kraftdee and asolo, I know what you mean. That's why I prefer "thing" gifts to cash, too. If you give a "thing" gift from a basic department store with a reasonable exchange policy, it's almost the best of both worlds, because they can (a) keep it, (b) exchange it for whatever gift-type they want, or (c) return it for a store credit to use for their own everyday purchases (which is almost like giving cash). But if I weren't going to give a "thing" gift, I'd give cash, not a gift card or a prepaid Visa. The only time I really like gift cards are if they are for something that the recipient really does have to pick out themselves. Like my favorite little gift for someone with a new (not a first) home: a gift certificate to switchhits.com or similar site, so they can pick out fun switchplates and outlet covers to give a little finishing touch to a room. But otherwise, I would either choose something myself or else give cash; if you want them to do the shopping, no sense limiting them.

"For family in Australia, I picked a nice store in the area after doing research online. Then emailed the store asking how to buy and send a gift card. I ended up charging the gift card on my credit card, and the store sent the card directly to the recipient." +1! You can also shop on line at many stores and have them send the gift out, sometimes by their own truck. Even fresh food picnic baskets, of all things. Beats those vague "gift" cards and beats Amazon hands down. We did this with a case of wine from Harrod's. E Z P Z.

Gifts are good to give out to others due to they can be used for shopping at stores for only they can know and buy what they like. Grocery gift cards are a good one too, in fact if grandparents are doing the cooking all the time for these expensive meals, I see them here and that is a huge cost for them, help them by giving them gift cards for those and not break their budget or go without after its all over, food has become hugely expensive and hard to buy at times. Gas gift cards for those driving cars. Restaurants, book stores, there are such a variety of gift cards that can be bought and what they like and can choose what they like themselves. But think of ones you are giving gift cards and will they use them as all many not like them or not go out and about to use them. I caught this show where they were talking about gift cards and one loves them so much for everything from going to movies, to food, to gas, to shopping all those things to do. Another said she has a huge pile of them and hates them, feels they are a unthought gift. Another said she likes to actually open up a gift given. I tried that with my brother and sil years ago as I couldn't afford their expensive taste so thought I would give card where they shopped back then and they hated them said that is an unthought gift. There are many that are hard to buy for and you give up then as they aren't happy with anything. I would love to have something like grocery gift card, bookstore gift card, for me those are useful and great gifts to have but I have no one to give anything like that to me except if I do it to myself. LOL kathy

>>Here it is $6-7 each for purchasing, and if they aren't used quickly, monthly fees eat up the balance for the recipients.>> Different banks will have different fees for Visa/Mstrcd gift cards. And "use quickly"? Federal regulations now prohibit ANY monthly non-usage fees until one full year after issuance date. The law was changed in 2010. If a recipient hasn't used that card up in one year, I wouldn't feel sorry about their having to pay a fee. More likely that gift card is zeroed out within a couple of months, LOL. Doesn't bother me to pay a small charge to buy a card. Better to let the recipient choose where/how to use it, than restrict them to a single store unless you are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN it's one of their regular favorites. We enjoy Barnes & Noble but I would suggest anyone who has their gift cards, use them up within the next 18-24 months. They're going under slowly, and nothing is going to save them. Chain bookstores are no longer a viable business.