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Original poster

Why do people still give gift vouchers?

85 replies

Onlyjoinedforthisthread · 28/12/2018 09:35

HMV are about to appoint administrators so anyone with their gift vouchers will lose their mobey.

Others will follow and the ones that can be spent at any shop aren't safe either they are only valid for as long as the issuer is in business.

Go and spend them today.

OP posts:
TheBigBangRocks · 28/12/2018 10:30

Easier to send by post if gifts have to be mailed. The receiver may have requested them. Lots of reasons.

I don't gift them or cash as it seems they rarely get used to purchase their own choice of gift I've found,

BG2015 · 28/12/2018 10:32

My teenage DS both had Amazon gifts vouchers for Christmas - they were spent by tea time

pJTop · 28/12/2018 10:33

I bloody love gift vouchers, I have a few for my fave store this Xmas (not a huge company)

tittietinsel · 28/12/2018 10:34

I don’t mind gift vouchers for shops I use, like amazon or ASOS. Why anyone would give a hmv voucher is beyond me

Possibly because the recipient doesn't mind them, because they are for a shop the use!!

How odd that you consider vouchers acceptable for shops you use but don't have the ability to realise that perhaps others use different shops Confused

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 28/12/2018 10:39

I find it hard to remember to use gift cards. Here in Ireland companies are allowed to give employees a tax-free Christmas bonus of up to €500, but it must be as a gift card not cash. DH gets €500 on One4All and we still have around €300 left on last year's card, plus another €500 on this year's just because we can never remember to use it.

elfycat · 28/12/2018 10:42

My DDs love vouchers (8 & 9yo) This year they've had Waterstones so they can buy the first books in a series/ by an author to test if they like them. We'll go in and get advice on what they might like. A Costa card and they can get their own on a day when I'd otherwise say no. Next vouchers and they can buy their own clothes (or usually pink sparkly tat).

Next year I want to buy all gifts as vouchers, specified by the recipient. Online codes would be better. I'm going to start reducing the amount of 'stuff' I buy, from an environmental POV. Only buy what you need. You can feel sorry for my victims friends and family if you like.

Nothisispatrick · 28/12/2018 10:42

tittietinsel

It’s not about different shops. Convenient that you only copied the first half of that paragraph, considering the second half of that paragraph explained why hmv vouchers are useless as it is all cheaper or free online, hence hmv going in to administration.

Buzzzzzzz · 28/12/2018 10:49

My MIL gave us vouchers - actually a really nice thoughtful idea on her part, she got me some for boots because she knew I would make the most of them in the sale and if I had cash it would go on important things instead of luxuries. She knew by giving me the vouchers I would spend it on things I wouldn’t normally stretch to and I did. It’s nice to have been able to pick some luxury products instead of the normal whatever is on offer shower gel. The same with my partner.

I think for someone who wouldn’t otherwise normally treat themselves, and for a shop you know they like, they are a great idea easpecially for Christmas when the sales are just around he corner.

Maybe best to stick to the bigger names or get love2shop though to be safe and make sure they can be spent.

Gralexi · 28/12/2018 10:52

@seastargirl HoF is still very much a thing :) just use them online!

I love getting vouchers. I got ASOS vouchers this year. Was well chuffed!

GraceMarks · 28/12/2018 10:53

I prefer vouchers to cash too - if someone gives me cash, it will get frittered away on day-to-day expenses and then it's as if I haven't had a present as I have nothing to show for it. This year, I asked for John Lewis vouchers from everyone so that I can have a personal shopper session and actually have the money to buy lots of things that I like afterwards. I love clothes but always feel like they're a low priority in the household budget, so this is a way of buying them without guilt.

amy85 · 28/12/2018 10:53

I give vouchers because cash so easily gets swallowed up by day to day expenses and before you know it your Christmas cash is gone with nothing to show for it

GreyGardens88 · 28/12/2018 10:54

Amazon vouchers yes, anything else no

Gralexi · 28/12/2018 10:58

This'll make you laugh though. I got given £10 of mothercare vouchers. What can you buy in mothercare that's decent for £10 eh? Grin

toucan12 · 28/12/2018 10:59

I hate getting cash, I always feel too guilty to spend it on something nice and it ends up going towards bills etc... I also hate giving it as I assume everyone else does the same, and that's not what the gift is for! It's not very thoughtful either.

