Why gift cards?

[Brian Henderson]

Whereas my wife and kids and I actually maintain gift lists at Amazon, nobody else in the family does and if you ask them, they have no clue what it is that they want. It's just easier to give them gift cards and let them make the decision on what they want to spend it on than risk getting something they hate or already have.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Some people are extremely seletive about certain things. For example, my family knows better than to buy a tool for my shop. I know better than to buy an appliance for my wife's new kitchen. So, I have family members who have given me a gift card to Rockler or WoodCraft and it works out well.

[Myk Rian]

We give Starbucks cards to a select few because we know they'll use them.
If we give any other cards, they will be a VISA, MC, or other. They can be spent anywhere.

[Mike Henderson]

I had a woman friend give me a flower arrangement as a "thank you" gift one time (for some woodworking things I did for her). While I know she had good intentions, I can't think of a more useless gift - it will just sit around and then you'll throw it out. A gift card would have been much more appreciated - I could have used that to buy tools or materials - something that would last.

Mike

[Bruce Page]

A few years ago our teenage grandchildren asked for gift cards from one of the local shopping malls. The cards work in any of the 100+ mall stores. They're happy and we don't have to scratch our heads trying to figure out what they want.
It's a win/win for us.

[Matt Meiser]

We used to buy quite a few for other stores at Kroger. Every $50 we spend on gift cards gets $0.10 off on a gallon of gas. Every $25 this time of year. Since I traded my truck for an escape it's not as big a deal though.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Store gift cards limit you to only one place, while cash is universal. Right now I'm holding a handful of Lowes cards, but what I want is at HD. My dad used to say about cash- "The size may not be right, but the color is perfect!"

[Frederick Skelly]

If I get cash, it often gets spent on whatever is needed at the time. If I get Lee Valley gift cards - I ca n only use them for ME. ��

[Dave Lehnert]

Retailers love gift cards because a lot never get used.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

If I get Lee Valley gift cards - I ca n only use them for ME. ��

I always get upset when that happens to me!

[Moses Yoder]

At one time Meijer had a day about once a month or whatever where you got 15% off any purchase in the store if you used the Meijer credit card and then during the Christmas season there were Santa bucs available for employees or some such. My daughter's boyfriend would buy Amazon gift cards there, a $100 gift card for like $60.

I like Subway and Starbucks cards for Christmas. Will PM my address.

[Rich Riddle]

Retailers love gift cards because a lot never get used.

Every year the news discusses this topic. In the USA, people have over $41 billion in unused gift cards. I either give gifts or cash, or both. The people I know who need cash, need cash not a gift card. Look at Craigslist sometime and see how many people sell gift cards for cash. Some might be from refunds but those that are even dollar amounts were most likely gifts someone is selling for a lower cash value.

http://www.giftcardgranny.com/statistics/

[Brian Elfert]

I wonder at what point gift cards are actually written off on a retailer's books? Gift cards these days are generally good forever.

[Matt Meiser]

Definitely during their bankruptcies.

[Mike Wilkins]

Retailers push gift cards, since you can only redeem them in their store. You are also tempted to purchase other items over and above the value of the gift card. So a win-win in their book.
Besides, if I have cash, it seems to grow legs and walk out of my wallet too fast. A gift card gives me something to look forward to.