Community Chat

[Jacie]

I love getting them and giving them! I have one friend who returns EVERYTHING. I gave up and she gets a gift card.

[Marp]

When I am asked what would like for your birthday, Christmas, etc. my stock answer is a gift card from my favorite grocery store.

Takes away all the guilt for a high cost splurge or for necessity purchases when I've busted my food budget.

Grocery store gift cards are my favorite to get and give.  I don't know how many gift cards to places I would never shop I've given away or donated over the years. 

Everyone needs to eat and nearly everyone has said no to something at the grocery store because of budgetary constraints.

[Kachina624]

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@Sooner wrote:

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@Kachina624 wrote:

I can understand the practicality of giving gift cards and agree that at time, they're the logical choice.  However, i personally hate to receive them.  I always feel cheated, like somebody couldn't go to the trouble of selecting a gift.  I have money to buy most anything I want, I don't get a thrill out of getting more.

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@Kachina624 If you really feel that way, I would most certainly simply return the unwanted gift card to the person and say that you are not accepting gifts any more but do appreciate their kind thought more than they will know.  

Or tell them that you appreciate it but since you do not need it you donated it in their name to something and please don't send more. 

I think it is simply awful to accept "money" when you have too much, don't want it and others may need it.  Just give the card back with thanks. 

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@Sooner.  My friends and relatives know how I feel about gift cards so I don't get them.

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions anyway.

[chrystaltree]

I don't like to receive gift cards because I tend to stick them in my wallet or my desk drawer and forget about them.  I can buy whatever I want so a $25 gift card does nothing for me.  I'd prefer a movie ticket or bottle of pretty nail polish.  I only give gift cards when I know that's what the recipient wants.  My adult nephew is hard to shop for and he prefers gift cards.  His mom, my sister, also likes gift cards.  I do know the people I give gifts to and I really enjoy picking out and wrapping gifts for them.  

[AuntG]

Love them! I think of them as being a personal gift because I'm saying "I know you love this store, but I don't know what you want at the moment". There are very few people who do a great job when gift giving (I'm one of them).

[AZfem]

Not a fan.   When someone gives me one for a store I like, I inevatably can't find anything to buy there. Then I forget about the card later. My husband looses them & with no proof of purchase, stores won't replace them. . One time, they fell out of my purse at a restraunt. We were sitting on a banquets with others next to us & they tried to steal them.   I think I have some fron last year but don't know what's on them or where they are.  Did I delete them from my emails?  Who knows!  For us, they're more trouble than their worth! 

[elated]

You can get cash for your gift cards at various places. You won't get the full amount but you will get cash. So next time, you get one, try exchanging it for cash. FYI, if anyone is interested.

[occasionalrain]

People who request gift cards, just don't trust the giver to choose a gift they'd want, so it's actually an insult. If they want to choose their own gift, why not either stop exchanging or, do as the Royals, and exchange inexpensive amusing ones.

[Carmie]

I just remembered that years ago my husband and I received gift cards for an expensive steakhouse that we never got to use.  It burnt down and wasn't rebuilt.

We also had some to an expensive restaurant about 30 miles from us.  We never used the cards.  I gave them to our daughter to use for an anniversary dinner.

She called to make reservations, and the place was out of business.

Those cards had a combined value of about $400.

We don't normally go out to eat unless we are on vacation and have no choice.

I have a Visa Gift card in my wallet right now.  I don't think it has been activated.  I hope not.  It is at least four years old.  I should check to see if there is a balance on it, or if monthly charges whittled the balance away.

[shoesnbags]

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@Sooner wrote:

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@Kachina624 wrote:

I can understand the practicality of giving gift cards and agree that at time, they're the logical choice.  However, i personally hate to receive them.  I always feel cheated, like somebody couldn't go to the trouble of selecting a gift.  I have money to buy most anything I want, I don't get a thrill out of getting more.

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@Kachina624 If you really feel that way, I would most certainly simply return the unwanted gift card to the person and say that you are not accepting gifts any more but do appreciate their kind thought more than they will know.  

Or tell them that you appreciate it but since you do not need it you donated it in their name to something and please don't send more. 

I think it is simply awful to accept "money" when you have too much, don't want it and others may need it.  Just give the card back with thanks. 

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@Sooner @Kachina624 

Personally, I'd feel insulted if the recipient handed a gift card back to me, even with a thank you and an explanation.  I think it would be better to just donate the card to a needy person or a charitable organization.