Lacking a bonus, I don't like gift cards/certificates

15 years ago

Most stores that offer gift cards/certificates (and which one doesn't?) offer only ones of equal value.

They get a benefit when they get $20.00 currency (or equivalent via Credit or Debit Card) and give a piece of paper worth not a cent more that's useful in only their store: it's called a "guaranteed sale".

Where's there a benefit for me ... or the recipient ... in such a deal?

Maybe the recipient doesn't ordinarily shop there.

Maybe s/he forgets it when coming to shop ... and buys stuff for cash.

Maybe s/he loses it.

Maybe the store that issued it goes out of business - so the card/certificate becomes ... just so much scrap plastic/paper. Gets paid for providing - nothing!

If I'm to give valuable consideration ... for nothing tangible in return ... I'll give to a charity!! Most stores ain't no charity!

When I ask retailers for a $20.00 certificate for $18.00 ... they look at me as though I carry two heads.

If there's no benefit for me ...

... why should I trade a (semi)-valuable(1) piece of currency, valid for purchases in thousands of stores in town, for one with their name on it, that's useful in only their store?

There is one potential advantage for the holder ... they may choose to use it when goods are on sale, while if the giver had bought a Christmas gift instead, it probably would have been at full retail, prior to Christmas. Though, with many retailers running recession-scared this year, there may be substantial pre-Chritmas sales.

However - sometimes there's an activation fee ... sometimes a monthly fee when the card/certif. isn't used, "inactivity fee" ... which means that fairly often the card-holder finds that half or more of the value has ... evaporated! That's usually on the ones issued by a shopping mall, good in the various stores, I've heard.

When I was a kid, it cost 50 cents to go to the movie and if we gave them $5.00, they'd give us 12 tickets ... which made it useful if more than one couple were out for an evening's entertainment.

There was a benefit for us purchasers, as well.

Which, being canny shoppers, suited us fine.

But the stores got rid of that nonsense ... ages ago.

Did you see that list here of all of those stores that are in the process of going bankrupt?

I'm not about to be buying any gift cards/certificates this year ... to maybe see them go up in smoke, later? No, thanks!!

Good wishes for increasingly canny use of both your income - and your assets!

ole joyful

1. " ...trade a (semi)-valuable(1) piece of currency ....", that's becoming more "semi" as the months go by.

o j

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Comments (16)

bigfoot_liz
15 years ago
we will be buying our usual restaurant gift cards this end of yr again, as in yrs past. we only buy from a few certain restaurants (that we go to often) that offer deals on cards. usually we get the 'buy a $100 gift card get a $50 gift card as a gift' and a few are a $25 free gift card. if it's not atleast a $25 free gift card per $100 i don't get them. we usually never have gift cards left by april so i'm not worried about losing $$. ~ liz
Jodi_SoCal
15 years ago
Amen OJ!!!

I hate receiving gift cards for all the reasons stated above.

I have a wallet full of them, mostly from my employer who likes to give me bonuses from time to time via an American Express Points gift card. Even though there is money in it (I check before going shopping), it is denied at the register because:

A.) my purchase total is more than the card balance, even though I have more than one card which AmExp says I can combine or I can pay the difference with cash, which is also allowed.

B.) the card simply doesn't scan properly and I'm left holding the bag (an empty one).

The only gift cards I use in a timely manner and with ease are for Barnes and Noble. So, if anyone is looking for a great gift idea for me that fits easily in a regular envelope, well, there you go! :-)

