Best and worst gifts

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

However, if you're going to just give someone the gift of shopping, does it really show much more thoughtfulness to limit that shopping to a single store? Instead of a $100 Home Depot card (or whatever) just give me the $100 in cash and save me a trip to the ATM this week.

I think that if you give someone a targeted gift card, as opposed to a Visa gift card, you are at least saying that you know something about the person and what they're into. You're also giving them a slightly cool techie thing to whip out.

At Starbuck's the other day I had the good fortune to be stuck behind a woman buying $450 in gift cards in varying denominations up to $100 for a list of recipients as long as your arm. I am sure those gifts will be used.