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

submitted 1 month 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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[–] jan75@lemmy.ml 21 points 1 month ago (2 children)

It's the middle thing between not gifting something specific but also no just giving money. Sometimes you are not sure what exactly a person wants, but giving money directly might feel too unpersonal? Other than that, i completely agree with you that it sucks. Stores must love them though, they already have the money without having to provide a service / product and then many people will forget, the gift cards expire etc. I'm of the opinion that the cards shouldn't expire, or at least have a very high expiration date (like minimum 10 years).

[–] TonoManza@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 1 month ago

It's the middle thing between not gifting something specific but also no just giving money.

It's literally just branded money.

[–] hglman@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Just give money. Its bizarre and sick that you feel the need to have your gift blessed by a corporation. As if the 3 minutes spent buying the things to have some fraction taken by your corporate overlord somehow means you tried anymore than giving a stack of money.

[–] timbuck2themoon@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Except a lot of people won't take just money.

It's psychological but it's true.

[–] weeeeum@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

Except Chinese

Gifting cash is normal for us