"By our store issued gift card and you worries are over". "Don't worry about standing in long lines or fighting the mob at the mall". "Get a gift card and leave the shopping to your recipient". Well you have to admit it sounds good. After all who wants to spend more time, more gas and grow more gray hair trying to find the right gift? I sure don't. On the other hand you're hearing this hype from the store that sells the gift cards, right? Of course they're going to stand by their product. Who wouldn't? So are store issued gift cards all they're cracked up to be?

Gift Card Giving Mistakes

Where gift cards can be fun to use, they are not all that personal or personalized. And what a shame it is to present a gift card from a store or restaurant that the recipient never frequents. That said, store issued gift cards are not always the perfect solution. As a matter of fact if the wrong gift card is given they may become the perfect anti-gift. The reason is that so many consumers assume that if they just give gift cards all their problems of gift giving will just go away. The facts are that gift card giving requires just as much forethought and consideration as any other gift.

The gift card purchaser would do well to consider the following:

1. How much gift card should you buy? Will a $25 gift card please the recipient or be considered a token gift amount.

2. What stores does the recipient frequent?

3. How often does the recipient shop or dine there?

4. Would the recipient appreciate a gift card over some other desired gift?

5. Will the time getting dressed, going out, traveling into town, burning gas and spending time shopping around be worth while for this particular recipient?

6. Are they likely to remember they even have a gift card?

Gift Card Angst

I personally have received store issued gifts cards. My frustration was how to use it with cash or along with my debit card. It seems the mygiftcardmall card is always a few bucks shy of completely covering the item or items for purchase.

At a restaurant there were items I could not cover with the gift card. I still had to pay for the tip. I could have gone to a fast food joint and used the tip to pay for the whole meal. Was I really being treated here? On the flip side there are days when I desparately want and need to treat myself to a good meal at a quiet restaurant and be pampered and fussed over. Break in the gift card! Who cares about the tip size. Give me good food and good service. There are other times when I'm not sure what the balance on my debit card is and start counting the dollars, nickels and quarters in my pocket and suddenly realize I have a gift card to a local restaurant. Saved!

Still trying out a restaurant never frequented can be risking the whole evening just because you have a gift card in your wallet. Is there a solution to this dilemma?