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Comment by ChrisMarshallNY

2 months ago

In the US, gift cards seem to be popular with consumers.

I regularly see people in line at the supermarket, buying gift cards. I notice, because it’s a discrete workflow, that stands out.

I doubt they are all feeding scammers.

I think that charities often solicit gift cards.

11 comments

ChrisMarshallNY

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stavros  2 months ago

I'm sure they're not all scammers, but what's the upside to the consumer? Why not just give the money directly? Seems to me like all the upside is on the company, and all the risk is on the user.

  • generic92034  2 months ago

    In some countries, where people receive conditioned social security benefits, just sending the money via bank account will have disadvantages (at worst the next sum from social security is lowered 1:1 by the money received and they try to keep it that way). So, if you do not meet the gift receiver in person and do not trust the postal service with cash, a gift card can be a solution.

  • cedilla  2 months ago

    For some reason, many people think that gifting money is gauche, but gift cards are somehow okay.

  • AnthonyMouse  2 months ago

    The theory is that if you give someone cash, they're just going to put it in the bank or buy gas with it, but if you give them gift card to e.g. a game store then they're going to buy a game, without you having to know which game they want.

    It's the same premise as buying someone any gift instead of just giving them the money so they can buy whatever they want.

  • badpun  2 months ago

    I joke that a $100 gift card is an "inferior $100 bill", because you can spend the bill anywhere, but the gift card only in one place. People give them as gifts because it shows marginally more effort than just giving cash.