I'm thinking of sending a lot of gift certificates as Christmas gifts this year, but I don't know if this is impersonal or not. I just think it would be nicer if the person could choose what they wanted instead of me buying them a gift they might like. But then I think that sometimes it's nice to get something instead of getting a piece of paper.
IMHO, I'd rather get a gift certificate than a regular present because I can choose what I want. But I don't mind getting presents from people though. :)
So what are your opinion about this, do you think it's inpersonal to send a gift certificate or do you think it's alright to send one as a gift?

Personally, I love gift certificates. I know that I can get something I really want that way. Some people are different though and look at it as tacky. I guess it just depends on the person you are buying it for.

I agree with Stacy. I LOVE getting gift certificates because I can then choose something I really can use or something I really want. :)

I also agree with giving gift certificates to people you know will appreciate them.

Nothing wrong with that. :) Love getting them. That way you know they'll get something they really like.

I think they are the perfect gift. Especailly when they have my shops name on them :p

I really like getting gift certificates!

Personally I've given out gift certificates as small gifts etc , never as a big gift. however this year, my father's house fell victim to a 185 gallon oil spill, which cost the insurance company 250,000 to clean up, however alot of things are left up to my father to replace, so I'm giving him a big gift of gift certificates for a hard ware store. That way the tools and supplies he's gonna have to buy anyway will be taken care of, and he is able to buy what he needs, and I don't have to guess or get him stuff thats not necessary .


I know it's gonna look a little bare under the tree, but i think in this case it's whats best for everyone

Molly..
I wish you were my mother in law! LOL! Each year she asks what we NEED (not want) for xmas. We tell her that anything we might need, we buy during the year (who can't afford to pay the $15 dollars that she spends on each person for something that they NEED)..and that a gift certificate would be nice so we could put it towards..for instance, a new tv or nicer set of pans. We go round and round because she doesn't want to do that and winds up getting us some cheesy gift (mine last year was a foot lotion set with the clearance tag still on it and a tacky night shirt with a picture of a huge cat on it LOL!)

I love getting gift certificates and plan on giving some myself this year. I don't think that it's impersonal at all.

I sent gift certificates to two people this year. :) They are each into DVDs and computer CD enhancements, so I got them gift certificates at Circuit City, where they can buy what they want or need to upgrade their computers or add to their movie collections.

It may seem less personal to some, but look at it this way: A lot of thought goes into a gift certificate. You wrack your brain to find something perfect, and you know what they like, but not what they want. What if I blew $40 on DVDs, mailed them out, then found out that the person who got them already owned them, or worse, hated my choices? This way, they only have theirselves to blame. :lol:

I like them.

I would much rather get a gift certificate than something I don't want/need. Unless you know for sure what they want, send a gift certificate. :)

Really everything comes down to the saying:
"It's the thought that counts"
though you can't go wrong with a gift certificate

A question on Hollywood Squares claims you're not supposed to give these, but I say screw 'em, I like gift certificates too.

Gift Certificates Rock! Just make sure it's to a place they frequent. Otherwise a lot of gift certs go unused. :)

Just browsing, stumbled across this thread and decided to toss in my two cents. On one hand gift certificates are the perfect gift inasmuch as the person recieving one can purchase an item they truly want, and that is a good thing. On the other hand, gift certificates have always smacked of a lack of imagination to me because as posted previously, it is the *thought* that counts. If you place enough thought and heart into your gift then it really doesn't matter what it is. Unless it is a canary yellow with lime green vertical stripes, hand knitted out of exceedingly poor quality yarn sweater. Then I imagine it would matter.

That's another one of my points...my mother in law doesn't even put any thought into what she gets for people. She just picks things out. We can tell her exactly what she can get us (she asks directly what we want her to get) then we have to act oh so surprised when we open it..(once I even had to go pick up my own and wrap it)..Why even ask if she's not going to follow? It would be nice to get to go to dinner at Red Lobster on someone else's money..we arn't going to treat ourselves to that sort of expense.

I say...GIFT CERTIFICATES ARE GREAT!

That's another one of my points...my mother in law doesn't even put any thought into what she gets for people. She just picks things out.

I had an Aunt like that. Every year at Christmas it was a running family joke about who would get the most horrific gift from her. She knew full well what everyone in the family liked/wanted/needed but she would get the most BIZARRE gifts for us all. We are talking gifts that did not actually originate in this part of the Galaxy they were so weird.

That is sad LOL!

I think gift certificates are great. I'm finally breaking my mom into them after over three decades of trying to convince her that our tastes in things don't exactly mesh.:rolleyes: Whether or not they're impersonal or lack imagination is beside the point to me. It's a good way to make sure the person can get something they like!:)