Gift cards suck

[Kaos]

When I don't know what to get somebody I sometimes get gift cards.  No more. 

I was told tonight by a store clerk that her store loved it when people bought them because it was "free money."  She said that since nobody ever hit the amount of the card exactly, one of two things happened.

1) People spent more than the value of the card.  Extra money for the store.
2) People just left the remainder on there unspent.  Even more free money. 

Think about this.  Target sells more gift cards than anybody else.  Just for figuring's sake let's say they sell 100 million cards a year. (They sell way more than that).  Then let's say that just 50% of the people don't use the whole amount on the card.  And let's say they leave an average of just 50 cents on each card.  That's $25 million Target made for doing absolutely nothing.  The actual numbers are substantially higher. 

According to the little research I just did, the average household has about $300 in unused gift cards sitting around at any time.  There's at least that much here at my house.  My girls still have gift cards from last Christmas in their purses. 

More than 60% of users spend more than the card with 75% of those more than doubling the value of the card.  Can vouch for that too.  Take a $50 card in, spend $130.  Happens time after time. 

Estimates are that there is somewhere between 30 and 45 BILLION in unused gift cards sitting out there. 

I'm not doing that any more. 

[bgreene]

When I don't know what to get somebody I sometimes get gift cards.  No more. 

I was told tonight by a store clerk that her store loved it when people bought them because it was "free money."  She said that since nobody ever hit the amount of the card exactly, one of two things happened.

1) People spent more than the value of the card.  Extra money for the store.
2) People just left the remainder on there unspent.  Even more free money. 

Think about this.  Target sells more gift cards than anybody else.  Just for figuring's sake let's say they sell 100 million cards a year. (They sell way more than that).  Then let's say that just 50% of the people don't use the whole amount on the card.  And let's say they leave an average of just 50 cents on each card.  That's $25 million Target made for doing absolutely nothing.  The actual numbers are substantially higher. 

According to the little research I just did, the average household has about $300 in unused gift cards sitting around at any time.  There's at least that much here at my house.  My girls still have gift cards from last Christmas in their purses. 

More than 60% of users spend more than the card with 75% of those more than doubling the value of the card.  Can vouch for that too.  Take a $50 card in, spend $130.  Happens time after time. 

Estimates are that there is somewhere between 30 and 45 BILLION in unused gift cards sitting out there. 

I'm not doing that any more.

Way to take a stand

[Saniflush]

I get where you are coming from and agree however I don't leave gift cards unspent.  Those fuckers get gone like shit through a goose.

[Kaos]

I get where you are coming from and agree however I don't leave gift cards unspent.  Those fuckers get gone like shit through a goose.

So you spend only exactly the amount of the card?  Never go over or under?

[Saniflush]

So you spend only exactly the amount of the card?  Never go over or under?

Nah I go over.  Never leave anything on the card.  Way I see it is as long as I don't leave anything on the card then they are not getting over.  They run a business and one that I would buy items from anyway so in my book having an overage is not a problem. Leaving a couple of bucks on there however is free money for them.

[Snaggletiger]

I got a $100 gift  card to Academy this weekend.  I'll go in there and get $120.00 worth of merchandise and walk out of there thinking "look at all this shit I got for $20.00"

[Token]

I used my gift card the other night.  Went over.  Bought 2 appetizers, 2 meals and 3 pitchers of beer.  Only cost me $11 after gift card.  Best damn Christmas present I've got so far.   

[Snaggletiger]

I used my gift card the other night.  Went over.  Bought 2 appetizers, 2 meals and 3 pitchers of beer.  Only cost me $11 after gift card.  Best damn Christmas present I've got so far.

This.  And gift cards are the easiest gift to buy...and wrap.  Here, go get some stuff you want.  I'm done guessing what you like.

[Godfather]

I will happily take any gift cards you no longer want Kaos.  Also where are my points?

[Snaggletiger]

I will happily take any gift cards you no longer want Kaos.  Also where are my points?

Sir, we have your refund coming. And you can pick up your TV at the warehouse between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm

[WiregrassTiger]

Well, now I have to go back to the drawing board for Kaos' gift.

[dallaswareagle]

For the ungrateful nieces and nephews I have to deal with I simply pick up gift cards to stores I know they like but don't put a freaking dime on it but write $25.00 or $50.00 on the back. They don't get around to using them for 6 months and I never see them anyway so I am pretty sure they just throw them away when they don't work. 

[Saniflush]

For the ungrateful nieces and nephews I have to deal with I simply pick up gift cards to stores I know they like but don't put a freaking dime on it but write $25.00 or $50.00 on the back. They don't get around to using them for 6 months and I never see them anyway so I am pretty sure they just throw them away when they don't work.

I like to make a donation in their name...

[Token]

I like to make a donation in their name...

Wait.  You get a choice?  They take that shit from me every week before I even get to see my money.

[Godfather]

I like to make a donation in their name...

Today is Festivus!


I got a lot of problems with you people!

[dallaswareagle]

time for feats of strength.

[Ogre]

I prefer to give cash and tell them it's the gift card to everywhere. 

My grandfather used to always complain about the concept of giving gift cards.  He would always say that giving gift cards is telling the person that they're too stupid to know where to shop.  That may be true in some cases. 

[chinook]

Gift cards fit just fine in our normal, lazy ass society. 

or...fit the ungrateful bitches that can't except a gift for what it is, look unhappy and return it.

[Godfather]

I prefer to give cash and tell them it's the gift card to everywhere. 

My grandfather used to always complain about the concept of giving gift cards.  He would always say that giving gift cards is telling the person that they're too stupid to know where to shop.  That may be true in some cases.

It's funny cause your wife likes it when I give her the gift of my penis.

[Ogre]

It's funny cause your wife likes it when I give her the gift of my penis.

She's a big fan of Mike & Ike's so that makes sense.