Jodi-
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Personally, I prefer cash. But some feel that's "impersonal". Gift cards are the modern version of the gift certificate or the trendy "check" (or "cheque" to my Canuck-lehead friends) being given as a gift. My gift shopping used to always include a stop at the liquor store for at least one person on the list. I knew that wasn't going to go to waste. A friend used to always give his grandmother a small ham for Christmas because she'd never buy it for herself. Some would be appalled, nay, even insulted if someone gave them grocery stoe food! It needs to be in little jars, in a box, flavors nobody likes, won't eat, and will be given away or thrown away! LOL I'm really bothered when someone says cash is a bad gift, impersonal or whatever. Doesn't anyone get tired of getting trinkets that someone else thinks is cute and you find abhorrent? But somehow that's a better gift than giving someone cash so they can put it toward their electric bill on a month they're a little short, or go to a movie, or put gas in the car to get to work, or put toward the heat bill or into a (heaven forbid) savings account or get the car repaired house reroofed or whatever else. What troubles me is there used to be a saying that it's the thought that counts. I buy someone a gift, it's thoughtful, right? They hate it so they return it or leave it on a shelf or whatever. But that's more thoughtful or personal than cash? I don't think so. If someone is considerate enough to give me cash and trust that I'll make a good decision on what to do with it, that, to me, is thoughtful. Our western society is so hung up on materialism. It's the gift not the thought. We have to spend more on that wedding gift than the Jones' spent or we'll look bad. Doesn't matter what the gift is. I could go on and on but won't. Consider that your Christmas present! :D This time of year often brings out the best, but also the worst in people. Lots of generosity at times, but also greed, selfishness, self-centered thoughts and after all, Christmas is about giving and receiving gifts right? There was a religious event that some people used to get into! :D I'll give you an example of why I don't like gift cards in place of cash. I had my oil changed last summer for about $17. I used a coupon and had it done. Hard for me to do that stuff anymore. :( I got an award from work - a $25 gift card of my choice. I don't shop at Macy's. I don't go on cruises. (I would have appreciated a gift card for the cruise though...) I don't have Staples in the state, much less nearby. There were 2 things I could see myself using. An oil change place or Amazon. I was going to go with Amazon but decided I'd need an oil change before leaving town for a trip so that could be OK. It'd pay for most of the oil change right? Not after it being a $65 oil change! LOL I got another card choice, same thing. I took a restaurant card but now wish I'd gone Amazon. Not sure when I'll get to the restaurant, but not totally sure what I want from Amazon either. Had a voicemail that I have another gift card coming from work. (I must really have them fooled, eh?) If they had options for Home Depot, Lowe's, Menards, gasoline stations, or a prepaid credit card would be preferred. Keep in mind that the designation is important. They bank on people losing them or not using them. Extra profit, not unlike the post office selling stamps that don't get used. That's pure profit. And companies often get a discount so it appears to be more. But it could be worse. I remember when giving a turkey was often a Christmas bonus. Not everyone can use a 15# turkey. Some, a 15# isn't enough anyway. LOL How many people can't use cash?
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golfergrrl
15 years ago
When I give gift cards I know that the recipient wants to shop at that store. It's better than buying something they don't want and return anyways.
Some people use AMEX gift cards that can be used in more stores.
If you go into a store a buy a shirt that's $20, you don't expect to give them $18, do you?
linda_in_iowa
15 years ago
I love receiving gift cards for places I frequent. One of my cousins sometimes sends me a Starbucks card.
joyfulguy
Original Author
15 years ago
The store gets the money now, guaranteed: it's in the till ...

... while the merchandise stays on the shelf, visible and available for sale, through Christmas.

The owner has to provide the goods only later ... and it's a choice among the stuff that's left when the card-carrier enters the store.

Quite likely the $20.00 shirt'll be on sale for less than $18.00 by then ... and if the store owner can get the 20 bucks now, guaranteed ... and not have to part with the (residual) merchandise till after the (maybe) rush ... I wouldn't be surprised if s/he'd buy that deal.

Hey - let's all change our celebration to Ukrainian (Ukranian?) Christmas - Jan. 6!

For simplified ... and more frugal ... shopping! (Limited selection, though, plus perhaps a bit shop-worn).

ole joyful
mary_c_gw
15 years ago
I've been given gift cards to stores I never shop in. When I get one, I just ask a friend if they can use them, and give them away. The last one was a card to Body Works. I can't even walk past that store without having an asthma attack. I never use scented products, either, so I gave the card away.

