What is the point in a gift voucher?

I wouldn't send cash in the post, only a cheque.

Another reason is presentation. They are printed and colourful and come in cards and presentation boxes. The same as we buy wrapping paper. Sending a cheque and writing, "this is for you to spend on music", is a bit like wrapping a present in plain paper and writing Merry Xmas on it in a biro.

I did think about my Mum's xmas present this year, went to choose, got stunned by the overwhelming choice and my total lack of knowledge in a specialist product, and came away with a voucher because there was a 90% chance I'd have bought the wrong thing anyway.

But if you're sending in the post is a voucher really any better than cash?

I can see the presentation argument though.

[fizzwheel]

I think I'm in the minority then I like getting gift vouchers and it makes my families lives easier on Christmas and Birthdays.

Itunes Vouchers, Wiggle Vouchers and Vouchers for the local bike shop always go down well with me.

I'd much rather have a voucher than cash as the cash I'll just fritter away and spend or rubbish, whereas the voucher I'll think a bit harder about spending and I know I'm spending it on what the giver intended me to spend the money on.

[SIII]

Been getting Infinity vouchers from the wife's family for birthdays & xmas's for the last couple of years. Spent them all getting kitted out with Kriega luggage. If I got cash it would have gone in my wallet and then probably into my fuel tank - nothing to show!

This year had to add £12 to get final piece of Kriega instead of £32. Way better than some hideous jumper or cash.

Personally I would rather have a voucher than cash, can't fritter it away and usually add a wee bit to it to get something really nice! Result!

So - if any of you voucher haters want rid of yours - send them to me!!!!!

It's a societal thing. For some insane reason, in polite society it's considered vulgar to give cash, it's considered vulgar to give a gift with the price label still on it, yet it's completely fine to give a gift voucher with the value emblazoned on the front in inch high letters.

I suppose vouchers can serve some limited purpose; I received a couple hundred pounds of Halfords vouchers from my insurers after my garage was broken into and the noticed on my inventory that 90% of it was Halfords Professional stuff. It made sense then; less P&P for them than shipping me the tools and a "better than nothing" fraud prevention measure.

Mind you, the inherent overhead of the scheme (all currencies have a built in cost in things like minting coins, fraud prevention measures, etc.) would not be worth it, were it not for the fact that a lot of vouchers go unspent for various reasons: expired, lost, never used as someone doesn't have store X near them, firm goes into administration, etc.

Originally Posted by flymo

it could just as easily be crap music , I would rather you bought yourself a pint than a Bieber CD

Can you be my new nan please! :P

Originally Posted by ClunkintheUK

So many vouchers are never redeemed......

ROFL!