For the Giver

With the biggest holiday season of the year approaching, people keep wondering if giving gift cards is good etiquette. In my opinion, it is a good choice, especially considering the changing times. There was a time when gift cards were considered a lazy way of giving gifts. However, nowadays, it can be quite the opposite if both the giver and receiver follow these eight guidelines:

1. Be selective.
When giving a gift card, it is important to be selective. Choose a gift card from a store that you think the receiver will like based on their interests, likes, and dislikes. To ensure that you make the right choice, visit the store’s website to see the items that you think the person will want and enjoy.

While a surprise gift card can sometimes work out, it is better to be safe than sorry. I once received a $50 gift card to a high-end electronic store that I had never been to before. My initial thought was, “What am I going to get?” However, to my surprise, I found something that I truly wanted, and my husband and I continue to use it years later. I would have never thought to purchase the item otherwise.

2. Wrap the card distinctively.
It’s more fun to receive a gift card when it is wrapped in a way that shows someone took some time to package it. If you don’t want to wrap it, place it in a personalized handmade–or store-bought–card that describes the specific occasion for the gift, such as holiday, birthday, wedding, or thank-you.

3. Add a personalized message.
When choosing a card for a specific store, it’s important to explain the reasons behind your choice. You can mention items you saw on the store’s website as suggestions to consider. By sharing your thought process, you demonstrate that you gave the gift some careful consideration.

4. Enclose or keep a receipt.
Once, I gave a gift card to someone, and after six months, the person contacted me asking whether I still had the receipt because she had misplaced it. Fortunately, since I had purchased the card via credit card, I was able to track it and get it reissued.

In case the store’s activation process for the card doesn’t work, the receipt can help get the card activated easily and properly. If you are buying multiple gift cards, it’s a good idea to ask the cashier for individual receipts to attach to each card.

For the Receiver

5. Keep all gift cards in a safe place. Mark each card with the name of the giver, for what purpose, and the date. This way you will remember who gave you this gift, especially if it’s months later when you finally redeem the card.

6.  Send a quick email. Upon receiving the gift card, it’s appropriate to send an email to acknowledge and thank the person for the gift. Tell the giver you will write again as soon you redeem it. For the giver, there is nothing worse than giving a gift card, and never hearing from the receiver again, and never knowing what he or she purchased with the card. This is one of the biggest drawbacks to giving gift cards.

7.  Send a handwritten thank-you note. Once you redeem the card, send the giver a handwritten thank-you note that shares what you purchased. This tip is key. It shows your appreciation for the gift and how much you enjoyed buying a specific item you truly wanted.

A few years back, my husband and I combined several cards to purchase an air purifier we had wanted for some time. When we purchased the item we sent a thank-you note to each person, enclosing a photo of the item. Each gift-giver told us how much they appreciated knowing what we purchased and that it was something useful and something we wanted.

 8.  Mark the gift. Keeping track of gift cards can be challenging. It’s easy to forget who gave items and for what occasion. To show appreciation for those who gave us gift cards, it’s important to mark the items purchased or keep a list of the names and items. This is particularly useful when multiple cards are combined for a larger purchase.

Bonus: To keep everyone sane, I’m seeing new and innovative styles of gift-giving. Some families pick names out of a hat to give one gift to a specific family member. Others bring one generic gift from which each person picks a number to choose a gift. Gift exchanges are encouraged.

Or you might consider sending a group email to your family or friends, asking everyone to agree to only give gift cards to specific stores each person can select. This way, a low amount won’t matter as much. This system allows receivers to pool and purchase one or more gifts they truly want, use, and will enjoy.

Happy Gift Card Giving!