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- sissipher, on 12/27/2007, -11/+90I would rather have a gift certificate any day of the week. That way, I can go get what I need.
- kupa, on 12/27/2007, -3/+51Wouldn't a Visa or other universal gift card negate half of these points?
- TornACL, on 12/27/2007, -3/+42Disgree with #2. IF they know you, they buy from the stores you love so you can get EXACTLY what you like.
I hate getting a something that I have already and pretend that I need it...AWKARD - sjbdallas, on 12/27/2007, -5/+41I agree. Cash has a way of draining out of your pocket on other crap: gas, food, strippers, etc. With a gift certificate, you end up actually getting something tangible. Even if it is at a store you don't often shop at, you might find something new and different simply because you were forced to shop there.
- ronk, on 12/27/2007, -2/+33I disagree with this article. A GC is way better than a useless gift. If I know my friend loves to shop at wal mart, I would rather give them a GC than something that would turn out useless to them.
- inactive, on 12/27/2007, -3/+27I give gift cards frequently and they are well received, you can give gift cards for luxury items, necessities and the range of goods in between.
I once gave a pre-paid credit card to a young family member in college as insurance for that time when he is in a cash crunch and needs help. I said it is yours to use as you see fit, but my intent is to be there for you when I can't be there for you.
Impersonal my ass. - manicallday, on 12/27/2007, -0/+22Just watch out for hidden charges and fees with those.
- dannyapplesauce, on 12/27/2007, -4/+23You can't do that with cash? I guess it's better than that person buying you clothes that don't fit or are just atrocious. I hate gift cards because I always spend more than what's on it or too little and am left with less than $2 in lost money.
- rossnyc, on 12/27/2007, -2/+20A day and a half too late.
- kent1146, on 12/27/2007, -5/+23I don’t know who came up with gift certificates, but they should receive an award for one of the best marketing jobs ever pulled on the unsuspecting public. How else can you explain how people are willing to trade money, for a less useful and more restrictive form of money at a one-to-one ratio?
For those of you who can’t think of what to buy your miserly Aunt Josie who doesn’t seem to enjoy any material possessions or your nephew, John, who is involved in the next cult-like fad of card-collecting, baggy clothes or earsplitting music, avoid the temptation to get a gift certificate. Here’s why:
1) Gift certificates are like money, except less useful.
Money can be used everywhere. Gift certificates can only be used with specific stores. If the gift certificate offers some kind of special service or discount, this tradeoff might be reasonable. However most gift certificates can’t be redeemed for cash, nor do they offer special treatment so buying one is essentially buying less useful money.
2) Gift certificates are a mark of defeat.
When I’ve given gift certificates in the past, the unstated words are, “I give up.” A gift certificate is basically a sign that you couldn’t think of an actual gift to give the person, so you will just let them pick it out for themselves. If you want a gift that says, “I don’t know you well enough to pick out a gift, but I thought cash was tacky,” get a gift certificate.
3) Gift certificates have expiry dates.
Not only are gift certificates a more restricted form of money, now some companies have the nerve to put an expiry date on them. As if trading your money for less valuable money wasn’t enough, now you get the bonus of having money that only lasts for a year or two. Most stores won’t tell you about the expiry dates, but if you check the back most tell you that your less-valuable money will become completely useless after several months.
4) Gift certificates can backfire.
The main argument for a gift certificate over cash, is that it shows at least some thought into preparation. However, this can backfire if you get someone a certificate for a store they never shop at. I’m sure we’ve all had the joy of running over to a store to use a gift certificate to buy an item we don’t need, just to feel like we aren’t wasting it.
5) Gift certificates can cost your friends and family money.
When you give a gift certificate, often you are forcing them to pay some of their own money to use it. A twenty-five dollar gift certificate isn’t a whole lot at some fancy outlets and technology stores. You may be forcing your recipient to spend another ten or twenty dollars in order to use your wonderful gift. How thoughtful!
6) Gift certificates get lost.
Many stores have started using gift cards instead of certificates. These little devices magnetically store info about the dollar value they hold. Despite the tracking of the gift certificate money electronically, you still need to have the card in order to use it. That means that if your certificate gets lost, the money is gone forever. At least you can deposit cash in the bank.
7) Gift certificates have leftovers.
