by Penny S. Vincent

Created on: October 02, 2009

Ten Reasons for giving gift cards rather than other gifts

Many reasons exist for buying gifts, such as for saying thank you, letting a person know he or she is loved, or showing an individual that he or she has been thought of on some special occasion. Whether giving a gift to a loved one, a friend, or a co-worker, a gift card may be the best gift to give.

At least ten reasons exist why a gift card is better than some other gift choice. The first reason is that you may not know the person as well as you thought. For instance, when buying clothing, you may end up getting the wrong size, color, or style. Due to the inconsistency in manufacturers' sizing and styles, it is quite easy to buy something that does not fit well, even when it is supposed to be the size the person usually wears. In addition, you may get the wrong size or style because you did not take into consideration his or her psychological needs of self-expression.

The second reason a gift card or certificate is a better option is that you may not know what allergies a person may have. The individual may be allergic to certain materials, certain foods, or certain scents. Numerous occasions require a gift to be given in a random draw, such as for office or school Christmas parties, where you may or may not know the recipient well.

Thirdly, a gift card or certificate may be more appreciated by the individual. Many people prefer to pick their own gifts. Others may prefer to be able to set their own priorities as to what they need or want. Even when you know a person well, you may not realize everything that he or she is going through. For instance, a parent may prefer to get a gift card so he or she can put a meal on the table, get a gift for a child, or get school supplies for the children, rather than getting something that merely he or she can use.

The fourth reason is that gift cards and certificates can reduce the cost of gift giving, thus allowing you to give better quality gifts, or to give gifts to more people. Buying gift cards and certificates can save spending money on packaging, shipping and handling costs, and gas expenses while shopping. Mailing gift cards is much less expensive than mailing packages, and can be mailed to anywhere around the world.

Fifthly, a gift card presents the receiver with a better opportunity to get more than just one gift from the giver. If the receiver happens to be a better shopper than the giver, he or she might find several items rather than just one item for

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>