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Why on gods green earth do people buy gift cards? (lemmy.world)

submitted 11 months ago by weeeeum@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Utterly stupid little things, its money that is less useful in EVERY situation and expires! Even at the store where you can use it, what do you do with the money that's leftover but too little to spend? Especially at expensive places, you could very well end up with 10-20$ OF YOUR OWN MONEY, that you can't even use!

I was given a dunkin giftcard for volunteering at a repair cafe. First of all I'm on a diet but secondly I stuffed it in my wallet so quickly I completely forgot about it. The day I remember and go through the trouble of attending such a wretched establishment I was told it expired after I finished giving my order! After such bother to try to use this cursed thing I refuse to return fruitless from my endeavors so I paid with my own cash.

It is now, sulking into my hashbrowns and Boston cream do I realize I am now poorer, fatter and fucking miserable. FUCK gift cards.

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[–] foggy@lemmy.world 94 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (26 children)

Big disagree.

It is unlawful for a gift card to expire in the US. (Ask Simon Malls how badly they got fucked for this.)
There are tons of expensive restaurants my partner and I are simply not going to go to unless we're able to knock $100 of the bill.
Retired people are on a budget. Gift cards help them with that.
Often times people have niche hobbies wherein buying a present might have good intentions. but it'll be in vain. I'm a beer snob. Do not get me beer as a gift, ever. Gladly take a gift card to a good brewery. I'm a musician -- don't buy me gear. I work and tinker with networking. Don't buy me hardware. Give me gift cards.

They are low effort and high reward. They are excellent gifts, both to give and receive.

[–] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 11 months ago

These are all good points but the biggest reason I HATE gift cards is because they offer ZERO protection.

Buy something with a credit card and you often get double warranty protection included. That something gets damaged or stolen? Also protected.

Gift cards offer none of that. Neither does cash but at least I can use cash to pay off the credit card.

I get that a gift card is more personable and it earmarks the funds for a particular store. If you like gift cards, then cheers and go about your merry way.

I've emphatically told my loved ones that I never want a gift card. You want me to use the money somewhere specific? Just say so and I'll do it.

But don't give me a script that I can only use in one place and might lose.

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