<story><title>More than you want to know about gift cards</title><url>https://bam.kalzumeus.com/archive/more-than-you-want-to-know-about-gift-cards/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>lostcolony</author><text>My wife did something amazing this year that I think is relevant here. She had a baby shower to go to. She didn&amp;#x27;t know what to get the mother to be.&lt;p&gt;So she bought an Amazon gift card. And then she created a wishlist of items she thought the mother might need, doing the research to find reputable brands, unique solutions to problems, &amp;quot;best mom gadgets&amp;quot;, etc (such as the pacifier that you can put liquids into; it lets you get liquid medicines into the baby, like cough syrup, without stress). She sent the gift card, and the link to the wishlist with an explanation.&lt;p&gt;It was both a pragmatic and thoughtful approach, without the risk of buying something she already had, or didn&amp;#x27;t need or want.</text></item><item><author>cmckn</author><text>I don’t think it is, at least not in my family. Cash is no more of a faux pas than a gift card, at least. I happen to think either is a pretty lame gift. Instead of a gift card to LUSH, for example, just buy me a bath bomb or whatever. Maybe I won’t like the scent you choose, maybe I’ll love it—that’s the nature of receiving a gift. Besides, gift cards are rarely enough to cover an actual purchase with taxes and etc added, so they often end up forcing the recipient to spend some of their own money (or they gather dust until they expire).&lt;p&gt;I know some people are “hard to buy for” but this might be an indication that you shouldn’t be giving them a gift. If you don’t know them well enough to have a gift idea, or don’t feel comfortable asking for ideas, are you really obligated to get them something?</text></item><item><author>winternett</author><text>I still don&amp;#x27;t understand why it faux-pas to just put cash in a nice card...&lt;p&gt;I just do it anyway. It&amp;#x27;s a more universal gift card without fees and expiration dates...&lt;p&gt;Anyone who tries to put me down for doing so will simply not be receiving a gift from me next year... Screw stressful stores. plastic cards, and standing in line, my method is much more &amp;quot;green&amp;quot;... :P</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>cmckn</author><text>Your wife has just re-invented gift registries! Maybe this is cultural, but in the US for baby showers and weddings, usually specific wants&amp;#x2F;needs will be compiled into a list and registered either at a specific retailer, or with a web service; so you don&amp;#x27;t get double-buys or things you don&amp;#x27;t need.&lt;p&gt;It &lt;i&gt;is&lt;/i&gt; a great idea, but it makes more sense when the recipient does the registering IMO.</text></comment>
<story><title>More than you want to know about gift cards</title><url>https://bam.kalzumeus.com/archive/more-than-you-want-to-know-about-gift-cards/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>lostcolony</author><text>My wife did something amazing this year that I think is relevant here. She had a baby shower to go to. She didn&amp;#x27;t know what to get the mother to be.&lt;p&gt;So she bought an Amazon gift card. And then she created a wishlist of items she thought the mother might need, doing the research to find reputable brands, unique solutions to problems, &amp;quot;best mom gadgets&amp;quot;, etc (such as the pacifier that you can put liquids into; it lets you get liquid medicines into the baby, like cough syrup, without stress). She sent the gift card, and the link to the wishlist with an explanation.&lt;p&gt;It was both a pragmatic and thoughtful approach, without the risk of buying something she already had, or didn&amp;#x27;t need or want.</text></item><item><author>cmckn</author><text>I don’t think it is, at least not in my family. Cash is no more of a faux pas than a gift card, at least. I happen to think either is a pretty lame gift. Instead of a gift card to LUSH, for example, just buy me a bath bomb or whatever. Maybe I won’t like the scent you choose, maybe I’ll love it—that’s the nature of receiving a gift. Besides, gift cards are rarely enough to cover an actual purchase with taxes and etc added, so they often end up forcing the recipient to spend some of their own money (or they gather dust until they expire).&lt;p&gt;I know some people are “hard to buy for” but this might be an indication that you shouldn’t be giving them a gift. If you don’t know them well enough to have a gift idea, or don’t feel comfortable asking for ideas, are you really obligated to get them something?</text></item><item><author>winternett</author><text>I still don&amp;#x27;t understand why it faux-pas to just put cash in a nice card...&lt;p&gt;I just do it anyway. It&amp;#x27;s a more universal gift card without fees and expiration dates...&lt;p&gt;Anyone who tries to put me down for doing so will simply not be receiving a gift from me next year... Screw stressful stores. plastic cards, and standing in line, my method is much more &amp;quot;green&amp;quot;... :P</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>jimt1234</author><text>Great, now Amazon thinks your wife is pregnant. Expect endless ads for diapers. LOL</text></comment>