Gift Cards = Lump of Coal?—What do you think?
Yesterday, I received a startling e-mail from a dear friend mentioning that Clark Howard, a consumer reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, very much opposed purchasing gift cards this holiday season. He said that “more and more retailers and restaurants are going to face extinction in a tight economy.”
After reading the e-mail, of course I immediately forwarded it to every family member on my contact list. It’s not that I wouldn’t mind getting a gift card for Christmas, it’s that I want others to be aware of these reports.
In fact, a woman who I work with that I also sent the e-mail to, informed me that last night she heard a similar report on the WFSB news.
This morning, I checked my e-mail and found an article from USA Today in my inbox, from my uncle, who had received my message. This immediately prompted me to further investigate.
Many news providers, such as Business Week are mocking the worth of gift cards. Once considered an ideal stocking stuffer, consumers are warned to be ware this Christmas season when choosing where to purchase one.
Is this going to make you think twice about purchasing gift cards for the holiday season?
Personally, for me, my mother and I went out to Chili’s last night for dinner and as she was asking me what I wanted for Christmas, I immediately replied that I wanted a Chili’s gift card, especially because for every $25 gift card you buy, you get a $5 one. (It’s like I will be getting $30, because she will give the bonus one to me.) Do you think that small incentives such as this will prompt consumers to buy gift cards?
I believe that gift cards to large chains are pretty safe, even if they are closing some of the chains. I think that national chains should be just fine. Even if they do go out of business, chances are it won’t be three days after Christmas. I say that it depends on where you are purchasing the gift card. What do you think?
5 comments:
I agree with Caroline 100%. I love giving and receiving gift cards. When I receive gift cards, I can use them to my advantage and buy whatever I'd like whenever I'd like. If I'm at the mall and see something I really, really want and maybe don't have enough money on me, that gift card is useful. I'm not being given needless junk that I won't use. Now I have something I will use and want.
I like to give gift cards for the same reason: the person I'm giving it to can but whatever they'd like. What if they don't like a gift I would have given them? Plus, they're an easy gift. I don't have to go crazy thinking about what to buy. I know my friend's tastes/favorite stores, so I know they'll find something they like with that gift card.
In response to whether gift cards should be given for Christmas: the answer is yes. There will be no mass store closings just after Christmas and, chances are, people won't wait too long to use their gift cards. Besides, if the closest store to you closes, there's always the option to shop online with that gift card or to take a day and go to where the next closest store is. If, by some awful case of bad luck, the store does go out, one would find great bargains to use their gift card on before the store closes.
I have to disagree with Bryan and Caroline. I think gift cards are as impersonal and unthoughtful as holiday gifts can get. Purchasing gift cards are too easy and don't involve a special, personal touch, which, to me is what the holiday season and gift-giving is all about.
I understand we are all busy, but its easy to set aside one day to shop for real gifts that reflect the people we care about. If you don't have time to set aside even an hour or two before the holidays, you should get a new job or sort out your priorities because Christmas and other holidays only come once a year.
Although I don't generally buy giftcards for my close family and friends, I don't doubt they will continue to be a popular gift choice among many people for all sorts of holidays.
It's just that personally, I refrain from buying gift cards for people unless I absolutely know nothing about them because essentially, that is what you are saying when you buy a gift card for someone.
When it comes to gift cards I am some where in between. Gift cards are fabulous gifts for acquaintances and people who are likely to return the gift you pick out for them anyways. I always lose the special gift receipt for returns anyways.
With family and friends I would have to agree with Amanda in that a gift card is a cop out. If you are close enough to a person to be considered their "best" friend you should be capable of purchasing a gift for them that is not plastic. And honestly the majority of the time close family and friends would prefer the sentimental rather then the material.
I don't see the purchase of gift cards in the future ever going away. Our culture is far too fast paced and half-assed to ever give up the quick alternative to real gift giving.
I do agree that gift cards are impersonal, but I also think that in addition to other gifts, they make for great stocking stuffers and can be very useful as gifts from parents or family that is far and does not want to bother with shipping.
My main question with this post, and perhaps it was not made clear enough, is what people think about purchasing gift cards during this "financial crisis" stage that America is supposedly in?
Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas shopping for people. In fact, I have already begun. But, I am not saying that buying a gift card for someone is a bad gift, I am trying to see if you think that it is financially a bad gift. For example, if you purchase a gift card to Best Buy for $100, as a stocking stuffer, and then two weeks after Christmas Best Buy closes all of its stores. The Best Buy gift card would then be useless.
I think the positivity of receiving gift cards relies on who the giver is. For example, if I got a gift card from my fourth cousin it would make sense. I barely know them and they barely know me, so better then having them guess and waste money on something I'll have to return they can just let me get something for myself. Gift cards to me are just like cash. Who doesn't get ten dollars from their grandma on their birthday? Material presents are better suited for children in most cases, because how can you tell your mom and dad that gee- I'd really like a new pair of hooker boots or that miniscule skirt and corset outfit from Forever? Yeah, that would get shot done. I am a big fan of the MasterCard/Visa gift cards, since you can use them anywhere. But store-specific gift cards stress me out because if they're to a store like FYE (which I haven't stepped into in probably eight years), I'll actually have to go in there and look for something to buy. Anyways, I expect gift cards from people who don't know me well enough to buy me something I can appreciate. They're a way better option than having to stand in line and return that hideous sweater my great-aunt bought me.
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