While I see your point regarding the retail industry pushing these, I don't think they're "scamming" anyone. A $20 gift card costs the giver the same as a fresh new $20 bill, it then passes responsibility to the recipient to use it or not. I can't blame the 10% of cards going unused on retailers, though they do benefit from it. The retail industry "banking on our sense of obligation and ettiquette to get more money out of us" holds true with traditional gift giving at the holidays, just as much as it does with gift cards. I still hold that I'd rather get a $20 gift card than a $40 sweater that I will never wear, or a $20 bill I'll just end up spending on gas anyway. Maybe it's just that I too many relatives that don't really know me but feel obligated to buy gifts anyways (though that has nothing to do with retailers, it has to do with Catholic guilt).
no subject
The retail industry "banking on our sense of obligation and ettiquette to get more money out of us" holds true with traditional gift giving at the holidays, just as much as it does with gift cards.
I still hold that I'd rather get a $20 gift card than a $40 sweater that I will never wear, or a $20 bill I'll just end up spending on gas anyway. Maybe it's just that I too many relatives that don't really know me but feel obligated to buy gifts anyways (though that has nothing to do with retailers, it has to do with Catholic guilt).