Are gift cards less at expressing emotions than physical gifts?
By Anish Asokan
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
India
January 26, 2025 12:24pm CST
So, one of my office colleagues is getting married. Some of us are thinking of getting a gift for me , but then we are divided mainly into two groups.
One group wants to get him a personalized gift. According to them the item should evoke memories, symbolize our times and experiences. In short, it has deeper emotional connection. However, the group is yet to decide on what that gift should be.
The other group is like we would not be in a position to decide what would be the best for the colleague and it would be better to get a gift card. The recipient can choose what they truly need and it can still be meaningful.
The first group are less interested in gift card as they claim a lack of personal touch. The other group is supporting gift card, stating the versatility and thoughtfulness. The debate still goes on.
So, are gift cards less at expressing emotions than physical gifts?
10 people like this
10 responses
@porwest (97120)
• United States
26 Jan
It depends on the person, really. For me, I am not sentimental. I'd rather someone give me a gift card, and particularly one I can use however I want, than something I might never use. I have drawers full of useless things someone gave me as a personal gift.
3 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
29 Jan
We thought of giving him a Amazon card with personalized message. It should fetch things whatever they need. When you operate in a group,there are lot of opinions and ideas. Guess something will be finalized this week.
1 person likes this
@porwest (97120)
• United States
2 Feb
@RevivedWarrior Everyone is different, that's for sure. I think adding a personalized message is a nice touch that adds value to the gift and well as sentimentality. Good idea.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
2 Feb
@porwest Finally all agree to gift the person a gift card which is personalized. Most of them could not conclude on other options.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (92842)
• United States
26 Jan
Well I remember the days when presents were nice. These days, I will take anything.
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
29 Jan
These days you have lot of choices and with that it is tough to decide what is good for a person. Hence, the thought of using a gift card and let the person decide what he wants.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (7245)
• Philippines
1 Feb
I don't know, but in our country we always thinks of what the couple needs or will use for the next years of their lives, before we love giving them appliances, but as the world is changing, people love to send money than appliances, so the couple can buy what they really want and what they really need in the first year of their marriage. I think it is more practical to give money to help them start their marriage specially if they are not really rich.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (7245)
• Philippines
3 Feb
@RevivedWarrior that's cool to know. Aside from the support and love, hehehe, money is the best gift we can ever give to the newly wed specially when they are not that wealthy.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
2 Feb
Gift card in a way is equivalent to giving money. They can use it to buy things they would definitely need for their household. The group finally decided to go with the gift card as we could not finalize on the gift. Interesting to know how it works in Philippines.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (143277)
• United States
26 Jan
I'd rather get a gift card to a store I actually shop at than someone else try to pick out a gift for me. The people I worked with didn't know the "real" me so couldn't pick out something I'd want if they tried.
Unless someone is best friends with the recipient of a gift, it's better and more thoughtful to give a gift card they can use. (Make sure someone asks where the person shops the most. A gift card to a place someone doesn't like or shop at is useless.)
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
29 Jan
That was the exact point I told the group. We do not know the person deeply , neither we know what exactly they need. Providing a Amazon gift card should help them atleast with buying something valuable online. Hope something gets finalized this week.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (143277)
• United States
30 Jan
@RevivedWarrior I hope the group listens to you. Good luck with it!
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
29 Jan
Giving cash has certain restrictions according to some colleagues. The idea was floated initially , but then rules plus the lack of personalization let that idea go down. But if nothing gets decided, this would be a good option to go for.
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
29 Jan
Definitely , in today's world thats the more practical thing you can gift people.Hope the team finalize the decision this week.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
29 Jan
Exactly- That is even my point. He could choose what he wants and we need not ponder for hours on what he needs.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (348065)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Jan
@RevivedWarrior Gift cards are well accepted here.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
29 Jan
Well, it seems there are people who are not accepting gift cards as gifts for an occasion. Finding meaningful gifts are at times tough.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
29 Jan
We cannot ask him about his interests as that will blow the surprise . I hope the team decides thinsg quickly to either get a personalized gift or a gift card.Personally I feel a gift card would be better.
1 person likes this
@somewitch (2395)
•
4 Feb
I think a personalized gift shows you thought about that person deeply enough to come up with something they would enjoy, so I think it's superior to a gift card without the need to involve emotions. Well, the second group believes the gift card is "thoughtful" but I see no brain effort in that choice. They might as well give him cash.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
4 Feb
I agree on your point. Personalized gift is a the best choice. Unfortunately none could decide on a proper gift. Perhaps finding a gift is a problem for a group of men , or perhaps for this group of men. We finally decided to go with easier option - a persoanlzied gift card. Thanks for sharing!
1 person likes this
