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

submitted 3 weeks 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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[–] weeeeum@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I feel like at that point you just invite them to dinner/massage/etc. Much better way to bond anyway. Plus if someone is rare to prioritize fun, a bunch of gift cards to random ass places like rpg quests is stressful for those on an already tight schedule.

Having a bunch of gift cards you know you HAVE to use is stressful!

[–] AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

No one gives someone "a bunch" of gift cards - it seems like you're racing to validate your dislike of them. And I'm going to feel weird if my sister invites me to get a massage with her, though I appreciated it when she gave me a prepaid one years ago.

Here's another example. My brother barely makes ends meet, but he loves Starbucks. Of I give him $100 cash, is not going to move the needle for his cost of living, but it's going to go to bills. Of I give him $100 on a Starbucks card, he's going to treat himself a bunch of times to something he loves but can't really afford.

The other thing about it is that cash usually gets interpreted as "I put no thought into what to get you," while a gift card at least says you had something in mind.

[–] conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 weeks ago

You don't "have to" use them.

Most people consider a gift card as a substantially better gift than equivalent cash for a reason. It's a shared experience whether they're there or not.