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Gift cards?

What is your opinion of gift cards?

  • I love getting them. Now I can buy what I want!

    Votes: 10 32.3%

  • I love giving them.

    Votes: 6 19.4%

  • I love getting and giving them.

    Votes: 7 22.6%

  • They're ok, and serve a purpose at times, but I try to not rely on them.

    Votes: 14 45.2%

  • Meh. Whatever.

    Votes: 7 22.6%

  • Fine for adults, not for kids.

    Votes: 3 9.7%

  • I hate getting them.

    Votes: 2 6.5%

  • I hate giving them.

    Votes: 3 9.7%

  • I hate getting and giving them.

    Votes: 1 3.2%

  • They are the spawn of Satan and should be banned. If that's all you can do, don't do anything.

    Votes: 2 6.5%
  • Total voters
    31
Re: Guft cards?

i like gift cards just fine. sometimes a friend or colleague might not know exactly what to get but still wants to get me something. also, i know my boss is absolutely ga ga for KFC, so i get him a card for that every year. when he tells me every time he uses the card, i know that the gift is appreciated.
 
Re: Guft cards?

Helix said:
i like gift cards just fine. sometimes a friend or colleague might not know exactly what to get but still wants to get me something. also, i know my boss is absolutely ga ga for KFC, so i get him a card for that every year. when he tells me every time he uses the card, i know that the gift is appreciated.
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If he uses it more than once, you must be very generous. KFC is expensive.
 
Re: Guft cards?

countryboy said:
If he uses it more than once, you must be very generous. KFC is expensive.
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i do what i can.

in the next couple days, we're taking the GF's grandpa to KFC, so i guess i'll find out.
 
Re: Guft cards?

Helix said:
i do what i can.

in the next couple days, we're taking the GF's grandpa to KFC, so i guess i'll find out.
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Lol, hoo boy. It is good stuff though. Original recipe all the way baby!
 
Re: Guft cards?

lizzie said:
Gift cards are excellent for those who already have what they need, and aren't emotionally close enough to you for choosing a personalized gift. I wouldn't buy one for a spouse or a parent, but there's plenty of friends who love them.
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I guess I'm just old fashioned. I think gift cards, not greeting cards, are one of the things that is wrong with Christmas currently.

For me, all gifts are personal - otherwise, no need to give or receive a gift. If it's just a matter of tallying up those who you are expected to give gifts to, even if you don't feel any particular impulse to do so, then chop your list down and make it known to those you've chopped that you don't expect to exchange gifts going forward.

I give lots of little gifts to lots of people, never expecting or actually accepting gifts in return - but I do it all year round and I let it be known I don't want anything in return. The over commercialization of Christmas - and gift cards are the epitome - is why I don't spend much thought or time "celebrating" Christmas in the 2014 way.
 
Re: Guft cards?

polgara said:
Good morning, CJ. :2wave:

This year, most of the adults in my family opted for gift cards on their "wish lists," which made my shopping and shipping easier. Their thinking was that they could use the cards to buy exactly what they wanted, and probably even get more since the after-Christmas sales usually have lots of bargains. I did buy toys for the children, and that was fun, and I also bought a small gift for the adults, too, just to have something to unwrap. My family has been expanding the past few years with marriages and births, and I'm now buying for 15 people, and that doesn't include neighbors and friends. It would probably be less expensive to just take my family to Disney next year as a Christmas gift! :lol: I'm probably going to have to quit retirement and start a small business or something in self defense! My brothers and sister and their families just get Christmas cards from me, and vice versa, but we all get together to have a few drinks during the holidays, and discuss plans for the coming year, absent my sister who lives in California. She uses Skype, though, so it's the next best thing to being here.
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Good morning Lady P - hope you're well and enjoyed your Christmas.

As I responded to Lizzie, I guess I'm old fashioned. I don't think it's truly a gift if the recipient is the shopper. I give you a $100 gift card and you give me a $100 gift card and then we both have to go shopping after Christmas and relay to the other what they got/you gave them with the gift card. Seems far too contrived to me and benefits only the businesses flogging the gift cards.

I think I see the ghost of Christmas Present (presents) lurking over my shoulder................................
 
Re: Guft cards?

countryboy said:
If he uses it more than once, you must be very generous. KFC is expensive.
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There used to be Kentucky Fried Chicken sit down dining room restaurants here in Canada years ago - do they still have them in the US or is it all just fast food take-out now?
 
Re: Guft cards?

CanadaJohn said:
I guess I'm just old fashioned. I think gift cards, not greeting cards, are one of the things that is wrong with Christmas currently.

For me, all gifts are personal - otherwise, no need to give or receive a gift. If it's just a matter of tallying up those who you are expected to give gifts to, even if you don't feel any particular impulse to do so, then chop your list down and make it known to those you've chopped that you don't expect to exchange gifts going forward.

I give lots of little gifts to lots of people, never expecting or actually accepting gifts in return - but I do it all year round and I let it be known I don't want anything in return. The over commercialization of Christmas - and gift cards are the epitome - is why I don't spend much thought or time "celebrating" Christmas in the 2014 way.
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I don't like cards for gift for close friends or family, or even for co-workers, but for the person who has everything they want, and is not overly sentimental (dh for example), gift cards are great. I wouldn't give one to someone that I truly cared about (unless that was what they wanted), but for casual acquaintances, or for someone who really doesn't want for anything, they are great.
 
