gift card or video games?
By hellcowboy
@hellcowboy (7374)
United States
April 18, 2008 8:21pm CST
on a special occasion like birthday or Christmas would you rather get a few video games or a gift card for a gaming store? Have you ever gotten a video game from someone and you didnt like it? Did you take it back? If so what did you exchange it for? If not then why didnt you take it back? Have you ever gotten a video game shipped to you by a store not in your area as a gift? Were you able to return it by mail or did you have to ask the person who gave it to you? Would you return a video game to a store far away by mail? In my opinion id rather get a gift card to a store like gamestop, so that way i can pick out the games i want,cause 2 Christmas's ago my brother bought me a game called Star Wars Battlefront cause he thought id like it, since i love Star Wars, in my opinion it sucked, so i traded it in,if he had just given me a gift card i wouldnt have had to go to the trouble of going and trading it in. Im not sure if id return a video game to a store by mail, unless its a well known store like gamestop or walmart, because its hard to tell if you can trust a store, plus theres always the chance of it getting lost in the mail, just like if u get a video game in the mail as a gift,theres always the chance of it getting damaged during shipping. This is a little off topic, but I recently received the ThunderCats through the mail for Christmas. It came from walmart, but I had to return it because of a damaged box and the middle plastic holder for the dvd itself were crushed a bit. It goes to show, that it doesn't matter where it's from, I guess.
2 people like this
6 responses
@dashenko (10)
• United States
2 Jun 08
It is true that not always the right games arent as easy to find but like with my family if i were to receive a gift card often at times it was only for the amount of either five or ten dollars. That was fine but the game I was hoping for cost much more it was actually a few weeks later before I was able to get the game only to still be broke afterwards. Do not mistake what I am trying to say. I completely agree with giving the gift card, I just feel that it would be best if there were enough money on the gift card for the games that they want cause otherwise you mite as well just give that particular person the money in cash which is actually the best choice in my opinion cause then the receiver could spend it wherever that their heart desires, but that presents another problem if you think about it. What if that person were to blow their money on something that they didnt want in the first place just because they had the money. True it being their money it would be their choice, but then at least the gift card would help keep them on track for something specific but then what if they didn't want anything specific that concept in itself creates quite the dilemma, but i guess that is just up to the giver to decide due to the circumstance of the receiver or receivers. Just some food for thought.
3 people like this
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
3 Jun 08
Yeah I know it can be hard to find the right game,and yeah I know gift cards are usually for small amounts, and most games cost atleast thirty bucks,and yeah I agree if you are going to give a gift card to put enough money on it,even though with certain people cash is better because you can spend cash whereever you want ,and yeah there is always the chance of the person blowing the money on something they didnt want,or didnt need,and it would be their money,but they should still responsible for it,and yeah a gift card would keep them on track of their goal,and yeah the giver should give what they think it best for the particular person who is receiving it.
2 people like this
@sassygirlanne007 (4517)
• United States
19 Apr 08
I would say gift card cuz then i can go get what it is I am wanting. Or if I have a wishlist then they can fallow that.
2 people like this
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
19 Apr 08
yeah with a gift card you can get what it is you want at the time, and yeah theres always the option of making a wish list, which is a way to get what you want without having to be given a giftcard
2 people like this
@ArsonCuff (3114)
• United States
7 Sep 08
Whenever I have gotten video games form people, even if I did not want it I tried it out. Might as well, it was free, and might be surprised because I had figured I would not want it.
1 person likes this
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
8 Sep 08
Yeah I know what you mean if someone gives you a video game you might as well give it a try since it did not cost you anything and you might end up liking it after all even if you do not think it is your type of game,have a great day,good luck in your life,and Happy Posting.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
19 Apr 08
Being of the older generation, I don't play video games a lot, but my children do. They're grown up with kids and the grandkids play too, so often they'll ask for games for Christmas and birthdays. I can't be bothered milling around the game shops trying to find what they want... the shops are always packed, and there are so many different types of console, that it's difficult to find the games for the right console.
Anyway, I often buy them £20 gift cards. There's a shop here, in England, just called Game. The kids love it because they sell second-hand as well as new games and new releases. So, they can browse to their heart's content in the shop, with the gift card I gave them. Saves me a lot of hassle.
Brightest Blessings.
1 person likes this
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
19 Apr 08
yes you do make a good point it is a bothersome task having to go from store to store looking for the right game, and the crowds can be overwhelming to say the least, and theres always the chance if your not experienced with knowing the different systems that you might get the wrong game for the wrong system.The Game sounds like Gamestop around here cause they always have used games and new games and dvds.
3 people like this
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
19 Apr 08
it more than likely is the same store, but im not sure all i know is that gamestops are all over the USA and theres another store called EB games thats affiliated with gamestop, and around here gamestop and EB games are very very popular especially with younger gamers and parents of gamers.
2 people like this
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
9 Jun 08
I'd rather get a game as long as it was the one I wanted and I drop a lot of hints.
The problem with gift cards is that they sometimes don't cover the cost of the game. I don't buy a lot of games anyway as I'm a bit choosy about what I play.
Usually what my brother does is give me a gift card for HMV or Virgin, where I can choose either a game, CD or DVD.
The problem with gift cards is that they sometimes don't cover the cost of the game. I don't buy a lot of games anyway as I'm a bit choosy about what I play.
Usually what my brother does is give me a gift card for HMV or Virgin, where I can choose either a game, CD or DVD.1 person likes this
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Yeah it is always good to drop a lot of hints about the game you want,and you are right gift cards do not always cover the cost of the game,and I can understand being picky about the games you play,because I am kind of picky too,and thats cool that he gives you a gift card to HMV or Virgin so you can choose either a game,a cd,or a dvd,have a good day,good luck in your life my friend,and Happy Posting.
2 people like this
@irdsm1 (288)
• United States
19 Apr 08
I also prefer gift cards. They can be exchanged for anything in the store. For example: You would like a new video game but the power adapter on your gaming machine stopped working. You can buy a new power adapter with the gift card. My only issue is that: A) they (the sender) should make sure that you have that store in the area. I once got a Barnes and Noble bookstore card. I mean that is great and all but the nearest barnes and noble is over 2 hours away, where a borders would have been a 10 minute drive (These are just examples. I don't remember the exact name of the store near me, and I know Barnes and Noble is affiliated with at least one other bookstore, and it might be Borders) and B)They don't send enough to buy a game in the first place. Please, don't send me a 20$ gift card in replacement for a brand new game! Just send me a game I don't like so I can trade it in!
Dan
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
19 Apr 08
always be mindful that some gift cards are redeemable online as well, such as your barnes and noble gift card. Walden Books and Borders are affiliated,however, I am not sure of any affiliations with barnes and nobles. To my knowledge Barnes and Noble is not affiliated with the prior two.
2 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
19 Apr 08
This is true, but also during some seasons and depending on the site, shipping charges will either be voided or very low. It might not hurt to check in and see if there are any discounts associated with shipping and gift cards.
2 people like this
@irdsm1 (288)
• United States
19 Apr 08
Yes, I know each of the stores has an affiliate store you can redeem the gift card at, but I can never get them straight :p
You make a valid point about many gift cards being redeemable online, but then you incur shipping charges which can cost almost as much as half the gift card depending on order size and such. This is especially true of small gift cards like 10$.
Dan
1 person likes this
