think i’d like, as long as there’s a gift enclosure so i can exchange it.
Im completely against gift cards as a gift. I feel if I do not know someone enough to choose them a gift they would like, I shoudlnt be wasting my money getting them something at all. I will make exceptions for the following 1) not a traditional giving season and just a nice though 2) non monitary value cards, eg “any service from this spa” 3) Impersonal giving situations such as a secret-santa style exchange 4) Subordinate gifting — ie what a boss provides his employes
On a personal level, it really is saying 2 horrible things that people justify because they like spending money on their own: 1) You are such a difficult person I cannot spend any of my precious time/thoughts on you 2) This is the monitary value I am willing to spend to justify #1.
I would much rather receive a much hated gift that showed some thought about me (hey i like cats, picture a hand knit UGLY sweater from hades…still loved it.) than the ultimate in thoughtlessness — $20 so I can feel better buying something (realistically) I probably would have bought anyways. I guess though, I dont feel the far reaching obligation to give something to everybody I know as some people here do…
i hate giving gift cards. I enjoy selecting and shopping and getting a great deal! I’m ambivalent to receiving… I know i can get a better deal than most, but i’d like a small, but thoughtful gift rather than the money. Of course i think i’ll be giving my babysitter cash! It bothers me that the mall will charge a fee.
I’ve never liked gift cards. I find gift cards are for people who are uncreative, for people who can’t come up with something better, who can’t take the time to buy a real present for something. That said, if you’re buying a gift card to Chapters because you know the person you’re buying for loves reading, but you don’t know what books they already own, and you throw it in with something else like a sweater or a cute little stuffed animal, it makes it seem like you took the extra effort to actually pick out something for them. Using small dollar amount gift cards as stocking stuffers are ok too.
I recieved a Sears gift card a couple years back and it took me forever to use it — I hate Sears for the most part. Their clothing is ugly and over priced, as much as everything else in the store, and I don’t wear makeup enough to warrant using it on their cosmetics section. I finally found something online to buy, but I couldn’t just “redeem” the gift card, it would charge the full amount of the gift card on your credit card and then credit the amount of the gift card back. I didn’t have a credit card at the time, so I had my mom order the item for me with the gift card. Little did we know, because we ordered it online, they WOULD NOT CALL US when the item arrived to be picked up, it would arrive in an email instead, which I never got.… So I was waiting… and waiting… and finally I went in just to check, and the item had been sent back already. I don’t think my mom ever got fully credited back either. Needless to say, I won’t ever buy anything from Sears again, and if I get a gift card from someone, I’m hoping it will be one I’ll actually use, or I’ll just regift it!
Alex,
Its possible that the conditions have changed since you last saw them. Your first post freaked me out because I actually recieved one of those mall cards recently. Haha I dug up my card and went over the conditions and typed up my post from what I read (with the card etc. in front of me). As far as the current card goes, its $2 a month after 15 months of non use. However, I do know if you buy the card to give to someone else, you have to pay like a $1 or so administration fee, which I find somewhat ridiculous, but understandable from an economic stand point.
It has been a couple of years so I don’t have the conditions in front of me anymore.Regardless I will not purchase gift cards again. It has been only cash since then. Paying an administration charge makes no sense to me either. These retailers are starting to catch on to the banks games. Or the Costco’s and Sams Clubs membership tax (I can’t call them fees since the reality is you are not joining a club). You are handing over free money for nothing. An incredible amount of money is made by these so called clubs on the membership taxes.
When you purchase a gift card you are directing business to a certain retailer or shopping mall. You may even be introducing a new customer to the establishment. You are doing the retailer a favour. Why should you have to pay?
I always hated gifts cards, until one year I got completely fed up with trying to get something for my dad that he wouldn’t toss in the trash a couple of weeks later. CDs of his favourite bands would get downloaded to his computer, and tossed. Clothes would either sit in his closet (He won’t wear a new item until the old one is so worn it almost falls apart on his back) or thrown out instead of returned/exchanged or given to charity. Most foods/restaurants are out of the question because of dietary concerns. He has no hobbies (lord knows I’ve tried to find him one). On and on the list goes. Oh, and I forgot to mention his birthday is boxing day! So one year I bundled together a huge pile of $10 gift cards from his (few) favourite haunts — including a bunch for the gas station — and wrote on the tag: Merry Christmas, Dad ~ I haven’t bought you anything yet! He thought I’d given him nothing until he opened the little box they were in. He thought it was hilarious, and looks forward to seeing what combination of gift cards he’ll get each year.
love giftcards but sadly i never get them because all my friends think its more meaningful to pick a present for me <_<
i really hate giving reactions when i receive presents, most of the time I don’t like it and I’m really really really bad with reactions. I do feel really bad
but they still haven’t learnt to give giftcards =[
BAH.…sure gift cards are handy for consumers…
even more so for retailers…it is free money!
With all the fine print…cut off dates…exclusions…etc,
the ‘average’ person won’t use the full value.
Those plastic cards are pushed down consumers throats along
with too much Christmas turkey!
i think it is tacky to give someone a giftcard if it is really genaric. but if it is for a place or something that is very thoughtful. then it is okay. I know i would prefer to get a gift card for my favorite store by someone who maybe doesn’t know my size or styles i llke.
and it also saves you from an awkward situation of pretending you really like something even if you don’t.
but it does suck getting a gift card for a place fo 20 bucks if everything in it costs 150.