The Gift That Counts

[kybearfuzz]

Over lunch, a co-worker and I were having a discussion regarding gift giving. His position was the giving gift certificates was the easy way out, that it basically says that you are not putting any thought into a gift. He was especially saying this if you gave a certificate to a place you are registered (he just recently had a baby).

Now I often give gift certificates as birthday presents, even when my friends or family member might have a wish list. I guess I often considered shopping part of the gift experience, the ability to get whatever you want or need. Granted, this alleviates me from making a choice of does he or she like it, but at least it gives that person the ability to get something they truly enjoy. Naturally, if I were attached, this wouldn't go for my other half, but for friends and family I never saw the problem.

So, I pose the question to the masses: Are gift certificates a sort of etiquette-breach? Is purchasing an item better than giving a gift certificate or are they equivalently good?

Comments

[ui-tomcat.livejournal.com]

I'd just rather have the cash than a gift certificate. Unless it's to some place like Target, Best Buy or iTunes store. My family routinely gives me gift certificates to places I don't shop (like Wal-Mart) and that bugs me. They usually get them right back (re-gifted!)
Now if someone is registered someplace, I don't see the big deal about giving them a gift certificate to a place they obviously shop.