What actually costs exactly twenty-five or fifty dollars? Usually your lucky gift-card recipient will be left with a couple dollars on their card after buying a gift they probably didn’t really want for themselves. This means your tradeoff for less valuable, expiring money loses an additional dollar or two.
8 ) Gift certificates mean a trip to the store.
Buying a real gift for someone says: “I know you don’t like to treat yourself, but I went to the trouble of getting something I know you’ll like at a store to save you the visit.” A gift certificate is the do-it-yourself version of a gift, forcing the receiver to make a trip to whatever store you happened upon and spend hours driving, browsing and fumbling with the card.
9) Gift certificates don’t earn interest.
Okay, so twenty dollars in cash isn’t going to appreciate much in your 1-2% annual interest savings account, but it’s still more than your certificate. Slowly losing the battle against inflation you can be happy knowing your gift becomes less and less valuable each day before it eventually gets lost or expires.
10) Gift certificates… aren’t all that bad.
I’ve been giving gift certificates a hard time. Despite their many flaws, sending cash is still a faux pas by many peoples standards. And despite the lack of logic in preferring one to money, many people still do. Many people actually prefer the colorful little cards to gifts if it means they don’t have a choice at all.
Besides, when it is Christmas Eve and you still need to buy for a half-dozen more relatives, that card at the checkout counter starts to look a little more attractive. Sure it isn’t as thoughtful as a hand wrapped gift complete with ribbon, but Hallmark cards aren’t as romantic as hand-written poetry, but nobody does that either. You might just have to throw up your hands and give in to the brilliant marketing scheme that are gift certificates. - ArthurSucks, on 12/27/2007, -4/+18I once got a $20 gift card to Old Navy. What the ***** would I want at Old Navy?!
- Porch, on 12/27/2007, -1/+14As an added bonus, On the website, I can see what Subway the card has been used at. So I watch the homeless guy roam around. Cool in a strange way.
- triblinator, on 12/27/2007, -1/+14Strippers aren't tangible?
- inactive, on 12/27/2007, -1/+14One thing you can count on, no matter what the thread is about, Ron Paul's spambots will find a way to spam it
- Porch, on 12/27/2007, -3/+15I keep a Subway cash card in my wallet. If some homeless guy wants money for food, I give him the card. And I can add money to it from home.
- diggdowner, on 12/27/2007, -3/+12"hay guyz I has a girlfriend lolol
btw *****" - Hoxie, on 12/27/2007, -8/+17Just give cash. We, as gift receivers, don't want anything special. Just cash. We'll buy it ourselves.
- ml7667, on 12/27/2007, -0/+9take her to the restaurant
- toastjam, on 12/27/2007, -1/+10Woah
Did somebody fill your stocking with gift certificates to Charcoal 'R Us this year? - triblinator, on 12/27/2007, -1/+10I love how almost every person who mentions having a girlfriend get burried. And every girl who talks about being a girl gets dugg.
- MetalliTooL, on 12/27/2007, -2/+10Crappy list. One of the ten reasons is that it loses a couple of cents in value, through inflation. Give me a break. Another reason (#10) why they make "horrible gifts" is that they actually... don't make horrible gifts.
How do people get ***** like this to the front page? - coollettuce, on 12/27/2007, -0/+7Pants?
- nerdherder, on 12/27/2007, -0/+7No he gave that to your mom.
- ph070sh0p, on 12/27/2007, -0/+7Gift cards in CA can't expire. If you read the back it will say something like "void after XX/XX/XX except in CA".
- nerdherder, on 12/27/2007, -0/+7A pony!
- neom, on 12/27/2007, -0/+6I didn't realize the level of sophistication among weed dealers now.. "Cash, Check, Debt or Credit!" Must be an American thing, here in Canada the only place you can use a credit card for your weed is the government.
- fakekevinrose, on 12/27/2007, -0/+6diggers will digg up an article on why sex is terrible if it comes in a top 10 format
- doubleoh7, on 12/27/2007, -1/+7You probably could have used it at GAP or Banana Republic. Usually stores owned by the same company will accept their own GCs.
- Andrewmatt, on 12/27/2007, -2/+8LOL They dont turn it over to the government. I hope you are kidding.
- Ninjab3ar, on 12/27/2007, -3/+8Like what? Cash?
- richIsBored, on 12/27/2007, -0/+5A dealer with a Paypal account.
