Are gift cards good or evil?

[Tonio]

http://slate.msn.com/id/2111769/

Buy a gift card and you're essentially lending cash to the retailer today that is paid back through merchandise tomorrow, or next week, or next month.

Not being savvy in economics, I would never have thought of gift cards that way.

Walking into a store with free money in your pocket is like walking into an all-you-can-eat buffet after fasting—you'll feel psychologically impelled and entitled to consume more than usual, because the short-term cost will seem lower...

Depending on the recipient's self-esteem and level of paranoia, gift cards can seem a wee bit paternalistic and controlling. Gift cards are tailor-made for recipients who are irresponsible or deficient in taste and self-awareness—or who are simply prone to feeling that way. Give your teenager $50 and she might blow it on midriff-baring halter tops at Abercrombie & Fitch. But that J. Crew gift card can be spent only on presentable clothing. Dismayed that your boyfriend's recent reading list extends only as far as Maxim? A Border's gift card could send a message. For the insecure male on your list, a Thomas Pink gift card could be a not-so-subtle hint that his shirts are blighted with ugly stains.

 

[Hello6]

What's wrong with reading Maxim? Women should be happy a guy is "reading" that vs. Hustler and Penthouse

 

[SamSpade]

The premise of the article is a little silly. I've HAD birthdays and Christmases where my gift was a check, or cash. At least, with a gift card, someone made the effort to do something about it - a gift of cash or a check in a plain envelope was about as impersonal as I can think.

I did get two large gift cards for Christmas. Unlike cash or a check, they are also spendable *online*, immediately.

The further comments that gift cards are designed to steer the recipient to showing some good sense in purchasing just sounds like a bit of sour grapes. I don't know anyone THAT controlling or insulting. I bought a few this year, and I chose stores I *know* they frequent.

Now, what WOULD be cool - if retailers decided to give automatic discounts, say, 10%, to any owner of a gift card. But they won't.

 

[ylexot]

I wouldn't say that they are evil, but they are in interesting ploy by retailers. Consider this...essentially, gift cards are cash that can only be spent in one place. Not only that, but the person with the card obviously wants to use it all up. In order to do that, they either have to spend even more than the value of the card, or they have to be really good at figuring out which items, plus tax, will use up the card. There are also the pre-paid credit cards (I got some for my nephews), but those charge a service fee of a couple bucks.

Really, just straight cash (or a check) is the best option, but it just seems impersonal because it requires no thought other than the amount.

 

[Tonio]

What's wrong with reading Maxim? Women should be happy a guy is "reading" that vs. Hustler and Penthouse

Wouldn't a woman be upset that her man is looking at all? Why would the fact that the Maxim models wear bikinis or thongs (versus being completely nude) make a difference?

 

[Hello6]

Hardcore porn vs. softcore porn, lesser of two evils. I for one, love Maxim, Stuff and FHM. Much better articles than Penthouse and Hustler.

 

[Dymphna]

Wouldn't a woman be upset that her man is looking at all? Why would the fact that the Maxim models wear bikinis or thongs (versus being completely nude) make a difference?

Only insecure women care if their guys look or not.

 

[Tonio]

Hardcore porn vs. softcore porn, lesser of two evils. I for one, love Maxim, Stuff and FHM. Much better articles than Penthouse and Hustler.

So you're not jealous that your man is getting turned on by images of other women? Or that when in bed with you, he might be thinking of Leeann Tweeden or Laetitia Casta?

 

[Dymphna]

If you think gift cards are lazy....

I specifically put gift cards on my Christmas List to the in-laws. I even chose a store that would be convient for them to get in and out of and is has a location near them.

My MIL told my FIL to go out and take care of it. (He's retired) She told him that if he didn't feel like going to the store mentioned he should just go and get American Express gift checks.

Guess what I got?

 

[Tonio]

Only insecure women care if their guys look or not.

I wasn't even thinking in terms of insecurity. I was thinking that if you're married or in a serious relationship, you're supposed to suppress your lust for other people. Is that right or wrong?

 

[Dymphna]

I wasn't even thinking in terms of insecurity. I was thinking that if you're married or in a serious relationship, you're supposed to suppress your lust for other people. Is that right or wrong?

I don't see where admiring the view has anything to do with lust.

 

[sleuth]

I don't see where admiring the view has anything to do with lust.

Ain't nothin' wrong with appreciatin' God's beautiful creations.

 

[Tonio]

I don't see where admiring the view has anything to do with lust.

True. But I suspect that most guys who buy Maxim are doing more than just "admiring" the view.

 

[Hello6]

So you're not jealous that your man is getting turned on by images of other women? Or that when in bed with you, he might be thinking of Leeann Tweeden or Laetitia Casta?

Nope, not jealous. I'm secure in my sexuality.

 

[vraiblonde]

If you think gift cards are lazy....

I think gift cards are a PITA. When the kids get them, it means that I have to take them shopping for a gift from the person who's supposed to be giving the gift. It just doesn't seem right to me.

I did give my niece an Amazon gift certificate for her birthday one year. She had a blast shopping online and her parents weren't inconvenienced.

 

[Tonio]

Nope, not jealous. I'm secure in my sexuality.

Good for you. But that really wasn't my question. If you caught your man going solo (if you know what I mean), would you think he was being unfaithful to you, or would it make no difference to you?

 

[Dymphna]

True. But I suspect that most guys who buy Maxim are doing more than just "admiring" the view.

Why? :shrug:

If they start getting horny from it (and some of those pics are hardly inspiring) they've got an SO to help them out with that. If she's not inclined to help him it that respect, perhaps she'd just as soon he do it himself, rather than seek outside help.

The problem comes when he feels the need to hide his interest in such magazines, because he feels it's wrong or knows she feels that way. Or if he skips the step where he asks for her assistance. If he just goes on to taking care of his own business, is it because she's cold and he knows she won't help? Is it because he's bored with her and doesn't want her "assistance?" These are the problems, not the mere presence of a magazine.

 

[mAlice]

Good for you. But that really wasn't my question. If you caught your man going solo (if you know what I mean), would you think he was being unfaithful to you, or would it make no difference to you?

solo...unfaithful....

 

[Dymphna]

I think gift cards are a PITA. When the kids get them, it means that I have to take them shopping for a gift from the person who's supposed to be giving the gift. It just doesn't seem right to me.

I did give my niece an Amazon gift certificate for her birthday one year. She had a blast shopping online and her parents weren't inconvenienced.

I'm talking about for me, not for the kids. My boy got a gift card for his birthday in August. We took him to the store when we were returning Christmas gifts.

For me, I'd much rather do my own shopping, especially when it comes to my MIL. To say we have different taste in clothes would be an understatement. Either way, I end up in the store and it's much easier to just pick out the right thing in the first place, then have to return something first. And usually the cards are good for 2 years or so, while a return must be made within 30 days.

 

[Dymphna]

Good for you. But that really wasn't my question. If you caught your man going solo (if you know what I mean), would you think he was being unfaithful to you, or would it make no difference to you?

Better solo then wandering.