I have reached the age of gift card giving. That would be 60 or so, although men reach the age of gift card giving much earlier, if they gift at all.
Now, instead of running all over town at the last minute, I can just step up to a kiosk and give the gift of food (restaurants), music (iTunes), games (Playstation), recreation (Bass Pro fishing store), electronics (Best Buy), toys (Toys R Us and Disney) and style (clothing stores). In fact, I can order gift cards from my laptop without leaving home.
But is a gift card a gift? Miss Manners says no. But I say yes, if the recipient is over 12. One has to make a decision among all the merchandise available on plastic which card will suit each individual on ones list. Often I cant provide what someone really wants because it is too expensive, but I can help the recipient get what they want by contributing with a gift card.
Does it take the excitement out of gift giving? When someone gives you a book or CD, you usually know it is a book or CD. Ditto with clothes. The only things that are stumpers are handmade gifts. Theres still the anticipation of what kind of gift card, and if it is presented in a small box, is it a card, cash, or jewelry? (Beware of disappointment from those who think it might be jewelry.)
Arent gift cards generic? Its true the restaurant selection is limited to Olive Gardens, Red Lobsters, Outbacks and the like. But you can give an American Express card that can be used at any restaurant. Wheres the creativity in a gift card? Some gift cards offer an experience. A SpaFinder card is an excellent choice for a woman who wants a getaway for an hour or a day. Theres the Chuck E Cheese gift card for the younger set and Starbucks and movie gift cards for friends to let them know youre thinking of them.My four granddaughters have such individual styles and rapidly changing sizes that Id rather give them a gift card and go shopping with them than buy something they dont like when they open their gift. (With kids theres always that awful, unguarded moment when even well behaved kids may say, I hate this.) My older son and wife have asked for practical everyday things, like a gas card to use at a service station and to buy general necessities like at Target or WalMart. My younger son gets a Whole Foods gift card, as well as cards for much needed clothing since he just moved from sunny Florida to the blizzarding Midwest.My sisters and mother do get special attention because I know their tastes better, having practiced trial and error with them for the last 50 or so years. But one sister still wants a gift card to Sephora; and I never go wrong with a Barnes and Noble card for the other sister, an avid reader.
The main reason I like gift cards, of course, is that Im a bad shopper. One year as my older son pulled things out of his stocking his face told me he was disappointed. When I asked why he said, kindly, I like licorice, gummi worms, jelly beans, and gum, but I cant have them because of my braces. Duh. Another year, thinking my younger son was into science for one misguided moment, I got him a petri dish with agar for his stocking. Has any child ever had a worse gift?For myself, I dont really want anything. I just want everyone to be happy. But if you must get me something, how about if each person shopping for me spent $25 or so on a Four Seasons gift certificate? I would not be disappointed.Even if Judy Kirkwood gives everyone gift cards, shell still be shopping for them at the last minute.
