Thread: What's the point of gift cards?

Gift cards, depending on what they are for, could be used to help spend money wisely instead of spending them everywhere.

I agree, money is often much wiser as the recipient can choose EXACTLY what to spend it on. However, I always think gift cards look like you've thought about what they'd want more, rather than simply getting a loose fiver out of your pocket and shoving it in an envelope.

Also, like giving vouchers to the homeless, gift cards prevent the recipient from spending all of the money on drugs, alcohol, or small things that don't mean much.

Just today i got 3 10$ iTunes gift cards from my aunt in the mail.

I pirate all my music.

WHY THE FUCK DO I NEED 30$ IN ITUNES GIFTCARDS?

Im hopin to just sell them to someone for like 20 bucks or something.

Originally Posted by Banana

Just today i got 3 10$ iTunes gift cards from my aunt in the mail.

I pirate all my music.

WHY THE FUCK DO I NEED 30$ IN ITUNES GIFTCARDS?

Im hopin to just sell them to someone for like 20 bucks or something.

Wow, you can actually support the artists now!

Anyway, I think gift cards are best when given to speciality shops, like bookstores or whatnot. It encourages you to spend money on things there that you might like but always seem like you could get them cheaper elsewhere.

Gift cards to places like K-mart and such would definitely be better as cash.

Originally Posted by lseadragon

Wow, you can actually support the artists now!

Yeah i actually bought Manners from iTunes today. The only reason for that was to support Passion Pit.

Originally Posted by slayer

Gift cards, depending on what they are for, could be used to help spend money wisely instead of spending them everywhere.

.

Originally Posted by Banana

Just today i got 3 10$ iTunes gift cards from my aunt in the mail.

I pirate all my music.

You could always spend them on games, or whatever else itunes has to offer (which isn't music related).

My family always gets my grandpa an Ikea voucher thingy. Because he really needs a new kitchen.

Thats one good reason for them.

Well, you can order things online with gift cards. I find that nice. You can't do that with cash.

Originally Posted by Banana

Just today i got 3 10$ iTunes gift cards from my aunt in the mail.

I pirate all my music.

WHY THE FUCK DO I NEED 30$ IN ITUNES GIFTCARDS?

Im hopin to just sell them to someone for like 20 bucks or something.

I'll take them... but for free

My GF's parents got me 2x $15 iTunes cards. Personally, I'm old school and much rather spend a little more and have the actual CD and stuff. I don't know why. I'm slow when it comes to "trendy" things sometimes. I finally got an MP3 player 2yrs ago. Will buy myself an iPod soon

I may use the cards to get random songs (you know, when there's a song you hear and like it, but it's the only good song on the CD?)

I think gift cards are nice. If I get them, the person will use them. Plus, I don't want to get something like a movie or CD they may already have, so give them a Best Buy card and they can get w/e they want, or put it towards something else bigger (I'll take a $15 card and use it to knock a few bucks off a game or w/e)

I don't think they're impersonal. You still spent the money, but the person can choose the gift you "got" them... since you're technially getting them something. Hope that makes sense.

Originally Posted by Armistice

Personally, I'm old school and much rather spend a little more and have the actual CD and stuff. I don't know why.

I do that because I don't trust my computer not to delete all my music. We have a backup, but I don't trust that either because the songs on the other computer sometimes freak out and stop working. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

I can listen to CD's in the car, too.

I don't see anything wrong with giftcards. If I get a $20 gift card, I'm more likely to actually spend it on a gift than if I got a $20 bill.

I go out an get visa cards that you can put money on (not a debit card, isn't reloadable,)
to use online.

Pros:

-Great for people that are just too difficult to shop for
-Great for people you don't know well - but obviously well enough to merit getting them something

Cons:

-Most people, I think, would prefer something more tangible, as it kind of detracts from the experience of opening up a present in the first place
-They seem kind of...impersonal
-You never know the right amount to give; $25 seems like too little, and $50 seems like too much