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This is a hypothetical. I personally haven't been in any situation where I couldn't think of a better gift than an Amazon.com gift card.
If you were, though - probably not with someone close to you - would you think it's a smart choice? The recipient would have to be Internet-savvy, but I mean more the impersonality of it. Still, I lean toward it over cash or a card to a physical retailer that I don't know the person likes much. I can't find evidence that it's a common Christmas present, however.
I gave my dad an Amazon gift card. He's just so hard to shop for, I just give him gift card and let him buy what he wants! That is a better gift than giving him something that he will complain....
Why not give it to someone close? That's bad?
no. Why not just a pre-paid Visa - can be used anywhere.
And with all the issues i've been reading about with these independent Amazon delivery people - they probably won't get their package anyway.
Knock on wood, my husband and I haven't had any issues, but my mom recently ordered something from Amazon, and the delivery person just put the package on the sidewalk next to the mailbox. Crazy!!! Lazy and stupid... but delivery people from FedEx do dumb stuff too... Anyway your post just reminded me that even Amazon people can be downright bad
Knock on wood, my husband and I haven't had any issues, but my mom recently ordered something from Amazon, and the delivery person just put the package on the sidewalk next to the mailbox. Crazy!!! Lazy and stupid...but delivery people from FedEx do dumb stuff too... Anyway your post just reminded me that even Amazon people can be downright bad
Interestingly enough Amazon is making its third party sellers to not use FedEx during Christmas because of stuff like that.
I gave my dad an Amazon gift card. He's just so hard to shop for, I just give him gift card and let him buy what he wants! That is a better gift than giving him something that he will complain....
Why not give it to someone close? That's bad?
In my mind, there's an idea that, when possible, a gift is supposed to be meaningful in and of itself, not just a means to an item.
I don't have a problem with an Amazon Gift card. If I received one, I'd think "Yay! free money I don't have to spend on groceries!"
But for those who are not internet savy...there's always Visa gift cards they can spend anywhere they want.
I've been in a quandary this holiday season, on what to get my parents, (mom and stepdad.) WHAT do you get people who have more than enough 'stuff'? My mom has already told us that she doesn't need anymore "smell good" stuff, so that's out. I will probably get them restaurant gift cards...and yeah...it DOES seem uncreative to me, but I can't really think of anything better, and I'm thinking maybe experiences are more welcome than stuff.
My husband has an internet friend. They've been playing computer games together for years, and talking back and forth over Hangouts, but they've never met face to face. He also lives in Minnesota a state we've never stepped foot in. This year this friend helped my husband out tremendously, and we wanted to give him a ticket of our appreciation by sending him a Christmas card and giftcard. No idea what he likes other than computer games. No clue what restaurants he eats at etc. So we went with an Amazon gift card. I think it's safe to think he liked the gift and it was a total surprise.
I don't have a problem with an Amazon Gift card. If I received one, I'd think "Yay! free money I don't have to spend on groceries!"
But for those who are not internet savy...there's always Visa gift cards they can spend anywhere they want.
I've been in a quandary this holiday season, on what to get my parents, (mom and stepdad.) WHAT do you get people who have more than enough 'stuff'? My mom has already told us that she doesn't need anymore "smell good" stuff, so that's out. I will probably get them restaurant gift cards...and yeah...it DOES seem uncreative to me, but I can't really think of anything better, and I'm thinking maybe experiences are more welcome than stuff.
I like to gift experiences to the parents. They're all at the age where they're looking to downsize over accumulating more stuff. But, I personally, still see restaurant gift cards as not much different than giving cash. Typically, to me, experiences mean things they probably would never do themselves, aka comedians, concerts, plays, etc. Most of our parents are homebodies, so it's good to get them out of the house and experience something they wouldn't do themselves. My parents even now buy season tickets to their local playhouse after we gave them one as a gift one year.
For years my dad said he'd love to skydive. Of course, he never did. One year we bought him a skydive trip. The look on his face when he opened it and realized he now actually had to go
It works beautifully for my overseas relatives. Sending them an actual gift by mail is so expensive I don't have much flexibility. I'd rather spend more on the contents of the package than the freight. What would be an appropriate gift for relations living in a very different situation than I do is tough. My modest gift demonstrates that I think about them and hope they get some enjoyment from their time choosing just the right thing. This year several of them just moved into new houses. What better way to help them outfit them?
Short of 'cash'.. Amazon is the best GC to use because EVERYONE can find something they need/want on Amazon.
I tend to send money simply because.. It can be used anywhere for anything. Like my sister.. She's just getting out into the workforce (She's 20 years younger than me) and I've given her just money the past 2 years. never know when cash for a house payment is better than Amazon money to spend on something to go into the house.
I send the money through Zelle, because.. No fees. At least with the setup they have with USAA.
The nephews.. Being under 18.. I made them get savings accounts and transfer money to that. Intended for going towards a car, but..
This whole thread reads like an advertisement for Amazon gift cards.
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but delivery people from FedEx do dumb stuff too... Anyway your post just reminded me that even Amazon people can be downright bad
