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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:
MargueritaPink · 28/12/2018 13:37

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

You can use them. Have fun. I used to love browsing in HMV. The staff " if you like x, try y" reccommendations for new music were excellent. I bought a lot of fairly obscure new music on that basis, most of which was really good.

LakieLady · 28/12/2018 13:40

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?

This might make you laugh even more: £10 in W H Smith vouchers (gift from MIL). The only thing they seem to go in for in our local WHS is yellow and black sticky tape holding down all the ripped carpet, and a queue stretching to the door and back again for the post office, which is also in there.

Even their birthday cards are crap.

MargotLovedTom1 · 28/12/2018 13:43

I'm sure I remember HMV were allegedly going out of business one or two years ago and people saying the same re vouchers, then nothing happened and they were still trading as normal Confused.

MargotLovedTom1 · 28/12/2018 13:44

Surely they must have some books LakieLady?

MargueritaPink · 28/12/2018 13:45

This might make you laugh even more: £10 in W H Smith vouchers

Try a WH Smith at a station if there's a reasonable sized one near you. The one at Edinburgh at least stocks current best sellers.

LakieLady · 28/12/2018 13:46

MIL always used to give me Debenhams vouchers. I got really pissed offwhen they introduced a rule of not using more than one voucher per purchase, so I couldn't use a stash of £10 and £20 vouchers on one expensive skincare item at the Clarins counter.

madcatladyforever · 28/12/2018 13:49

My son and his OH always ask for Amazon vouchers for Christmas because they know what they want to buy.

DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops · 28/12/2018 13:52

How long ago, Lakie Lady? I'm pretty sure used 2 in one go buying make up in Debenhams last month!

I love most gift vouchers, they're a real treat. Much better than being stuck with someone else's taste tbh.

Nothisispatrick · 28/12/2018 14:32

tittietinsel

Not many people, which is why it is in administration, hence a gift voucher for hmv being a crap gift.

Why are you ‘this’-ing your own post?

YouBelongHere · 28/12/2018 15:19

I prefer vouchers for meals out or experiences. Got my brother's girlfriend a TGI Friday's gift card for Christmas so she can treat herself to a nice meal.

I think people buy vouchers 'cos a little more thought goes into it than cash. Sometimes they're naff though, my godmother bought me a Top Shop one which I ended up selling to my Mom 'cos nothing in the blessed shop fits me. It's the thought that counts though!

DogMamma · 28/12/2018 15:20

I thought HMV died a death a few years ago???

DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops · 28/12/2018 16:55

I think it's a shadow of HMV in years gone by DogMamma. The one near me in Guildford is still on the go but it has moved from a larger store in a plum position to a smaller space.

I find that sort of voucher far more tying, YouBelongHere, but each to their own!

tittietinsel · 28/12/2018 17:06

Not many people, which is why it is in administration, hence a gift voucher for hmv being a crap gift.

You said vouchers for shops YOU liked were ok but you do t know why anyone would buy for HMV. The reason is simple, because some people like HMV, so to them, it's not a crap gift.

Why are you ‘this’-ing your own post?

Oh FFS it was clearly a typo where I had put text above. But crack on.

OutPinked · 28/12/2018 17:08

I was saying the same to DP the other day. I think an amazon gift voucher is great because there’s something for everyone on there but just about anywhere else is risky at best unless you know for a fact it’s a store that person loves. It makes more sense to give money.

PooleySpooley · 28/12/2018 17:11

Amazon vouchers.

They won’t go bust.

Nothisispatrick · 28/12/2018 17:11

FFS yourself, how is giving gift vouchers to a shop that could close any day now a good gift? Seriously, what is your argument here?

And yes, obviously if someone gave me gift vouchers for shops I liked that would be ok. Why is that a shocker?

Ragwort · 28/12/2018 17:17

Not everyone uses Amazon, I really, really dislike using Amazon & would struggle to use their vouchers.

My teenage DS gets given a mixture of cash & vouchers, I appreciate he is very lucky but cash is so much easier, he would often prefer to save the money for something specific which is impossible if it is a voucher & as we live rurally it involves a special day out to spend the vouchers. And what teenager wants a W H Smith voucher? Grin. He doesn’t even want an Amazon voucher.

I only give cash as presents to my nieces/nephews & Godchildren, not very original but at least they can do exactly what they want with it.

PooleySpooley · 28/12/2018 17:19

Ragwort

I could not live without Amazon Grin

BiteyShark · 28/12/2018 17:24

I give amazon vouchers as most people use amazon and you can buy just about anything you want. I think like a PP mentioned they are more likely to spend them on themselves rather than stuff money in their pocket which gets lost on day to day stuff. I do still give money but that's only if I have forgotten to sort a voucher out.

Whilst I wouldn't give them to an old relative who didn't have a smart phone or internet I would give them to people I thought were used to internet shopping which is around 99% of the people I know.

TheBigBangRocks · 28/12/2018 17:30

I could not live without Amazon

Me neither. With prime it's so cheap and convenient. Great place to have vouchers for.

April241 · 28/12/2018 17:37

Also a huge fan of gift vouchers. I spend them pretty quickly. I’ve had Next, Amazon, Tesco and Debenhams ones mostly or vouchers for restaurants and salons in my town . If I have cash it goes into my purse and pays for petrol/bread and milk

tittietinsel · 28/12/2018 18:01

FFS yourself, how is giving gift vouchers to a shop that could close any day now a good gift? Seriously, what is your argument here?

Well first off, before Christmas it wasn't all over the press that HMV were having problems, so it would be reasonable to buy HMV vouchers and give them to someone who liked the shop.

Second, no argument. I just pointed out the irony in you saying you liked vouchers for shops you like, but don't know why people would give HMV vouchers. It's still simple, other people like HMV.

Klobuchar · 28/12/2018 18:07

I like vouchers, cash just gets absorbed and isn’t anything special.

Vouchers for shops I know friends and family like are always well-received, as are vouchers for experiences like an afternoon tea, favourite restaurants or the cinema etc.

maskingtape · 28/12/2018 18:11

I love gift vouchers instead of getting plastic tat I don't want or need. I got £70 of Amazon vouchers this year and was thrilled. I also got 2 scarves, 4 boxes of biscuits, 2 candles etc all of which are a nice thought but I don't use them. The people who know me best know I prefer vouchers.

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 28/12/2018 18:30

I love Clinique make up, but when the kids were little and we were skint, I loved getting boots vouchers so I could treat myself without feeling guilty. I would be wary of some companies these days (see HMV above), but would still give Amazon / iTunes / local shopping centre or cinema, depending on the recipient.