I'm gonna come out here and say I'm not a big fan of gift cards.
Oh, I understand the reasons people give them. For one thing, if you have a picky person in your life who returns EVERYTHING, they probably *deserve* to get just a gift card.
But for someone like me, I am very "meh" about receiving them.
And yes, I understand some people have a hard time getting out to stores or shopping. But that's why there are catalogs and places like Amazon (and for those who don't know what I want, I even have a wishlist up).
But for me, a gift card is no treat. Because it then means I have to go out and shop.
(Okay, quick note: very targeted, very specialized gift *certificates* are different. I would like a gift certificate to a craft store I regularly shopped at. Or an indie bookstore - well, if I had access to one. Or a gift card from somewhere like one of the online yarnsellers I use)
But a gift card to a big-box store, or a mega retailer: not so much. Because I don't have a lot of *time* to shop in ordinary time (that is, outside of Christmas break) and also, right after Christmas - so many of the mass-retailers are picked over, they don't have stuff in my size, and it feels like to use up the card I have to settle for something I don't really particularly want. (That's happened to me.)
I often ask for "practical" gifts these days because it saves me the effort of having to go shopping myself - avoiding the effort of having to try to find a place that sells, for example, decent boot socks and go there and get them. Or remember to look for a place online that sells them.
I remember a few years back there was a Zits comic strip where Jeremy, the main character, was standing there after Christmas with a stack of gift cards - and even though teens stereotypically love those, as I remember, he was somewhat disappointed by the lack of festivity. (And I admit, I agree. I'd rather get something simple and not that expensive than a gift card that I have to then find time to go out and use, and search for something I want).
Granted, maybe some people love them, I don't know. I don't love shopping, at least not "general" shopping like for clothes or small appliances, enough to really enjoy them.
And no, I would never say anything. I'm too polite for that. But I admit I would be disappointed.
2 comments:
The last few years I've included specific gift cards on my Christmas list. It makes it easier for whoever drew my name in the family lottery to know what to give me. I usually list a few items like a wallet or a particular CD or something like that. But gift cards to several restaurants that I like are listed. This year I included QuikTrip as well. At this stage of my life I don't need more "stuff."
I feel the same way; really appreciate your commment!
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