I’m a practical person so I would have to say yes, it is alright for someone to give gift vouchers as a present. Some may get upset receiving gift vouchers because they see it as a lack of interest or effort on the part of the giver to put in some thoughts about buying the perfect gift. Gift vouchers are too easy and convenient. It’s as good as handing you the cash and say “Go buy yourself a present, any present”.
But if you look at the other side of it, the practicality of it, you might begin to enjoy gift vouchers as gifts. I’m a big time sucker for shopping vouchers. I would fall for little online gimmicks to get my hands on discount or freebie vouchers, spend on my credit card (on things that I need only, of course) just to accummulate points to exchange for gift vouchers, or participate in credit card promotions to swipe a certain amount of times in order to get some vouchers to go shopping for free.
The truth is that gift or shopping vouchers are every bit as good as cash, to me. Well, this holds true for gift vouchers from stores that I normally frequent and shop at. With the vouchers, at least I can spend them on anything that I want and choose to either get my shopping entirely free by using the full amounts of the vouchers or consider paying a little of it and using a portion of the vouchers while saving the rest of the vouchers for other stuff. Also, I am more willing to buy something that’s a little on the expensive side which I may have KIV because I didn’t want to spend that much.
At least for the person who gave me the vouchers, he or she would know that I had bought myself something that I truly wanted and most likely to enjoy it a lot more than what he or she could’ve bought for me. Isn’t that a great feeling? I don’t see it as a lack of enthusiasm of the giver if he/she chooses to buy me vouchers. Or maybe it’s just because I’m a voucer-junkie.
What about you? Do you mind being given vouchers as gifts?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t mind vouchers too, just have to make sure they are from places I would shop at, certainly not Jusco vouchers please!
And I think that the giver actually understands me … I am not easy to please, so vouchers work best!
But if you do receive those Jusco vouchers from friends, don’t pass up the chance for free shopping! I bet you will be buying milk powder and diapers with them!