Giftcards for gifts? - Page 2

Country~mouse · 10-29-2009, 07:24 PM

I don't think they are any more impersonal than someone who really knows you buying you something you don't like. It's not a cop out.....it's saying "here, i'm not really sure what to buy you, please buy yourself something you really want". It beats having to throw yet another gift into the closet that you will never use again. Or standing in a long returns line at the store. Yes, to each their own.

Oregano · 10-29-2009, 07:37 PM

*shrug*

I guess for me, I feel that gifts from friends/family are from the heart...even if it isn't something I wouldn't necessarily choose. I never have really had anyone get me something that I really didn't want/need. I'm thinking...hmmmm a few years back my Mom gave me a horrid sweater from LLBean. LOL! I donated it. Her heart was in the right place though, so I guess that's where we differ. Most people that I exchange gifts with, most often give me things that are really lovely and thoughtful...and if it's not something that I like personally, that's okay because their intent was to please me. So I guess it just depends on the person.

budletsmom · 10-29-2009, 07:47 PM

I like to get them for places I like but might not normally spend money on such as Starbucks, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

We are trying to cut down on clutter in our house so it works out really well.

Several people on our list also request them - usually to Walmart, Home Depot or Best Buy - while I miss shopping for people it is nicer in many ways to not end up with a bunch of stuff that someone spent money on that just ends up collecting dust or being donated or given away.

We will often request them to a few local restaurants as well. I wouldn't however give a restaurant one to someone unless I was sure they liked that restaurant and had one close.

Country~mouse · 10-29-2009, 07:55 PM

If your implying that i'm ungrateful. I'm not. I don't necessarily expect gifts.If you are going to ask me for a list of what i like and then end up buying me oven mitts. What was the point to begin with? So i take whatever i'm given,thank them and it ends up in the closet. I would much rather the occasion be about gathering together and enjoying each other's company than exchanging wanted or unwanted gifts. Probably why i'm not a big fan of Christmas. It's way too commercialized.

melsb · 10-29-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budletsmom

We are trying to cut down on clutter in our house so it works out really well.

Number one reason that I like them. So many people are trying to cut the clutter out of their lives, I don't know what to get them anymore. I don't get them often ... mostly they are for book purchases for children, especially since I don't always know what books they might already have. And I have to admit, the love the ones for restaurants. DH received several for coaching soccer this fall. Loving those! They were much better than the bottle shaped like a baseball bat that he received for coaching t-ball.

LeeMP22 · 10-30-2009, 09:23 AM

I love them as long as the person either knows me well enough or takes the time to figure out what store I'd like it for!

bananabellesmom · 10-30-2009, 09:56 AM

I think they are good for certain things. Like dd's teachers, I am not too close to them, and don't really know their likes and dislikes.

For teenagers, great. Like Calimari said, music = a gift card LOL

A gift card from dh? nope...I really wouldn't like that.

But also from far away family members, my mom sends the girls GC to simply cut down shipping costs and then they get to pick out what they want.

Oregano · 10-30-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Country~mouse

If your implying that i'm ungrateful. I'm not. I don't necessarily expect gifts.If you are going to ask me for a list of what i like and then end up buying me oven mitts. What was the point to begin with? So i take whatever i'm given,thank them and it ends up in the closet. I would much rather the occasion be about gathering together and enjoying each other's company than exchanging wanted or unwanted gifts. Probably why i'm not a big fan of Christmas. It's way too commercialized.

*sigh*

I'm not implying anything. I'm just explaining my experience and opinion - just like you did yours. We'll just have to agree to disagree. To me gifts aren't about making sure the other person has the $$$ to buy what they want, it's about me choosing something I think they'd like.

aleise02 · 10-30-2009, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oregano

I can only speak for myself, but I just prefer not to get them. I'd rather someone write me a letter, bake me a cake, take me to lunch or donate money in my name to a charity than get a gift card. I think they're impersonal. I like to get gifts with thought behind them, but that's me.

It's nothing about 'sticking my nose up about them'...although I'm not completely sure what that means? LMAO! *shrug* It's pretty simple, I just prefer not to get them.

I seem to receive them to stores I never shop at, and have no desire to shop at. So they end up collecting dust in my purse. I recently looked at bunch I have, to prepare to use them buy holiday gifts. Inevitably though, I will go to the store, and not find anything I want to give anyone else...or buy for myself. So I either give them away or donate them.

I'm not hard to shop for either - so to me, a gift card from close family members is a cop out. To you, a perfect gift. To each their own. JMO

If you ever are in need of a place to donate a gift card just pm me!!

There are very few stores that I walk into and could not find something I like, want to give, or need! Can you tell I am a shopper I just love to shop!!

That being said I LOVE gift cards but I also love any kind of gift as long as someone did put some thought into it!! I am ok with giving them, esp to people I know that love them, my aunt and godmother is a gift card fan she loves them as well as my cousin! My younger brother and sister pretty much only want cash or gift cards... so I buy a ton! But sometimes I do want to shop from some one... I would love to get my sister a nice handmade bracelet from Etsy... but I know she would rather have a gift card!

Pianolady · 10-30-2009, 10:32 AM

I love them and request restaurant gift cards when I'm asked for a Christmas list. Consumable gifts are good (food, restaurants, gift cards).

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