What's your feelings on Gift Cards?  

Well the way I see it is if you give a gift card to a store they shop at and they don't get what they want then that's not your fault, it's their own.

As far as receiving a gift card, I love that. I'm one of those hard-to-buy-for people that buys what they want if they really want something bad enough. Gift cards are nice because I enjoy shopping for myself, and rarely have the extra money to throw around.

I think it depends on who you are giving it to though...I know some people that hate the whole "shopping experience", and would rather you just pick something out for them.

My son asks for and receives a gift card from me for Christmas every year, because he loves to go on a little "shopping spree". And I know this way get is getting exactly what he would like to have.

I don't get one for my daughter, as she lives with her father, and I fear he would spend part or all of it himself, possibly even telling her it was for a lesser amount, or that I didn't send her anything at all. With her gifts, I have to carefully pick out things she would like and send them.

So I guess it depends on the person :)

I LOVE GIFT CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love getting them because I can get what I want or need. I have 4 kids and so many people want to buy them clothes. The thing is 2 of the are difficult to buy clothes for. I have to have them with me and try stuff on. One is tall and thin, especially for her age (6). The other is tall and round. It is difficult. I would rather buy them their clothes. The other thing is now there are Visa gift cards and American express cards that can be used everywhere. Those are great for stuff like gas or if you need something (groceries, sundries, etc) and don't have the money. Boom there you go. I also don't think its lazy or what have you. It tells me that they care enough to get you a gift and they may have struggled with the choice.

My kids get gift cards every year from their grandmother on their dads side and they love them. It makes it easier for her to just get them the gift cards for one because she lives out of state so mailing is easier plus allows the kids to get something that they will like as opposed to some gifts that grandma may think they like but don't.
I have heard people say that gift cards are impersonal because you don't have to put any thought into it but in my opinion I would much rather get an impersonal gift card than a personal gift that I don't like.

Well, you can get a gift card and tell the person to use it buy whatever they want with the giftcard.

I love getting gift cards, especially gift cards to bookstores! I also like getting credit card provided gift cards because you can use those anywhere, even online. I usually buy books with them. But of course, it would depend on the person. I think you should get gift cards that fit the person you are buying for. For instance, someone once gave me a gift card to some obscure jewelry store, and it was nice of them, but I didn't know what to do with it for a good ten months.
If you know exactly what to get a person, get them that. But if you don't and you know they'll enjoy a gift card to a certain place, then it's still a great idea.

It´s convenient to give Gift cards for me. So i will not be thinking anymore on what gift to buy or if they will like what i buy...those mind-consuming thoughts in gift buying. It takes time to think what gift to give and it takes a lot more of your time shopping... I like to get a gift card too... so i can choose what i want to buy :)

I guess in principle gift cards are all right, what I think would be better maybe are those pre-paid credit card type things that would allow a person to use them anywhere for anything. I say this since years ago my aunt from Calif sent me a gift card for a gourmet type candy store..the problem? There weren't any near me--so couldn't use it at all

I'm not a fan of either receiving or giving gift cards as gifts. The reason that I feel this way is that I like to know that the person that is giving the gift has taken the time to really think about the recipient of the gift. This is also the reason that I don't give gift cards as a gift either. If anything, I will give cash as a gift if I know that the person that the gift is intended for is in a rough situation and cash would really help them out. However, I really like to think about the person that I am giving a gift to and I like to think about what I am going to give them.

Hi
I think you have a very interesting topic here.
This is one of a issue of its kind.People may have varied opinions but I surely feel that they are great
Atleast you have a flexibility to buy whatever you want,instead of a unwanted gift,which you have to go and return afterwards
It depends on your relationship with people too whom you want to give it