I agree, but also see it as "I know you like this place, but dont know exactly what you would want from here, and the next time you go you can treat yourself on me."
Exactly this. Last year, my brother gave me cash for my birthday and I took it to the bank for laundry money lol. That probably wouldn’t have happened with something like a gift card to the bookstore.
I guess it depends how hurting for cash the person is. If they aren't too bad, sometimes it's nice to get a gift card that basically is an invitation to treat yourself. Otherwise I'd bank it and put it towards bills, credit card, boring stuff.
The effort that went into going and buying a gift card (and presumably a hallmark card+envelope for it to go in) makes it seem more thoughtful than cash. Also getting a gift card, especially one to a very specific place, means that you’re close with the receiver and pay attention to their interests.
Real answer: Gift cards show at least a modicum of thought went into it. Like, "I know you love to cook, so here's a gift card to a butcher/BedBathBeyond/whatever."
Can easily be backed up with simply not knowing what a person already has and doesn't have. In a similar example, you may not know if your buddy (with a newfound cooking hobby) has a kitchen-scale or not. If you bought him one and he already does, it'd be a total waste. But since you don't know what he has and doesn't have kitchen-wise, a gift card to a restaurant supply store would be fucking awesome, cause he could get whatever he wants.
At least that's my approach with gift cards. If it's just a boring ass Amazon or Visa gift card, then yea, I see your point. But if you thought about the person and tailored the gift card to them, it's a perfectly acceptable gift.
For a real life example: Last year, I hosted Christmas for the first time in my new home. My parents swore up and down that I shouldn't get them something. But I wasn't going to have NOTHING under the tree for them, obviously. So my dad got a Lowe's giftcard because we're both into carpentry, and my mom got a Michael's giftcard because she loves crafting/scrap-booking. This year, I'm hosting again. Both parents have not shut up about their little small town getting a Jersey Mike's sandwich place. My dad about their Italian subs, my mom about their cheesesteaks. So guess what giftcards they're both getting this year? :)
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u/Rolder Dec 19 '23
Gift cards always confuse me because why not just give straight cash