Re: Guft cards?

CanadaJohn said:
There used to be Kentucky Fried Chicken sit down dining room restaurants here in Canada years ago - do they still have them in the US or is it all just fast food take-out now?
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Our local one closed, unfortunately, and we (the town nearest me) have grown enough to be overrun by big box stores, and all the associated yuppie restaurants, concentrated on the four corners of the junction of an interstate highway, and a state highway. Most of our smaller older places have failed.
 
Re: Guft cards?

lizzie said:
I don't like cards for gift for close friends or family, or even for co-workers, but for the person who has everything they want, and is not overly sentimental (dh for example), gift cards are great. I wouldn't give one to someone that I truly cared about (unless that was what they wanted), but for casual acquaintances, or for someone who really doesn't want for anything, they are great.
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Honestly, ideally, I'd rather we stop giving gifts completely, except to those that we really care about.

Having said that, where gift cards are perfect, IMO, are for people like kid's teachers.
 
Re: Guft cards?

CanadaJohn said:
There used to be Kentucky Fried Chicken sit down dining room restaurants here in Canada years ago - do they still have them in the US or is it all just fast food take-out now?
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Pretty much all fast food here has sit down areas. Some KFCs here have all you can eat buffets. Not in my area, but I see them when I'm traveling.
 
Re: Guft cards?

CanadaJohn said:
There used to be Kentucky Fried Chicken sit down dining room restaurants here in Canada years ago - do they still have them in the US or is it all just fast food take-out now?
Click to expand...

Most of the ones here still have inside seating.
 
Re: Guft cards?

CanadaJohn said:
As I responded to Lizzie, I guess I'm old fashioned. I don't think it's truly a gift if the recipient is the shopper. I give you a $100 gift card and you give me a $100 gift card and then we both have to go shopping after Christmas and relay to the other what they got/you gave them with the gift card. Seems far too contrived to me and benefits only the businesses flogging the gift cards.
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I agree with you, and my own buyng habits are such that I am far more likely to buy you a gift from an antique shop, than a retail store. The only people I normally buy new stuff for are kids- that's because they want various toys, fashionable clothes, etc. My gifts for family and friends are much more likely to be found in an antique or resale shop, and are going to be highly personalized. I buy things that remind me of them, and of my relationship with them. I started a collection of a specific vintage glassware for my mom, years ago, and I pick up pieces of it here and there, to give her. Gift to the people that I love are always very personal.
 
Re: Guft cards?

lizzie said:
I agree with you, and my own buyng habits are such that I am far more likely to buy you a gift from an antique shop, than a retail store. The only people I normally buy new stuff for are kids- that's because they want various toys, fashionable clothes, etc. My gifts for family and friends are much more likely to be found in an antique or resale shop, and are going to be highly personalized. I buy things that remind me of them, and of my relationship with them. I started a collection of a specific vintage glassware for my mom, years ago, and I pick up pieces of it here and there, to give her. Gift to the people that I love are always very personal.
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Now you're talking!!! Well done. That way the gift is not only personal to the person who received it, but it also speaks to them personally about you and the thought you gave to the gift. It showed that you actually pay attention to them in everyday life and pick up on things they mention or like or are intrigued by. And they will remember you whenever they see or think of the gift for as long as they have it. That, to me, is the spirit that is being lost these days.
 
Re: Guft cards?

CanadaJohn said:
Good morning Lady P - hope you're well and enjoyed your Christmas.

As I responded to Lizzie, I guess I'm old fashioned. I don't think it's truly a gift if the recipient is the shopper. I give you a $100 gift card and you give me a $100 gift card and then we both have to go shopping after Christmas and relay to the other what they got/you gave them with the gift card. Seems far too contrived to me and benefits only the businesses flogging the gift cards.

I think I see the ghost of Christmas Present (presents) lurking over my shoulder................................
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Very good point. I could not dispute that even if I wanted to.
 
Re: Guft cards?

Well we always buy our older, out of town kids gift cards to restaurants that they might not normally be able to afford. It's a treat for them to go to Olive Garden, because they can't normally drop $100 on dinner. I think often, Christmas is about spoiling people - getting them things that they won't normally buy on their own. I got my mom a bunch of Shari's Berries for Christmas, because she absolutely adores them, and is far too frugal to spend that kind of money on strawberries. :lol: So I do it for her, and she just gets to enjoy them without the guilt of spending so much on them.
 
Re: Guft cards?

CanadaJohn said:
Good morning Lady P - hope you're well and enjoyed your Christmas.

As I responded to Lizzie, I guess I'm old fashioned. I don't think it's truly a gift if the recipient is the shopper. I give you a $100 gift card and you give me a $100 gift card and then we both have to go shopping after Christmas and relay to the other what they got/you gave them with the gift card. Seems far too contrived to me and benefits only the businesses flogging the gift cards.

I think I see the ghost of Christmas Present (presents) lurking over my shoulder................................
Click to expand...

