Gift Cards – Could Offend

“‘When you give someone a gift card, you’re saying ” I’m giving you money as a gift but I want you to spend it here” Also you only have a certain amount of time to spend it.

Sounds sort of callous and thoughtless.

Back in the day it was considered thoughtless to throw money at people as gifts as opposed to putting the thought and effort into acquiring a gift that had meaning, substance, and sustainability. I think most people want their gift to be around and be useful for a while after it is given. Don’t think so? Why do you think women love a beautiful piece of jewelry? Men a nice big screen TV? Try giving someone the value of a beautiful diamond ring in the form of a coffee shop gift card and brace yourself for the reaction. Or on the eve of an engagement give the lady a gift card to the jewelry store.

Gifts are received and retained because the giver thought enough to search and ponder for something suitable for the personality and possible desire of the person they are giving to. Gift Cards in our fast paced environment seem almost a common mainstay as takeout food. However, that doesn’t fly either. We have a resource at our disposal that we didn’t have back in the day that leaves no out for finding that perfect gift It’s called online shopping. No crowds, no sales pressure, no gas consumption, and literally hundreds of competitors to compare prices. You can take your time when you want and come up with a gift surely to be embraced and treasured.

Gift card to me says you didn’t even think about what the recipient would like. “Let’s just get em some gift cards and they can get what they want” Really? What confirms the thinking that I want coffee for a gift from the coffee shop I buy it at everyday? What makes you think I would want an everyday common staple as a gift?

Yeah, he likes coffee, but if I’ve paid for it up to this point I probably can keep doing it. Besides the coffee is my choice, a gift should be the giver’s choice not influenced necessarily by a habit of the receiver.

I think we should return to investing a little more into those that matter enough to invest in a gift for…….like our time and touch in selecting a gift that will be remembered as opposed to “spent” Try it, you won’t regret it. The reciepient sure won’t.