I don't like giving or receiving gift cards. To me they say the giver didn't think it was worth the time to shop (for a gift). Giving/Receiving a gift card from a certain store is like giving/receiving money and being told where you're going to spend it!

As a matter of fact, that's what I asked for my DH to get me for xmas. He'd never be able to buy me clothes (he has no taste), but gives me a healthy gift card to my favourite clothing store. And he loves getting Canadian Tire and Home Hardware cards. We both also exchange surprise gifts, cause you just can't know everything you're getting, right?

Hi Country,
Unless they know it is your favourite store! DH loves giving me a gift card from my favourite nursery (along with some other gifts). This year I got a gift card from Canadian Tire (the store isn't like it sounds....it's more like a department store.....without the clothing!) as well as a gift from my step-father.

My Step-father loves Future Shop, and was saving up for a particular item. He's thrilled when he gets gift-cards for FS as he puts it towards the item he wants.

I love them, Jasdip, my SIL sends them for our anniversary and birthdays all the time, and always dining cards. A dear friend gave me a dining card for a restaraunt that we go to for special events. I give them to my employees each year as well, usually I give them a mall card so they can go to whatever store they prefer.

Personally, I love them, and I gave them to all of my grandkids and their spouses. Well, they were all from Target, but I felt they could always use them. I received them for Lands End and Barnes and Noble this year. Minnesota has outlawed the expiration date.

Something else I like is giftcertificates.com, where the recipient can choose from many different stores or businesses. The only problem is that you should tell the person to look for it in their email......my SIL deleted the one I just sent to DD, but she was able to rescue it before it was permanently deleted

LOVE getting them!

Country bumpkin said; "To me they say the giver didn't think it was worth the time to shop (for a gift)."

I think a gift is a WASTE of their time and gift cards are smarter!

As an example...
I like clothing from Chico's, but I am tall and not all Chico's things "hit" in the right spots.

You can go the the store, spend your time looking/buying, and get me a $100 jacket from Chico's - and it may or may not fit.
If it does, I have a $100 jacket.
If it doesn't, I have to exchange it and there may or may not be something that works.

If you give me a $100 gift card, I can combined it with discounts I get via catalog/email, my Passport Club discount, and online sales.
I can - and have in the past - been able to get close to $300 in merchandise for $100.

Much better for me, less hassle for the person who only has to buy a gift card and NOT shop the store.

I would love to get gift cards but seldom do. My family, except my husband, would know where I would like to shop. I did not get any for Christmas.

Sue

Actually not that much since I don't like to shop. I also don't care for restaurant gift cards since they are mostly for awful chains like Cheesecake Factory or Olive Garden.

Then I have to figure out a way to use it. It once took me forever to use up a $20 Marshall's gift card. I would go to the store and see people with their full shopping carts and wonder why they were buying all that stuff that regular retailers couldn't sell. Here I stood trying to spend a measley 20 bucks and practically hyper-ventilating at the insanity of it. LOL Finally found a purple Nike windbreaker for myself in the guy's section.

I do like gift cards for useful stuff. Home Depot or Bed,Bath and Beyond are good.

I like getting gift cards but I am always forgetting i have them. (Duh!) It is a really nice teacher gift - something you can really use that doesn't add more stuff to your house - not that I don't appreciate each and every gift I get.

Gift cards can be a very thoughtful, well intentioned gift ... my niece (450 miles away) sent me a nice gift card for Borders, when I was recuperating from surgery. She knew I could go online and find a couple of good books and they'd be delivered right to the house.

I do like to get them, but not ONLY them. I rarely give them out, because I like the search for the right gift for the person ... but sometimes, they ARE the right gift.

Gift cards usually just feel like an exchange of money to me. I don't give them to anyone I'm close to, but will give one to someone in more of a business setting. I gave them to Chloe's teachers, for example. I wanted to thank these women, because they do a wonderful job, but I don't know them well enough to buy a real present.

The only exception is when you give a gift card for a specific item. As in, "I know you love heirloom roses, so here's a gift card to the local nursery. Let's go pick out a great specimen together."

I think they're the greatest "invention" ever. DD gives them to us every year. She usually gives me one to Steinmart and DH one to Barnes & Noble. Also gives us each a restaurant card. This year was Olive Garden and Bonefish Grill. Both can be used at the other restaurants the parent company owns. Saves her shopping time and saves me from the size 4 clothing she seems to think I still wear ;-) that I have to return. I see it as a win-win deal.

