Gift Cards Are Lazy and Everyone Knows It

Nobody has ever opened a gift card and felt a rush of excitement. Grateful, sure. But not excited. Gift cards exist because the buyer ran out of ideas, and the receiver knows it.

The Problem With Gift Cards

About 47 billion dollars in gift cards have gone unredeemed in the United States since 2005. That is real money sitting in junk drawers. Even when they do get used, the experience of spending a gift card is just... shopping. There is nothing memorable about it.

What to Give Instead

If you are stuck, the best move is to ask. Seriously. Send a quick message that says "hey, I want to get you something you will actually love, got a wishlist?" Most people will appreciate the ask more than they would a random Amazon card.

When You Genuinely Do Not Know the Person Well

For acquaintances, coworkers, or your partner's cousin you have met twice, go with a high-quality consumable. Nice candles. Fancy chocolate. A bottle of hot sauce from a small-batch brand. These things feel personal without requiring insider knowledge.

The Middle Ground

If someone flat-out refuses to make a wishlist, a gift card to a specific store they love is better than a generic Visa card. At least it shows you know something about them. But even that is a backup plan, not a strategy.

The real solution is sharing wishlists. Set yours up on Send Me Your Gifts and send the link to anyone who asks what you want. Problem solved on both sides.