¨OMG, you bought me a VISA gift card. This is exactly what I wanted!¨
– Nobody Ever.
Gift cards must be the most pointless gifts you can give to another person. And as the holidays approach, it´s time to open up a dialogue on this matter.
According to Statista, a global data intelligence platform, 64 percent of U.S consumers are likely to buy gift cards as holiday gifts. This is embarrassing. Adding insult to injury, the most common gift card is for Amazon.com.
How thoughtful? I’m tearing up. Give me a second to wipe my eyes.
Gift exchanges are supposed to be thoughtful and sentimental, something that tenders emotions and feelings. Gifting gift cards are about as thoughtful as a pair of socks.
Yes, gift cards offer a hassle-free gifting experience, eliminating the need for shoppers to spend hours searching for the perfect gift. In other words, gift cards offer the opportunity to give someone a gift without actually considering the person or their interests. If you don´t care enough to put some thought behind the gift you’re giving then what´s the point?
Of course, there are some exceptions.
For example, a gift card to a specific place such as Dunkin´s or Burger King—not a supermarket or grocery store—could be sentimental if it’s a place that the person frequents. If this is the case, a gift card can still show that you care and hold sentimental value to the person receiving it.
But, in general, don´t buy bland gift cards as gifts. Make sure your gifts mean something to someone this holiday season. Money won´t buy someone´s happiness, and it wont hurt you to be thoughtful.