I don't mind them at all - in fact I love I-Tunes
gift cards and Barnes & Noble. I want to pick out
my own music and books.

I usually love them but the time my brother gave me a $200 gift card to Yankee Candles- man. I like an occasional candle but it was hard to blow $200 at once at a YC store in FL to use it up. I still have most of them sitting here, too, except for the ones I gave away. I would have much rather had a card to Hobby Lobby or that horrible restaurant, Olive Garden. :)

And I'd shop at Marshall's, too, if we had them here, because when I can get a set of sheets for $20 instead of $100, regular price, I consider that a great deal. That's another reason I like going to FL because then I get to hit all the stores we don't have.

So it depends on the store or place the gift card is to. A good giver will know enough about me to buy one for a place I actually tend to shop.

I think they are wonderful. No wrong size, color, clutter, etc. I remember some grape "scented" pjs DD got one year! (Not joking!) Nasty smell and it would not wash out. How pleasant a give card would have been. We could have gotten unscented pjs that would have been appreciated not thrown out.

Linda

Cash and checks have gone out of "fashion" so gift cards are the new black in gifts. Personally if you're not going to give cash, I think it'd be better to give a prepaid credit card to let the person use it at a gas pump, grocery store, appliance store, card shop, clothing store, discount department store or whatever other business, even online, rather than limiting it to one place. A couple times I was given, for instance, a Walmart gift card. Well I seldom go there. It's just not a convenient place to go, but if I make the special trip I always could find ways to spend it on something. But isn't the idea to have it be used in the way the recipient wants, rather than having to find a way to use it? When you think about it, that will explain why gift cards would expire on people.

Cash is still preferred. A check, secondary. That way you have more control IMO. I still like the idea of a prepaid credit card better but if you research and find out where they go often, I guess a gift card would work.

Some years ago when I was going through some harder times, a friend owed me some favors. He wanted to give me something for it. So he wanted to know my favorite beer and he was going to buy me 4 cases of beer for helping him out all the time. I tried to hint that the cash would be far more useful to pay for gasoline, natural gas, electric, utility bills and the like but he didn't quite get it. Sometimes people get so wrapped up in their own satisfaction of giving, they can lose sight of the benefit to the person. How frustrated I get when I hear something like "Oh that's so CUTE! I'm going to get that for ______" (whether they'd think it's cute or not!)

My only suggestion is to give some thought to whether it BENEFITS the person intended or makes more work for them. That adds or detracts as to the value of the gift.

On a related note, I bought a gift card for a local grocery store. They had a promo going that if you buy a $300 gift card, they'd add and extra $30 to it. Getting 10% interest on your money these days is rare. And it took me about 9 months to spend it but it got used and if you look at the annual yield on that interest rate, it's pretty good. I'll be watching for them to do that again.

I like getting them, but it does depend on the store and the recipient's taste. I've been lucky so far. An Eddie Bauer card was a great treat one year, as I took advantage of post-Christmas sales. I've had fun with cards from Borders, Lowe's, and TJ Maxx. This year I got one from Pier 1. I don't know what I'd do with $200 worth of candles!

I wouldn't mind a gift card to that wretched restaurant, Olive Garden, but so far I've had to pay for lunches there myself. :-)

I enjoy receiving gift cards IF they are to specialty stores which I love. A plant nursery, a sports store, maybe even my favorite horse supply store. If it was from Wally world, Target or Kmart I would be thankful but deflated. The exception would be a nicer department store where I find great sales and use discount coupons on top of the gift card. Getting more for my buck makes me happy.

I like them...especially the "generic" ones like AMEX.
Gift cards to favorite restaurants, Cold Water Creek, my nail salon, Wegman's are exchanged among our family and friends.

I have $200 in gift cards to Nordstrom, a store where I just cannot find much I like. The cards cannot be redeemed for cash in the store. As I said in a previous post, what I really want is a Kindle.

I don't want to go through a gift card exchange website.

I do like most other gift cards. This year I got Starbucks and BBB cards. I would love an Amazon card (Kindle Kindle!!).

For the most part, I don't really care for them. I mean what's the sense of my giving you a $50 WalMart gift cart & you give me the same? Or, perhaps "worse"... one gives $40 GC while the other gives a $50 GC?

I think they are fine as an incentive type thing, where you sign up for, or buy, "X" & you'll get a $50 GC.

But as "gifts"....... nah..... not really. You keep your money & I'll keep mine.