I did have to crack down on my siblings and friends who wish to make my son's life easier at university, too. They all sent him Starbuck's gift cards for last Christmas. My son doesn't drink coffee and only rarely drinks tea, and he's vegan, so won't eat any of the treats, either. They all KNOW this already, so it was just a sort of mindless purchase.

The $200 worth of Starbuck's cards did make him popular with his friends, though, LOL.

If you're not absolutely certain - send cash.
joyfulguy
Original Author
15 years ago
Cash is great - useful in every store in town!

Cash is king.

Just one better king ... gold: keeps its value, over time.

ole joyful
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
15 years ago
I too am not much of a fan of gift cards anymore either. I especially dislike the inactivity fees that are often deducted from them if they aren't used up fairly soon.

I did however one year receive a gift certificate for Amazon.com and thoroughly enjoyed browsing the on line book store. I was able to find a book I had been wanting to add for a long time to my gardening book collection. I found other gardening books as well, greatly reduced. I ended up with about $80 of books for about $25. I shopped and shopped to get the biggest bang for my gift certificate buck.

Sue
ivamae
15 years ago
I love gift cards and have often suggested to my family that this would please me. They however, only give me certifiates for stores they know I frequent often. I hope they continue to do this.
jannie
15 years ago
When I give gifts to nieces and nephews, I give cash. Nobody ever tells me they can't use it! I have been burnt with gift cards and gift certificates. They can be lost, forgotten, etc.
susan_on
15 years ago
I really like getting gift cards. I always get gift cards for places where I like to shop...and it's such a bonus to me to go to my favorite shops and pick up stuff I like.
stephanie_in_ga
15 years ago
Giftcards have their usefullness. I've heard of inactivity fees, but never experienced it first hand. I give a few giftcards a year. I give them for consumables (coffee shop, restaurant), because I obviously cannot give the teacher 4 cups of coffee for a gift. But I can treat her to 4 cups of coffee at her convenience with a giftcard, if I know she drinks coffee. If not, another place.

And you can add my name to Jodi's wishlist. Give me a Barnes & Noble (any bookstore, that's just closest to my house) gift card, and I'll be a very happy girl! When someone gives me one of those, I know they know what I want. Forget the diamonds, books are this girl's best friend- but it's hard to buy a book for someone else, it's best to let them pick it. And I have a B&N discount card, so I will get more than face value of the card, by up to 40%.
nancylouise5me
15 years ago
I love getting gift cards. They are great to give as gifts. I don't have to return anything that isn't my color or doesn't fit. I get ones to stores that I shop at and if I didn't so what! I'm sure I could find something for myself or someone else. Have never lost one, forgotten about one, or come out on the loosing end of gift cards. I appreciate the gift in the spirit it is given and don't complain. NancyLouise
western_pa_luann
15 years ago
I also love gift cards.

Cash can slip through my fingers. But if I have say, a Chico's gift card, I can shop their sales at my leisure and actually have the means to buy clothes.

Another angle is that I get free gift cards via Discover Card Cash Back Bonus.
THAT comes in handy... not only for personal use, but for holiday gifts for the mailman, paper guy, etc.

Yet another angle... if gift cards are bought through Giant Eagle (my local grocery store), I will get 20 cents off a gallon of gas for every $50 gift card bought.
That means for every $50 I spend, I get $6 (20 cents off 30 gallons) in my gas tank!
patti43
15 years ago
I love getting gift cards. Every Christmas we get them from my daughter for Barnes and Noble and restaurants. It makes shopping so much easier for them and we could both spend hours in B&N. (Then go out for dinner.) Also a $50 gift card may buy a way lot more during the after Christmas sales. Two sides to every issue, I guess.

Didn't they pass a law that stores couldn't put a time limit on gift cards or reduce their value? Seems I remember that.
jeaninwa
15 years ago
I got my son a Master Card gift card. He can use it anywhere, at any time.

Lacking a bonus, I don't like gift cards/certificates

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Lacking a bonus, I don't like gift cards/certificates

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