Definitely not OS - those "gift cards"

Loadsabob · 12 April 2006 at 11:34AM

Anyone care to join me in a complete boycot of store "gift cards"?

I used to think gift vouchers and book vouchers were quite nice, fairly OS in a way, but now they're all changing to swipe cards. I think it's tacky, and a complete waste of resources, all that plastic that won't be recycled.

I'm going to write to stores which have introduced this horrible idea, and tell them I'll no longer be giving their "vouchers" as presents...ever. If a few of you have the same inclination, perhaps they may start to get worried.

My brother has always said his preferred voucher has the Queen's head on it, and now I'm inclined to agree. Or cheques, if I haven't thought of an innovative homemade gift!

My Mum was given a plastic swipe card (no actual nice picture card with it or anything, either), from WH Smith, which limited her to books within WH Smith!! Couldn't be much more prescriptive!

Horrible horrible shops!!!!!!!!

Linda32 · 12 April 2006 at 11:38AM

Loadsabob wrote:

My brother has always said his preferred voucher has the Queen's head on it, and now I'm inclined to agree.

:rotfl: :T

I must admit someone at work hates them too. He says you usually end up putting more money to somthing you didn't want in the first place. Plus the shop has got their money upfront.

thriftlady_2 · 12 April 2006 at 11:39AM

I hadn't thought of the recycling aspect of these swipe cards,but you're right.A gift card with a nice picture is much better.I hope book tokens aren't going to get plasticized

aliasojo · 12 April 2006 at 11:44AM

I don't like them purely for their credit card connotations. I feel they are too similar to the credit card scenario........want something....swipe your card.

My sons were given Burtons gift cards for Xmas by a relative and they are both rubbish with money as it is.....it worries me that after using these gift cards, they may then have thought how easy it was and it would be just as easy with a credit card.....(until it comes to paying the bill that it.)

Shez · 12 April 2006 at 11:53AM

my friend works in a department store and says the shops love people buying gift vouchers because most of the time people forget about them and the dont get used, resulting in the shops getting more money - I had never thought about that before, maybe it is better to give actual money? and now i wont buy vouchers to post, especially after the scandel about the postal service who open the cards and take the vouchers out!!!! - so i dont trust it anymore. Many a person i know never received theirs and it seems to be getting more frequent

sad state of affairs.

Queenie · 12 April 2006 at 12:08PM

Loadsabob wrote:

Anyone care to join me in a complete boycot of store "gift cards"?

I used to think gift vouchers and book vouchers were quite nice, fairly OS in a way, but now they're all changing to swipe cards. I think it's tacky, and a complete waste of resources, all that plastic that won't be recycled.

I'm going to write to stores which have introduced this horrible idea, and tell them I'll no longer be giving their "vouchers" as presents...ever. If a few of you have the same inclination, perhaps they may start to get worried

:T :T Thanks for the headsup :T :T

Yes, I shall certainly support you on this issue.

I tend not to buy gift/book vouchers anyway, but certainly schools use them as prizes. As Shez pointed out, vouchers can be forgotten and then it becomes "lost" money for the recipient and yet more profit for the stores.

Rachie_B · 12 April 2006 at 12:14PM

i definitely agree ,much prefer the paper / card gift vouchers

dooj · 12 April 2006 at 12:34PM

sorry everyone but i like the swipe cards because then you can spend as much as you like and not be given bits a pieces of change and vouchers when you dont spend the actual amount on the voucher. The cards fit into your purse or wallet, not like the vouchers which get tatty edges after being kept in your purse for ages, and having the flexiability to put any amount back on the card may encourage you to save moe, e.g i save on an asda savings swipe card and i put the amount that round up to the nearest pound on my card after shopping total. if i had to put a pound on each time i migt not see it as a hidden save and rather an allocated save. Do you see what i mean. Also we have to move with the times and swipe cards are part and parcel of evryday life.

nic82 · 12 April 2006 at 12:41PM

One supposed benefit of the cards is that they are re-usable. However, in practical terms, I think is, well, not practical!

The idea is that you put an amount on the card and then when the recipient has used the amount up, s/he refills it. Well, how likely is this to happen? Why would you want to limit yourself to one shop? This pretty much equates to buying yourself a gift voucher!

Also, when someone is planning on giving you a gift card from TopShop or wherever, they're hardly going to say to the recipient "do you already have a giftcard for TopShop. Oh, you do, give it to me and I'll top it up for you".

It just doesn't happen!!!!

Sorry for the rant, but as you can see I completely agree with Loadsabob!

Oh, and to illustrate the point about gift vouchers/cards...I've got a Monsoon/Accessorize voucher for £15 that I was given in August 2004. I still haven't spent it. So, at the moment, that is just money in the retailer's pocket.

I don't wear Monsoon clothes (not that I could really afford to) and my nearest Accessorize is 25 miles away so don't go very often. Whenever I do go, invariably I forget to take the voucher or they haven't got anything in that I like!

Loadsabob · 12 April 2006 at 12:42PM

dooj wrote:

Do you see what i mean. Also we have to move with the times and swipe cards are part and parcel of everyday life.

Hi Dooj,

I do see what you mean about how you find them convenient, but I have to say I've never found cash inconvenient!

I'm actually refusing to "move with the times" on this one though, I don't believe my whole life should be swipeable! Swiping isn't much a part of my every day life. And to the degree that it is already, I plan to leave it. But I stopped using Switch when Chip & Pin came in, too, so that's just personal preference.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this though!

Aliioasojo - I agree, I think they start to encourage (young?) people to think in terms of spending being about plastic, cards, swiping, unseen money, don't see what you're spending. I hate that.

And Nic82 - I agree, they're not REALLY going to be re-used, even though in theory its possible. That's just a con!

I'm really encouraged by the reponses - glad it's not just me!

Queenie · 12 April 2006 at 12:51PM

dooj wrote:

.... and having the flexiability to put any amount back on the card may encourage you to save moe, e.g i save on an asda savings swipe card and i put the amount that round up to the nearest pound on my card after shopping total. if i had to put a pound on each time i migt not see it as a hidden save and rather an allocated save. Do you see what i mean. Also we have to move with the times and swipe cards are part and parcel of evryday life.

I'll have to do a search to find it, but Martin wrote an article about shop savers schemes verses saving in a bank/building society - ok, it was mainly in reference to the Christmas Savings clubs, but your example is just as valid. In both instances it is profiting on your *loyalty* to the store concerned and isn't necessarily the best way to make the most of your money.

I agree, swipe cards are indeed part and parcel of everyday life. But I think that's the whole point, they shouldn't *have* to be or at least, just because someone came up with the idea around the board room table, doesn't mean we should simply accept it without question or without considering other impact factors.

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Definitely not OS - those "gift cards"

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