I get my daughter a gift card or a gift certificate each year as a 'hostess' gift for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I know her tastes so that isn't a problem. AND since she does her best to get out to use them within a few days, I -know- she enjoys getting them. It helps when you know the person really well.

Shirley

It just depends on the store and who is giving the gift card.

My husband's family does not believe in giving practical gifts. My family prefers practical gifts and that's what I prefer. One year my sil decided that I needed a some skin rejuvenating facial at a place her friend owned. I personally found it insulting and wasn't really sure I wanted whatever process they were going to do to my skin done. Sil hounded me about the stupid thing. I finally called the number to find that the place was only open M-F so I would have had to have taken off of work to use it at a time when I didn't have much leave. Lucky for me we decided to move soon after. I gave the card back to sil.

The PTA sent home a list of store, restaurants, colors, etc., for all of the teachers. I found that off putting.
We gave Target gift cards to the teachers so they could use them for themselves if they wanted or they could use them to buy things for the classroom.

I love gift cards!!! I have never received one that I didn't like. I like the fact that I can give my Mom a $100 gift card to Walmart and she is not offended. She is on a fixed income and she does fine but she doesn't have much left over, if I tried to give her cash it would hurt her feelings, but if a give her a gift card, she doesn't mind at all. If she wants to spend it on something she needs instead of something she wants, that's up to her. It helps out without offending.
I love getting gift cards to restaurants-we don't eat out a lot and ususally never somewhere nice, but with gift cards, you bet.
If I had received a $200 gift card for Yankee Candle, I probably would have used it to buy gifts for people on my list for next year.

Wow, that's terrible, IMHO.

One of the teachers at my school has the class adopt a needy family, and instead of gifts to her, the students bring appropriate gifts for that family. Oh I just remembered, this year they collected things to send to military in Iraq. It's a powerful learning experience for 2nd graders.

I like getting gift cards. This Christmas I got 2 for JCPenneys, and two for fast-food, McDonalds and Burger King. I've already used up the fast-food gift certs. I try to avoid giving gift certs because I know many peoole do not like them, think they're tacky. Me ,I don't. I've had only one I couldn't use. My best friend since sixth grade sent me a gift cert for Joann's Fabrics. Problem is, there are no Joann's near me. So that one expired.

DH and I just hate gift cards, coupons, and the like. Whenever we ask the other about an expiration date, our standard answer is "yesterday". And we're usually right. :-)

Jodi-

I like getting gift cards. I don't think anyone that usually buys me gifts could pick out clothes that I would like or that would fit well... I am also super picky about what goes in my house (decor-wise). I love gift cards from TJMax because I can always find something there, whether it be clothing, bath items, kitchenware or house stuff. I also welcome most any restaurant gift cards since DH and I eat out at least once a week.

I love Cheesecake Factory (Olive Garden too). They have 'real' chefs both places. The menu at CF is amazing! There must be a larger/better assortment of restaurants where Wildchild lives, but here in the midwest Cheesecake Factory is one of the better ones IMO.

I may have to rethink giving the neices/nephews gift cards though. I overheard one asking another if Walmart gift cards could be used for cigarettes. He just turned 16. *sigh*

Curlysue if you ever get a Yankee Candle gift card, you can regift to me lol I Love yankee candle store...

I Love gift cards, especially to walmart, this year my future MIL gave me the UGLIEST sweater, its to :old: for me and its just not something I would wear, I can't take it back because she cut the tag inside, so it can't be returned.. guess its going to the top of the closet

i love them and thanks for reminding me I got one for Golden Corral. I just have to remember to use them

I like getting gift cards! Usually my daughters will get them for me for Borders, Barnes and Nobles or World Market. Places that I love to shop in but never have the extra money for! If I have a gift card to use I can use it with out any guilt at all! Plus I have the fun of picking out something for myself that I really want, but usually can't afford.

I don't care for them at all. I would rather just write a check that can be used whenever or where ever they want without restrictions or expiration dates or fees. If I happen to get one I try to use it quickly- I don't like having them laying around.

I don't generally give gift cards. Don't get them often, but DF gave me one to my favorite restaurant, so I'll enjoy it!

I feel much the same as beeohio does.

"I think they are fine as an incentive type thing, where you sign up for, or buy, "X" & you'll get a $50 GC.

But as "gifts"....... nah..... not really. You keep your money & I'll keep mine."

For me, giving a gift card takes all the fun out of seeing something and getting that rush of "__________ will absolutely love this!"

