I can't wait until gift cards disappear from consumer purchasing. The worst gift ever. They're as vulnerable to loss as cash, but just downright annoying to use, especially since 25% of the time they glitch, and then you're there at the till paying for something that you're only buying because you have this stupid gift card to use up.
The worst are multi restaurant gift cards, when none of them are places you like or frequent. Thanks for the Swiss Chalet/Milestones/Harveys/some other places card. I don't usually eat at any of those places, but I guess I'll choke down a free meal just to use this damn thing up. Guess I have to drive all the way over there to do it.
Even pre-paid credit cards are stupid. Why make someone work to enjoy the gift? Scratch the back, take to store, find out that you needed to register it beforehand, pay with your own CC, go home and register the damn thing, and then proceed to forget to use it for 15 weeks, while it bulks up your wallet.
If you're going to give someone money, give them cash. There are no fees, and that person can use it on anything from the expensive medication their pet needs, to the giant dildo they want from the sex shop, or actually putting that money on the credit card they just spent too much on buying gifts.
I wish there was a way to send an e-transfer that had a two step authorization, so that I could be sure the intended recipient got it, but not before they "opened" the gift. Like a "gift card" that just says the person that gave you this needs you to text them for a code, and then you can deposit cash right into your bank account. Yeah, that concept needs work, but it's already better than a stupid gift card that can only be used at Tim Hortons, when the recipient hits up Starbucks every morning.
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