[Roger]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

The only 'good' thing about gift cards is when the purchaser gets a bonus which lots of places now gift. I loved paying for Xmas work lunch at Earls and buying $1000 in gift cards for the 200$ in free gift cards and immedaitely using the $1000 on the lunch (yes you can do this, just not the bonus cards)

I won't come right out and say that it's grifting on the gift, but this is lame. Buying gift cards from a place you like, and giving them as gifts, for a free 6" sub.

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Well why are your family and friends giving you GC's to places you hate

As if the only people gifts are exchanged with are people close enough to know that you do not frequent certain places. This is where gift cards become even more annoying. Some thoughtless person bought their niece a Tims card, and she, being more of a Starbucks person, regifted it to you out of a ridiculous obligation such as boss/assistant or parent/school bus driver.

Originally Posted by Jason14h

There are a large amount of people who don't own a CC and use these to pay for things online.

Those people can go ahead and buy an online Visa/MC with the money you give them in cash, or the dildos/medication/paying of bills. That's the best part of the gift. The recipient can actually treat cash like cash, and spend it without parameters.

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Cash is great except at the place where almost everything is now purchased.... ONLINE!! Who buys stuff at stores and still leaves their computer! Learn to shop online!

I have my very own credit card, which I use to buy everything, including stuff online, and hence, no need for a temporary card that requires the extra few minutes of registering. But I get your point, some people don't have credit cards. But you know what they can do with that sum of money you gave them? They can buy a credit card, if they so choose.

Originally Posted by Jason14h

You can send someone a virtual CC which effectively is a CC number you can use anywhere online.

Why the extra hoops? If you're giving someone money, just give them... money?

Originally Posted by Jason14h

In general cash as a gift seems silly to me, especially as adults. Like I literally know nothing about you. Do you eat hand a $100 bill to each other. Just don't exchange anything.(Unless you NEED to cash - Your children an example)

So if cash is a silly gift, then why the hell are gift cards not just as silly? It's the same thing as giving cash, except you're telling the person where they can spend it. Seems like if you're going to use this as a way to force someone to spend the money where you think they should, the place would be children "as an example". Here, son. I know you're broke, but I don't want you to spend money on booze, so I'm going to force you to buy tools at Home Depot, so that you put them on kijiji and sell them for booze money.

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Gift Cards are pretty pointless and annoying BUT you can get free bonus cards so you actually get more $$ at the specific location then the value you are purchasing.

So it's got an angle, then. You're not really straight up buying or giving someone a gift, you're giving them something that you get a kickback on. That's the spirit.

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Visa Gifts cards are great for people who don't have CC's, but also pointless for people who do - This I agree just give cash as they dont give bonus $$ on prepaid visa cards like business GC's

Glad we agree. Waste of time no matter how you slice it, unless you're actually doing it for yourself, or regifting a crappy gift that you don't want.

Apologies if I inadvertently made you feel bad about buying your parents an Earl's gift card. I guess if you know that they're going there anyway, go ahead. This outburst is more because I used to give them, until I had multiple bad experiences using them. I now refuse to buy them or give them, because the last thing I want my gift to be is a disappointment, or a pain in someone's ass.