Gift Card Etiquette: How Do You Give Gift Cards without Being Tacky? (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to give a gift card? ›

Of course, etiquette is fine, but always make sure that it's something that you can afford. Just like you would with any gift, review your budget to see what you can afford to give. If you can only afford $30 for a friend's wedding, then you shouldn't give more than that just to seem polite.

If you want to buy something that costs more than the balance on your gift card, all you need to do is give your retailer another payment method, like cash or debit card, to pay for the remaining cost. Likewise, if you choose to buy something that costs less than the balance of your gift card, you can.

Giving money as a gift—or even asking for money as a gift—used to be considered tacky. But not anymore. "Money is an appropriate gift," says etiquette expert Elaine Swann, founder of The Swann School of Protocol. "Studies say that it is the most welcomed gift—the one gift that most people want."

Gift cards don't have to be impersonal gifts if you put a little thought into them and know where the recipient likes to shop. If you're unsure, you can always go with a gift card from a site like Amazon, that just about everyone has shopped at one time or another.

If you are presented with the gift in person, smile and thank the gift giver. If you receive a gift by mail, call the gift giver as soon as you can to alert them that the gift has arrived. You should also send hand-written thank-you notes whenever possible.

Try using your gift card at a sister store.

If you have a small balance but there is nothing you want to buy, consider using the gift card at another store owned by the same company. A Gap-branded gift card, for example, is also redeemable at Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta.

Overall, gift cards seem to be more popular among gift givers than receivers. Many consider gift cards to be impersonal gifts that give the impression that the gift giver is lazy. There are also reservations about giving gift cards that might accumulate fees, decrease in value, or expire too soon.

Aside from common problems like losing the gift card or forgetting about it, they may not have access to the store, or simply don't like the gift card they got, he said.

How can I make my gift voucher more exciting? ›

Attached to a cool toy

Place a gift voucher in a small box and tie it to the back of the animal using ribbon or twine. This way they'll have a toy to play with now, as well as a token to spend once the excitement is all over.

On some cards, this number is printed above a magnetic stripe and will contain exactly 16 digits. On other cards, this number may be as many as 30 digits and will be printed below a barcode.

Things to consider

Multiple store gift cards can be used, but only one bank card is accepted in a single transaction because there is only one bank or credit card field. If you use one bank card and a store gift card, make sure that they cover the entire amount you need. Otherwise, your purchase will be rejected.

Can I use multiple One4all Gift Cards when spending online? As the One4all acts as a Visa debit card, you cannot combine multiple cards for an online purchase. You can spend multiple One4all Gift Cards when spending in-store.

What is the 7-gift rule? It is the concept of buying only a set number of gifts for each individual, with each gift falling into a specific category. As you may have to guess, the specific number of gifts for this rule is 7. You buy one gift to fit in each category and by the end; you have 7 gifts to give.

The five gift rule says that you should give five gifts to your loved ones: one for each of the following categories: something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read, and a special gift.

According to this model, the gift-giving process has three stages -- gestation, prestation, and reformulation.

“Everyone has a gift for something, even if it is the gift of being a good friend.” “A friend is a gift you give yourself.” “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.” “Every problem is a gift - without problems we would not grow.”

Congratulations - you did it! Congratulations and best wishes! Congratulations from the whole bunch! Congratulations on one of your best moments!

What is the psychology behind gift-giving? ›

Empathy is one of the pillars of the psychology of gift-giving. When you're giving a gift, you want to delight the recipient – whether it's a lovely surprise or some well-needed support. Looking for a present implies trying to understand that person. In this, gift and psychology go hand in hand.

For people with gifts as a love language, the act of giving a gift serves as a gesture of affection and care because it shows the person was thinking about you while you weren't around and wanted to find a way to make you smile. The gift also becomes a physical token memorializing a moment, experience, or feeling.

Gift cards are a preferred motivator in both the consumer and business-to-business arena. They build on the strengths of non- cash incentives by offering rewards that are more memorable and can be redeemed for merchandise or travel that recipients wouldn't otherwise buy for themselves.

A survey for the 2017 Health of Cash report by Cardtronics found that even though Americans are more likely to give a gift card as a present, more people would prefer receiving cash instead (50% cash vs 29% gift card).

As a general rule, gift cards are a great option for pretty much everyone in the office. A recipient can spend a gift card on what they like themselves. If it's a group gift, it means the group doesn't have to go to great lengths to show their appreciation.

For co-workers, casual friends and your children's teachers, stay in the $10 to $20 range. Gift cards for close friends and family members can range from $25 to $100. When you're selecting a gift card for a spouse, parent or someone else who's very special, choose a card worth $75 or more.