I think gift vouchers are lovely if they are for a shop the recipient likes. No idea why anyone would give someone a voucher for HMV though!

Sophiesdog11 · 28/12/2018 11:05

I think gift cards/vouchers are fine as long as some thought goes into the shop.

I buy for a no of teens/young adults, plus an under 10. Some get money but others who have birthdays close to Xmas, usually get money for one, Amazon voucher for the other. I know they all use them, as I get a run down on what they buy.

I was buying presents for the under 10, but as he also has a Dec birthday, his mum suggested a gift card for Xmas. She texted that he was well pleased with his Amazon voucher. He loves reading and Lego so will no doubt spend it quickly.

My 2 young adults got a Costa card from a friend, which will also vanish quickly. Their stockings contained a clothing card, New look and Burton/top man respectively, again they will both be spent before spring I think, as they use those shops regularly.

DH normally buys me an M&S card, last year it took me to Sept to use it, but I then went on a splurge.

AllPizzasGreatAndSmall · 28/12/2018 11:12

you usually can't stack them with discount codes (so definitely a waste of money)

Not true on any online retailer I shop with (a lot!). They are a form of payment , not a discount.

SarahSissions · 28/12/2018 11:14

you can also buy discounted gift vouchers through certain retailers. Companies like Boundless sell cards at a reduced rate so you can look a bit more generous and save a few pounds

Hello1290 · 28/12/2018 11:20

I quite like HMV I'm off to spend my vouchers there later I hope they will still be accepting them! Their DVD's are reasonably priced they sometimes do 2 for a tenner otherwise similar prices to Amazon.

tittietinsel · 28/12/2018 12:16

It’s not about different shops. Convenient that you only copied the first half of that paragraph, considering the second half of that paragraph explained why hmv vouchers are useless as it is all cheaper or free online, hence hmv going in to administration.

Ok. Let me try again....

This part:

don’t mind gift vouchers for shops I use, like amazon or ASOS. Why anyone would give a hmv voucher is beyond me

Same reply as last time

This part:

didn’t even know hmv was still open tbh, everything they sell exists for much cheaper or even free on the Internet.

Again, the same applies. Just because YOU personally didn't know HMV was still open does not mean the rest of the population don't know.

Yes you can get music and movies digitally, but a lot of people actually still like the physical copy.

This

HariboLecter · 28/12/2018 12:35

I actually asked for cash from some people Blush

UserName31456789 · 28/12/2018 13:04

I love vouchers because it's guilt free treat and I get to choose it myself. I only buy vouchers for places like amazon or John Lewis where everyone can find something they want. If I got cash it would just be frittered away on coffees etc.

UserName31456789 · 28/12/2018 13:07

I never personally shopped in hmv but I can see why someone might (people enjoy the process of physically going shopping and buying something). For that person hmv vouchers might be a nice gift. (at least if they weren't in administration).

Huntawaymama · 28/12/2018 13:12

I like vouchers. If someone gave me cash I'd spend it on mu kids or food even if I don't mean to. I'm more likely to treat myself with vouchers. Hmv ones would be well received by me for dvds

HelloToJasonIsaacs · 28/12/2018 13:20

I liked HMV but wouldn’t have touched a gift token for them with a barge pole - too much of a credit risk. Ditto Mothercare, Debenhams, HofF, Gap. John Lewis, M&S, Boots probably safe in the short term, but the Patisserie Valerie debacle shows us that there can be all sorts of horrors lurking in the accounts.

Spudina · 28/12/2018 13:25

I love vouchers. I was once burnt by The Pier going out of business but otherwise they have always been ok. This year I asked my Dad to get my DDs vouchers for our local cinema, a rock climbing centre and a £5 Waterstones voucher. So now when the weather is crap, we will be able to do all of these things together as a family, with very little money spent. Also, less 'stuff' to fill my house with. And I can spend my Monsoon voucher on clothes without feeling guilty about spending money on myself.