to think a whsmith smiths gift card is a waste of money.

[ditavonteesed]

il's have sent dd1 a whsmiths gift card again for her brithday, they sent her one last year and I ended up buying it off her. they send quite a lot (£40) and dd was looking forward to buying some uniform for guides with it. I know I sound ungrateful but there is nothing dd wants in whsmith, tere isnt really anything I want. Anyway I know IABU but seriously I dont have £40 spare to buy it off dd and it seems like a waste of money.

So, you're not a reader then?

Art and craft stuff? Board games? They have some toys as well, depending on the age of your DD. Maybe check the website if your WH Smith is too small for the full range of products they sell. They might be able to order stuff in for you.

Magazines, books, chocolate?

DH got a WHSmith giftcard worth £2 last year as a reward to all employee's in his firm (it isn't WHSmith he works for). His face was as the closest WHSmith to us is about 30 mins drive away.

Chocolate oranges?

If you can't afford to buy it off her, don't buy it off her.

Surely, over the course of 12 months, your DD can find books, craft stuff, board games or school stationery to the value of £40, it doesn't all have to be spent at once.

WH SMiths is more expensive than other shops for stationary, books and toys. A WH Smiths voucher does seem wasteful to me.

Never useless.

If she really doesn't want to spend it here, (books, stationery, art materials, magazines?), why not use it for Xmas shopping (presents, cards, wrapping) and let her buy from something else.

^ somewhere not something

Can you have a chat with ILS for next year. They probably dont want to waste £40 either.

Could be worse, my Grandparents always bought me M&S vouchers as a kid.

Well I don't think its a waste of money in general terms, because WHSmith sells art stuff, games, stationery, books, DVDs, CDs - I could find plenty of things in there I would like, and so could my kids.

But I appreciate that your DD doesn't want any of those things - as someone says maybe direct your ILs towards a shop she does like, or just sending cash.
Tell them she is keen on Guides and would like money towards Guiding stuff - I think that's fair enough, it is a waste of their money as far as your DD is concerned, it would be sensible to have it directed to what she wants. IT sounds as if they are kind and generous - so they would probably be fine about this - you'll need to drop it into the conversation next time, a few weeks before present giving time comes around

My 4yr old got one for his birthday and had a great time choosing bits and pieces from around the shop - a magazine, craft kit, toy, stickers, pens, sweets....

M&S Well I'd happily swap that for my DC. Chocolates, wine, not having to cook type meals, underwear, clothes, shoes.

Although my DC would be happy with the chocolates, cakes and puddings and maybe even some of the clothes.

She doesn't like books, DVDs, CDs, craft stuff, games or computer games?

she would normally buy books, but she is getting a kindle for her birthday so will buy books for that, plus whsmith is more expensive than any other shop, we would normally get books from the book people and get a lot more books. She has all the computer games she wants, craft stuff, there is a limit, she will buy craft stuff and folders, she will buy 20 folders with it. Anyway it is really none of my business what il's send her it is between them.

Does it matter that the books are overpriced? Your DD would be getting them for free, because they were a gift.

Yes, you could have used the money to get more useful things, but you got a token, not money to spend as you wish. Ask for the money next time, on your DD's behalf.

(We have struggled to spend WH Smith vouchers too)

Could you buy Christmas presents for other people from it and give your dd the money? That way it's a bit of an investment.

Exactly it's none of your business

Bet she'd soon spend it if you took her in there !

Are you sure it's not you who wants to use it instead of your own money on guide uniform ? Uniform isn't really a present is it?!!

Isn't there a website that 'buys' unwanted gift vouchers, you have to pay a small commission I believe but it might be worth it to get the money to buy the guide uniform?

whamith sells all different gift cards (pizza express, topshop etc etc), so could you use it to buy one for somewhere else? I don't know if that's allowed but I can't see why not.

We have the same "problem". I sympathise. Do Smiths sell phone top ups?

WH Smiths threads have a klaxon for me, like sporn threads, which I also love

YANBU OP. My elderly aunt always gives £25 giftcards because she's under the impression that Smiths is still a bookshop rather than the pusher of chocolate with dirty carpets.

Because there was nothing I wanted I saved five of them before I thought of going in and buying loads of wrapping paper because it was the only thing they sold that I might possibly use even though I didn't really like the designs and it was expensive.

The bastards had voided the lot because I hadn't activated them in time. It's in microscopic print on their Terms and Conditions. Who reads the T&Cs on a fucking birthday present?

Buy an overpriced greetings card to keep it alive and ask the inlaws to save their money. I'm still working on my aunt who says: 'But I like to get you a little something but I never know what to buy.'

So, obviously the answer to that conundrum is give your pension to WH Smiths, you kind and silly woman.

Captain - I'm not sure I agree with that, uniform/sports kit etc is very expensive and to support a hobby I think it is important that a child learns that these things don't grow on trees. MY DS plays a lot of sport and understands that the kit/equipment etc will be Christmas and birthday presents saves us having to think of anything else .

Also it shows a comittment to the hobby if the child uses some/all of their own money for the uniform.