I just got back from taking Christmas gifts to my neighbor. Why so late, you ask? Well, it was her choice, since she has been out of town visiting her sister, who is very ill. So I got to have Christmas all over again! And she loaded me down with a 7-layer torte and various other pastry goodies, and a combination of various kinds of fudge, plus a huge vanilla-scented jar candle. Bless her! I gave her Omaha Steaks, and some gift cards - *there they are again* from Amazon, since they run a business from their home - so we're both happy!

Her kids used squares of toilet paper to TP each tip of her Christmas tree branches, and it was hilarious! Apparently that's the "in" thing with kids today - that was another first for me! She'll take a picture and I'll post it on here. You won't believe it!

It feels like Spring outdoors, CJ. I didn't even have to don a coat! What a change from last year at this time. When are you going to send me just a little bit of snow - not too much, just a little, okay? Too bad we didn't even get a dusting for Christmas....
 
Re: Guft cards?

polgara said:
I just got back from taking Christmas gifts to my neighbor. Why so late, you ask? Well, it was her choice, since she has been out of town visiting her sister, who is very ill. So I got to have Christmas all over again! And she loaded me down with a 7-layer torte and various other pastry goodies, and a combination of various kinds of fudge, plus a huge vanilla-scented jar candle. Bless her! I gave her Omaha Steaks, and some gift cards - *there they are again* from Amazon, since they run a business from their home - so we're both happy!

Her kids used squares of toilet paper to TP each tip of her Christmas tree branches, and it was hilarious! Apparently that's the "in" thing with kids today - that was another first for me! She'll take a picture and I'll post it on here. You won't believe it!

It feels like Spring outdoors, CJ. I didn't even have to don a coat! What a change from last year at this time. When are you going to send me just a little bit of snow - not too much, just a little, okay? Too bad we didn't even get a dusting for Christmas....
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Glad you were able to prolong Christmas, since you like it so much.

As for snow, we still have some remnants of the last big snow a couple of weeks ago, just where it was plowed into hills - but it's basically spring here as well. Hasn't been freezing overnight for several days and a sweater is good enough for outside. It's supposed to get colder later next week into the first week of 2015, but not much snow to speak of. I'm not all that disappointed, considering my Christmas to New Year's last year, freezing in the dark for a week. But I wonder what happened to the really cold winter that was predicted?
 
Re: Guft cards?

CanadaJohn said:
Glad you were able to prolong Christmas, since you like it so much.

As for snow, we still have some remnants of the last big snow a couple of weeks ago, just where it was plowed into hills - but it's basically spring here as well. Hasn't been freezing overnight for several days and a sweater is good enough for outside. It's supposed to get colder later next week into the first week of 2015, but not much snow to speak of. I'm not all that disappointed, considering my Christmas to New Year's last year, freezing in the dark for a week. But I wonder what happened to the really cold winter that was predicted?
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There are times when we snot-nosed, superior minded, left wing, latte slugging lazy ****s in Vancouver actually envy Toronto's weather. Now is one of them. Leading into Christmas we had four days of clear skies and sunny days.

Now we are getting a tsunami of thick, cold rain....

I will build a fire for this horrendous state of affairs, which always angers my landlord...he is unreasonable as he thinks I should have a fireplace.
 
Re: Guft cards?

Fearandloathing said:
There are times when we snot-nosed, superior minded, left wing, latte slugging lazy ****s in Vancouver actually envy Toronto's weather. Now is one of them. Leading into Christmas we had four days of clear skies and sunny days.

Now we are getting a tsunami of thick, cold rain....

I will build a fire for this horrendous state of affairs, which always angers my landlord...he is unreasonable as he thinks I should have a fireplace.
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Vancouver is a beautiful city and location, but if I had to live in that weather year round I'd be suicidal.
 
Re: Guft cards?

CanadaJohn said:
Vancouver is a beautiful city and location, but if I had to live in that weather year round I'd be suicidal.
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Not even close to year round.

It is drought here from early July to September, spring flowers begin in mid February with Cherry blossoms lining the residential streets mid March. The worst of the rain comes in November and December, January is cold and sunny, and March temps get into the 20's.
 
Re: Guft cards?

Fearandloathing said:
There are times when we snot-nosed, superior minded, left wing, latte slugging lazy ****s in Vancouver actually envy Toronto's weather. Now is one of them. Leading into Christmas we had four days of clear skies and sunny days.

Now we are getting a tsunami of thick, cold rain....

I will build a fire for this horrendous state of affairs, which always angers my landlord...he is unreasonable as he thinks I should have a fireplace.
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Greetings, F&L. :2wave:

I'm still laughing as I type this! :lamo: .. :thumbs:
 
Re: Guft cards?

Fearandloathing said:
Not even close to year round.

It is drought here from early July to September, spring flowers begin in mid February with Cherry blossoms lining the residential streets mid March. The worst of the rain comes in November and December, January is cold and sunny, and March temps get into the 20's.
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I'm not buying it. It rained during most of the Winter Olympics two winters ago - I'd rather have snow in winter. Rain is supposed to be refreshing not chilling and making you miserable.
 
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