- anthraxe11, on 12/27/2007, -0/+5It's true, some states have passed a law preventing businesses from tacking on fees for non-use or having the cards expire. I know CA and CT have it.
- ronfez, on 12/27/2007, -1/+6Very true. I was "lucky" and recived a Visa gift card this year. There are way too many rules and fees on these. It even came with a fold out card holder agreement.
- thailand1972, on 12/27/2007, -0/+5no, alexra is actually saying he/she GOT her brother and parents for Christmas.
- turpenine, on 12/27/2007, -4/+9if they like to shop at wal mart wouldn't you be better off getting them some beer and shotgun shells?
- Mesmorize, on 12/27/2007, -3/+8They don't expire in California! That is why we are the best!
- PedleZelnip, on 12/27/2007, -0/+5Exactly. My dad gives me $100 cash every year, and more often than not it ends up being spent on bills. Gift cards get used for gifts.
Now maybe you might want to say that it's better to pay off bills than get new toys but I digress.... :p - BlueSkyfish, on 12/27/2007, -0/+5Those cards actually expire since they're counted as debit cards. Gift cards just lose $2 a month after 12 months of not using them.
- amyfamb7, on 12/27/2007, -2/+7I disagree with this article. I received 3 gift cards this Christmas and I do enjoy them. I even asked my boyfriend to give me an Old Navy gift card just so I could buy the clothes that I wanted. I generally don't like to spend my money on myself unless I really need it.
If you can't keep up with a gift card then how do you keep up with your debit cards/cash?
If there is a little bit left over use the gift card then your debit card or cash.
It's way better than getting crap to clutter that top shelf of your closet! - AudioPhotograph, on 12/27/2007, -2/+6I honestly prefer cash over anything, regardless of how impersonal, but the gift and gift cards, really depend on the person your giving it too.
- ornerycat, on 12/27/2007, -1/+5One of the most thoughtful gift I've ever received was a gift certificate. It came from a coworker who had medical conditions and no health insurance. On top of this, she had to juggle college tuition, rent, and everything else. She was strapped for cash but still had the generosity to give me a $25 gift certificate for a trendy restaurant in town.
- damnitkitty, on 12/27/2007, -0/+4I thought this article was pretty bad, BUT, if it has any redeeming value, it's that #2 on the list certainly does apply to a boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife relationship.
If you don't know your girlfriend well enough, or don't pay enough attention to her to come up with ideas for actual gifts she'd want, the relationship is probably in trouble. - bxblox, on 12/27/2007, -0/+4gloves, scarf, socks, belt, underwear, undershirt, pajamas......
- lukyhare, on 12/27/2007, -0/+4That's no gift certificate, thats monopoly money.
- iceman0113, on 12/27/2007, -8/+12I don't think gift cards can expire. I remember California passed a law saying that they can never expire. Also, what gift cards are, they are unearned revenue for the company. Basically, they just made easy money for a piece of plastic which goes towards their gross revenue and like the article says; they get lost, not many people spend all of it, etc. which means it becomes profit for the store. Plus, when you spend over the gift card limit, you end up paying more which means more money for the company.
- ronfez, on 12/27/2007, -1/+5I guess it depends why you don't go to the store.
- BlueSkyfish, on 12/27/2007, -0/+4A cell phone?
- smoger, on 12/27/2007, -0/+3i agree.. this was a terrible list.
#1 - Gift cards can only be used in certain stores
#2 - Gift cards are for people who don't know you well(is that a NEGATIVE?)
#3 - Gift cards have expiry dates(a few of them, maybe)
#4 - Gift cards can only be used in certain stores
#5 - Gift cards might not cover the entire cost of what the gift receiver wants(another POSITIVE if it's unreasonable for the gift giver to cover the full cost of something)
#6 - Gift cards get lost(so does cash)
#7 - Gift cards have leftovers(stores usually give you change in cash if it's under $5 balance)
#8 - Gift cards mean a trip to the store(apparently the author never/can't leave(s) his apartment.)
#9 - Gift cards don't earn interest. (Neither do gifts, or cash that you spend on a gift.)
#10 - Gift cards are good - Mothrog, on 12/27/2007, -0/+3Learn how to budget?
- atbnet, on 12/27/2007, -1/+4Nothing because you hate them.
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