Gifts are one of the purest forms of love and appreciation. The majority of people enjoy exchanging gifts, big or small. However, sometimes it can be quite tricky for the giver to figure out the ideal present. But, when he or she does find the perfect gift, the gift-giver can undoubtedly win over the recipient’s heart.
While some of you may have been blessed with the rare talent of finding the best-suited gifts for your loved ones, most may have trouble figuring out what to select. Indeed, the art of gift-selection is pretty complicated. There is a long list of factors to consider before buying the ultimate gift. The recipient may already have everything they need or want something that you do not know of. Likewise, they may have tastes similar to yours, or the complete opposite. Such scenarios may find you scratching your head in confusion.
In such delicate situations, perhaps it is best to buy a gift card for your cherished ones. However, like everything else in life, gift-cards also have their benefits and disadvantages. Before you wrack your brain deciding whether you should buy them or not, read the pros and cons of gift cards below:
The Pros
Complete Freedom
The most obvious benefit of a gift card is that the recipient can buy whatever he/she likes. Instead of having to accept something entirely different from their choice, they can simply purchase what they desire; this eliminates the pressure on the gift-giver about figuring out the perfect present. With a gift card, the receiver has full freedom to buy whatever they like.
Bosses and Colleagues
Deciding and selecting a gift for your boss or colleague can be pretty nerve-wracking, especially if you have a very formal relationship with them. You may have very little or no interaction with them outside the office doors. This can make the gift-hunting quite troublesome. In such situations, a gift card can be your life-saver. It seems equally professional and friendly without being too personal. Even if choosy, your boss or colleague can buy whatever he/she likes without you having to worry much about it.
Control Spending
You can also monitor and limit your younger ones’ spending and shopping locations by letting them use only a certain amount of money from specific stores in the form of a gift card.
Lost and Found
One fantastic benefit of a gift card is that you cannot lose it, especially a digital gift card. In the event of loss, you can get the digitalized gift card printed-out again and use it. Similarly, you may lose a physical gift card; however, you can reclaim it if you have its receipt or have it registered. Once you register a gift card to your name or a loved one’s, you can easily replace it in the case of loss.
The Cons
Too Impersonal
The foremost drawback of a gift card is that it may appear impersonal and make the giver look careless and lazy. Most people enjoy the anticipation period, wondering what they will receive from their loved ones. A well-thought gift can make or break a relationship. The receiver may think that the gift card-giver was too indolent to look for the ideal gift and so decided to pick a gift card at the very last minute.
To turn things in your favor, you can add a small personal gift or a handwritten note along with the gift card. This trick will surely earn you brownie points.
They're like Cash
Unless the gift card is registered to your name, the money on it is gone forver if you lose it. Most people don’t bother to get a gift card registered or digitalized. Gift cards are mostly anonymous in nature and do not offer any protection for stolen or lost cards.
Similarly, if you do not find what you are looking for, or are merely indecisive, and the gift card expires, then the entire hard-earned credit goes straight into the stores’ accounts.
Unused Balance
Frequently, there will be a small amount left behind in your gift card after it is used. One reason for this is that the total amount spent may not be equal to the exact gift card’s amount. Unfortunately, this unspent money will most probably end up in the pockets of the retailers. This can either be because you are oblivious that this credit is yet to be spent, or forget about it entirely. Likewise, it is also possible that you do not find a product worth buying and spending the left amount on. All these scenarios lead to one outcome; the unused balance benefits the stores.
Little Too Late
One major problem with gift cards is that most of them have an expiry date that is not too far away from the day they are issued. In recent times, when even calling a close relative can seem time-consuming, going to a store to make a purchase can seem challenging to a typical 9-5 desk-job worker. This leads to the expiration of the gift card, offering no benefit to the recipient.