Yes, they are minimally more thoughtful than outright cash. But all you have done is to limit where the amount can be spent — and sometimes when, because those cards may have expiration dates. Industry reports show that many go unused.

Always include a gift receipt.

No matter who the present is going to, make sure to include the receipt. "If they need to exchange it because it's the wrong size or they have it already, why make it more difficult for them?" Ingram asks.

In India and the Middle East, the left hand is considered unclean so use your right hand to give and receive gifts (unless they're so heavy two hands are required). In East Asia (China, Thailand, Vietnam), always offer or accept a gift with both hands, palms up.

How do you charge gift cards? ›

Can you write off gift cards on your taxes? No, gift cards and gift certificates don't count as a tax-deductible expense, even if you're giving them as a gift to a client. In addition, any cash (or cash equivalents) count as taxable income for the recipient.

Unused Gift Cards Can Lose Value

Even though it's illegal for cards to expire for five years (at least), they can start to lose some of their value before then. That's because in certain circ*mstances, and depending on the state, businesses may be allowed to impose a fee for inactivity after a certain period of time.

Follow this advice to use gift cards to stick to your budget. Take a look at your current budget. Determine how much to spend for the month on variable expenses like groceries, personal care items, gas, entertainment, etc. Decide how often you want to purchase the amount allotted in gift cards.

We found that the biggest obstacle when it comes to finding gifts for others is time. We all have busy lives and every second is precious. More often than not, our busy lives can stray us away from the ones closest to us in our lives. Our work and commitments take up most of the day.

A Gift Card enables the person to buy whatever they like from the particular store. This freedom allows them to buy what they truly need, and it gives you the satisfaction of having gifted well.

Giving gift cards or cash as a gift at any time is hands down a better option than buying someone something they don't want or need. It can also make life easier if you're short on time and inspiration. Far from a last resort, they can be a Christmas saviour for all concerned.

General etiquette is usually under $20 for casual acquaintances, like co-workers, $30-$75 for close friends and family members and more for someone like your spouse or for a big occasion, like a wedding. Always make sure that the dollar amount you give is visible on the card or write it down.

Gift cards can also have some downsides. Here are five. After purchases are made with a gift card, there may be a small amount of money left, which if not used, whether due to forgetfulness or inertia, ends up as money wasted. You may pay purchase or reload fees to add money.

Younger people are not using gift cards

The survey results also showed younger people are letting the credit go to waste more: 52% of millennials and 51% of Gen Z have at least one unused gift card around. On average, millennials have $226 in credit, and Gen Zers have $149.

While there's always a risk involved when you send something in the mail, mailing a gift card is much safer than sending cash, plus, if you take a few simple steps, you can pretty much guarantee your gift will arrive safe and sound. Make sure your gift card is packed well to avoid it being damaged or stolen.

Is it better to give cash or a gift card? ›

There is no right or wrong way to give someone a gift at Christmas. Both cash and gift cards are a savvy option if you want to reduce waste and give the recipient the flexibility to choose what they buy, and when.

As gift cards are usually single-merchant specific or multi-brand, the recipient is more likely to spend it on an unexpected treat for themselves. As a result, the gift card provides a more memorable experience than cash, and the item (or experience) they choose acts as a lasting trophy of their achievement.

Whenever someone demands to be paid with a gift card, that's a scam. It's just that simple. Gift cards are for gifts, not for payments. If someone convinced you to give them the numbers on a gift card or send them a photo, hang onto the card and your receipt, and report it to the card issuer right away.

Overall, gift cards seem to be more popular among gift givers than receivers. Many consider gift cards to be impersonal gifts that give the impression that the gift giver is lazy. There are also reservations about giving gift cards that might accumulate fees, decrease in value, or expire too soon.

While the right amount to spend will differ based on your income, cultural norms and other factors, a basic rule of thumb is to spend between $50 and $100 on a gift for a family member and between $20 and $50 for a friend. Buying a gift for a coworker, like an assistant or a boss, usually runs between $20 and $50.

When it comes to gift card postage, you will generally only require 1 stamp. So, you won't need extra postage to mail a gift card. Regular gift cards will weigh 1-2 ounces on average. If your gift cards weigh more, then that's when you would end up needing extra postage.

You can help protect your gift by writing your address on the gift card itself to allow it to be returned to you if it falls out of the envelope during processing. Also, hang on to your receipt and don't send it with the gift, USPS advises. That could allow for cancellation and replacement of the gift card.

One popular tactic is to have your kids narrow their gift lists to just three categories: something they want (say, a new video game), something they need (like a puffer coat) and something to read (the Ramona series has been calling their name).