Lowe's Gift Cards for Christmas?

Are they serious? What's next, Dunkin Donuts gift cards?

Default User...

Well, if you're going to give gift cards, then home improvement stores
aren't a bad choice. I personally think they're a pretty lame gift,
although I did get my brother-in-law White Castle ones once. He liked

Jamie Brinkoeter...

I don't think it's lame at all. My daughter just bought a house that needs
lots of work. She's very handy, and since I can't pick out her paint for
her, she gets a Home Depot gift card. My youngest son loves all things
electronic, and I never have a clue what he's talking about when he tells me
what he needs, so it's Best Buy for him. My oldest son needs clothes, so he

David Levy...

And if they respectively wanted to buy their products from Lowe's and
Circuit City (as random examples), they're out of luck.

Giving a gift card is almost like giving someone cash that they're
forced to spend in a specific place (unless it's the type that can be
used anywhere, which *is* like giving cash). The recipient knows
exactly what the giver spent (unless there was some sort of special
discount) and derives absolutely no benefit that he/she wouldn't
derive from cash.

Anim8rFSK...

Our grocery store sells a variety of gift cards at the checkout stand,
and several of them are good multiple places; various stores, a variety
of restaurants.

To me, this seems useful only if the recipient likely would spend cash
on something of which the giver disapproves. For that uncle who would
blow the money on hookers and booze, an Old Navy gift card might make
perfect sense.

gets one to his favorite store. My dad and step-mother never "need" anything
or will tell me what they "want," so they also get gift cards. I don't see a
problem with it. That way, everyone can get something they want rather than
something I want them to have and they either don't like or won't use. Of
course, in the case of my kids, the gift cards aren't the *only* thing they
get.

Anim8rFSK...

I actually asked for iTunes gift cards for Xmas this year. I thought it
would be great to be able to buy a song or album whenever I felt like it.

that.

Anim8rFSK...

pId=DDSVC&Source=web-search&Campaign=Gift_Card&gclid=CIbhiYf5n4kCFSLiYAodCB9L
Ng

LindaY...

Actually, a Lowe's gift card would be cool since there's a lamp I
really want there. :-)

Having said that, I would hope I'd know what the person I'm giving the
gift card to would like and not just stick someone with a certain gift
card just to buy them something. Michael's and JoAnn cards are natural
for crafters, Best Buy or Circuit City for gadget lovers, Toys'r'Us or
Kaybee for kids, Borders and Barnes & Noble for readers, etc.. Some
friends of ours usually give us a Borders gift card. We love it.

Middle America...

KenStahl...

Just be glad that mortuaries don't issue gift cards.

corwin2...

Well, they've had paper McDonald's Gift Certificates for years and now
McDonald's sells gift cards too.

But for Dunkin' Donuts you should check if the location the gift
recipient uses and accepts the Dunkin' Donuts Card first.

Anyways Lowe's gift cards are well ranked by in a Montgomery County,
Maryland study because they don't have an expiration date.

Just reading the study should give anyone an idea of what they should
find out before buying anyone a gift card (in case the study has not
covered it already.) Well, besides making sure the person will
actually have a use for the gift card.

Here's a link to a page where a links to where the full study can be
found.

Here's the link to the press release and a few snippets of same from
it.

For Immediate Release: 11/21/2006

Consumer Protection Issues Annual Report on Prepaid Gift Cards

Montgomery County's Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) has issued
its fourth annual gift card study called, "Gift Cards 2006: Retail
Cards Continue to Improve (With Prodding); Bank Cards Still Have
Problems." The report contains valuable information and
recommendations regarding gift cards issued by 40 stores and
restaurants and 10 banks/financial institutions.

[snip]

1. Out of the 40 retail cards studied, the 20 ranked highest are:
Abercrombie & Fitch, Best Buy, Borders Books, Circuit City, Costco,
Crate & Barrel, Gap, JC Penney, KB Toys, Kohl's, Lowe's,
McDonald's, Nordstrom's, Old Navy, PetSmart, Sears, Sports
Authority, Starbucks, Target and WalMart.

2. Only three of the 40 studied retail cards have expiration dates:
Blockbuster, Bloomingdale's and Macy's. Another three, Pizza Hut,
Shell and Toys R Us, may impose monthly "dormancy fees." That means
only 15 percent of the studied cards have fees or expiration dates,
compared to the 30 percent of the cards in last year's study.
Consumers in our area should note that new legislation prohibits
imposing fees or expiration dates on cards sold in Maryland after June
30, 2006, until the cards are four years old.

[snip]
[snip]
[snip]

The full report puts a small caveat on the Best Buy cards because the
fine print says the terms are subject to change.

Anyways I find Hamilton, Jefferson, Grant or Franklin are the best gift
cards unless you are mailing them. And the USPS sells "gift
certificates" (money orders) for a very nominal fee if you are using
the mail.

Garondo Marondo...

Its the thought that counts.

..
Garondo Marondo!

Pidge...

I'd accept a Krispy Kreme gift card.....
Lowe's, nah.