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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

120 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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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[–] switchboard_pete@fedia.io 44 points 1 month ago (1 children)

giving somebody a gift card for a product or service you think they specifically will enjoy is objectively more personal than giving them cash, yes

[+] hglman@lemmy.ml -12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Just tell them what you think they might want

[–] kn33@lemmy.world 11 points 1 month ago (2 children)

It's not the same.

"Here, kid. Here's 50 bucks to get this toy I think you'd like"
"Why not just get me the toy?"

[–] Alinor@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago

I feel this is a false equivalency. Toys are easy, and you often know if the other person would like it or not, in which case you get them the toy, and not a gift card. The statment being made here is money vs gift cards, not money vs actual items.

The comparison is off. A better comparison would be:

"Here, kid. Here's 50 buck to go to this restaurant I think you'd like" "Why not get me a gift card? / Thanks, but I dont like that restaurant. Thankfully I can spent it in others, whereas I wouldn't be able to with a gift card".

[–] hglman@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 month ago

Why did you give me this toy, with you had just given me $50