And getting one means that I have to shop for my own gift. What, you didn't care enough to shop for a gift for me?

But, as another poster (or two) said, SOMETIMES a gift card is the right gift. I have occasionally bought them, but certainly don't want giving or getting them to become routine, because if gift giving or receiving ever becomes just a routine, I'll bow out altogether.

I like gift cards, especially from JC Penneys as I buy alot of stuff there. Walmart is good as it is a super WM, but Target is good too. Barnes and Noble, cards can be used in the food area, and sometimes DH and I will eat lunch there. Don't forget that most grocery stores give cards also. I am careful what cards I give and to to whom, but before Christmas I ask the kids and GD's what they want. Menards and Shields Sporting Store are a favorite for the men in the family, since all hunt with guns and bows and arrows.
Our Menards carries a really good selection of groceries, household items and tools.

i recieved 2 for christmas and couldn't be happier... (target) also gave one to dd1 for lowes and one to dd2 for sherwin williams...one to ds1, for sears...that's what they all asked for...

when you're my age you don't need more candles, clothes that don't fit, ect...

When you do buy a gift card, be sure and keep your receipt until the person has used their gift card, just in case there is a problem and the store says it isn't any good. Meijer had a lot of problems with several not working when family tried to use them. I had all the receipts though. Sometimes their machine for some reason doesn't work.

Sue

I agree with Country Bumpkin...It just signifies to me that a person isn't interested in shopping for my gift or that the person who wants a gift card from me, is just interested in the gift or the money...Part of giving is supposed to be the pleasure of selecting the perfect gift for that person. Several of our older Grands decided last year that they preferred to get gift cards ...This year, we decided to start sending gifts to the whole family...gift baskets with fruit or food...The older ones work and can buy their own gift cards or whatever they want...so we'll send a gift for the whole family and they can all enjoy it.

Yes, be sure to keep those receipts. It wasn't a gift card - I put $100. on a walmart card to use to make gasoline purchases. I went right out the door to fill up my car and it would not work. Customer Services fixed it. Now I have the checkout person make sure a card works before I leave the counter.

I like them! I can either be practical and buy house stuff or just blow it on a luxury for me! Some of the malls near us sell gift cards, so you can use them at any store in the mall!

The thing that annoys me...Certain relatives ask me what I want for Christmas or a birthday. I give them a specific list. My list had a variety of items and different prices ranges. Then they get me totally different things. I certainly don't expect everything on the list, but how about one, since you asked me?? Or something vaguely close? One year I even said, no lotions, as I cleaned out my cabinets and had more then I could ever use...so what do you think I got? Lotion!!! Well, I dontated it so I hope a needy person enjoyed it! Not sure what the point of them asking for specifics if you aren't going to use that information?

Okay vent over!

I like them. If they are for a place the receiver enjoys, they can be just as thoughtful as a perfectly selected gift. I love to just get out of the house for a couple hours to myself and spend it browsing Barnes & Noble with a latte from Starbucks. But I'd drop $30 just to get a little me time. So when someone gives me the gift cards to those places, they have given a gift of "me time." I think of them while I'm there, and I'm very thankful they did that for me. My mom sent me one for Christmas to JCPenney so I could pick some new clothes for the new job. She can't be here to shop with me, and if she chose them they might not fit, I need to try them on. What I needed was to do a little shopping, and she sent me shopping trip. Very thoughtful. I gave gift cards to a couple who help me out a lot with kids' activity transportation. I could spend hours picking a gift to show my appreciation. But I spent 10 minutes stopping by a restaurant and movie theatre for gift cards so they can spend few hours together. I bought them a date night, and threw in child care from me. Dinner, movie and babysitter add up, but what couple doesn't need that? So I don't think they are thoughtless at all. Of course they can be. If someone sent DH one to Starbucks he would give it to me. So that just shows no knowledge of what he likes at all. It's not the card or the gift, both can be selected well or badly.

I love them, from restaurants or from the stores I'd like to shop at. They are always the right size & the right color ;0

Beats the 2 snuggies I got for Christmas. (don't mean to sound like an ingrate, but they are too light & static-y for me to use them. Even kitty doesn't like getting zapped.

In general, I do not like gift cards - too many restrictions. In many cases, those cards are useless to me forcing me to buy someting that I don't want or need just to keep from gifting the merchant. However, there are a few select cards that are useful for me, but not many. I have advised my family not to give me gift cards; Make it cash instead.