Gift cards as a present, especially a holiday one, is something of a contentious topic…but it shouldn’t be!
We should reconsider the way we think about them, especially now, with the Christmas season closing in on us. Let’s take a look and find out why buying gift cards for Christmas presents isn’t nearly as bad an idea as some might think it is.
One thing’s for sure: gift cards are really gaining traction these days. They’re convenient. They give the giftee a wide array of options to choose from. They’re a great alternative to traditional gifts. Aside from the typical stuff, such as online stores or other kinds of services, you can think of something more unusual, such as cryptocurrencies.
Why gift cards are a great choice
First of all, gift cards are perfect if you’re not well-versed in the giftee’s hobby and you’re avoiding the risk of getting them something they already have, but still want to support their passion. A gift card solves that instantly and sidesteps the potential awkwardness.
Of course, you DO have to pick the right store. A PlayStation gift card won’t do much for someone who plays exclusively on Steam, and a board game fan will likely get more mileage from a local game store credit than from a shoe store.
Similarly, an audiophile would probably enjoy a Spotify or Tidal gift card more than a Netflix, even though Netflix has tons of great content.
Also, you shouldn’t ignore the fact that gift cards are convenient and disposable. Whether physical or digital, a gift card takes little to no space at all. Thanks to their usually very distant expiration dates, a recipient can cash them in pretty much almost whenever they wish.
The benefits for you!
For all the convenience they offer to the recipient, you get something out of the deal as well. First of all, unless you’re aiming for physical versions, gift cards are very easy to buy online, and usually you also enjoy instant delivery, making them great last-minute gifts.
Furthermore, digital gift or subscription cards are a great option if you’d like to gift them to someone who lives far away. E-mailing somebody a gift code is faster, safer and, well, cheaper than using regular mail or a courier service.
Are there any cons?
The core argument against gift cards is that buying them instead of a dedicated present is an easy way out and requires little thought beyond picking the store and spending some money. OK, fair enough.
A weaker argument is that a gift card forces someone to shop at a specific place, which gives less flexibility than just money. There is some merit to it…however, there’s also an argument to be made that giving someone moolah would actually be crasser than buying a neat gift card.
Finally, gift cards require the gift recipient to make the effort of getting something they’d like, which isn’t everyone’s idea of a perfect present. The person you gifted with such a card now has to make the effort in picking something they want, which takes time and might cause choice paralysis.
Do gift cards make good gifts, then?
If everything goes well, a gift card might be a lot better than other types of presents. The most important thing is to make sure the giftee is someone who would welcome a gift card. If you know them well, it should be easy enough to figure out. If that’s the case, all that’s left is buying the right gift card!