**TL;DR** Helped some neighbors out with their yard this fall. In a Christmas card they gave me a small token gift card as a thank you. When I went to use it I was told it didn't have any money on it. If it was from a close friend I'd tell him we need to get those jerks for ripping him off, but these neighbors are more casual acquaintances. On one hand I'm thinking bringing it up might just make them feel embarrassed that their gift didn't work, or feel like they have to replace it. Bringing it up might cause more hassle for them than it's worth when all they were trying to do was a nice friendly gesture. Though on the other hand if it was me I'd want to know some jerk company stole my money. Should I tell them what happened? **Full rant:** This is why you don't buy gift cards. Something like a quarter of all of 'em sold in the U.S. never get used ([more stats here](https://archive.ph/f9FTn)). People don't quite treat them as cash and lose them, have no real immediate use for 'em and forget about 'em, etc. It's free money to corporations for something that they may not ever have to deliver on. But this isn't a rant on corporate America (though of course there's lots to rant about), it's just a word of caution about practicality. I get it, people buy gift cards cause they don't know what to get someone, but a cash gift feels cold and transactional, etc. But what if you even think about all the above, buy a gift card for someone to a place you know they enjoy and frequent regularly, and then the thing doesn't work? Of course the business isn't going to care. They're going to assume the would be redeemer is trying to scam them. The gift receiver will have no receipt or details to protest. And to even try to get to that point they'd have to go back to the gift giver and have the awkward conversation of, "Hey I know you were trying to do something nice, but this didn't work." That's where I'm at. I have some neighbors that I'm friendly with, but we're not particularly close friends or anything. This fall the guy had some health issues. We live in a neighborhood with tons of trees, and the leaves were piling high in their yard. I knew that wasn't normal for them, saw the guy trying to keep up with it, but having a bit of a go. So I just did their leaves whenever I was taking care of my own to help out. Well, last week they left a Christmas card for me in my mail box (we don't usually exchange cards). In unrelated casual conversation a few months ago I'd chatted with the couple about how they loved Shake Shack, I'd said I'd never been, and they said I should try it sometime. Sure enough in the Christmas card was a $20 gift card to Shack Shack and a note, "Thanks for the help with the yard, give Shake Shack a try." This weekend I was out and about and thought, "May as well try this burger." When I tried to pay with this gift card I was told it was invalid. This was a brand new gift card obviously right off the store shelf, appearing the same as the new they had in the store, etc., so no reason to believe the neighbors had accidentally re-gifted a used one or anything. It was just a small token amount as an unexpected and unnecessary gesture from upper middle class folks so certainly no reason they would have gone out of their way at all to get a "gray market" or something card or anything. Clearly someone at the store just hadn't activated it right or something when they bought it. Of course I've already ordered this burger, my gift card doesn't work, and I'm standing there not sure what to do. So like an idiot I just pay for the food. Now I'm sitting here typing this feeling like an idiot and pissed at myself for not just leaving. I'm thinking, "Not only did these jerks steal $20 from my neighbors, the whole thing ended with me buying a lunch as well that I never would have even gone for if it wasn't for that gift card - that didn't work. I hate that store." So I'm pissed. I hate the idea of Shake Shack just getting away with this bs. If it'd been reversed and a gift card I'd given ended up like that I'd want to know so I could raise some hell with 'em, even if it didn't get anywhere other than me never going there again. I'm also borderline crazy on principle though. I know lots of folks would be mildly annoyed, but shrug it off as stuff happens, it's only $20. If I raise it to the neighbors it may result in nothing more than them feeling awkward and embarrassed. They may possibly feel like now they just have to go buy another one or something. We don't really know each other beyond pleasantries and light neighborhood passing chit chat, so they probably won't realize it's not the gift card or lunch that I care about but the principle, and think, "Is this guy really worked up over a burger and fries?" I certainly don't want to cause them any hassle when all they were trying to do was a nice token gesture. **Bottom line** Don't buy gift cards. A gift recipient already sees a one for one cash equivalent with the card, so what's the difference? If you want to give an "experience" gift to a restaurant, specific store, or etc, just give them cash with a nice note saying, "Please treat yourself to ____ on me. I think you'd really enjoy it." Then if they do, great. But if not, at least your money isn't lost, one way or another. **But anyways** should I tell my neighbors Shake Shack sold them a faulty gift card or just let it go?

TL;DR Helped some neighbors out with their yard this fall. In a Christmas card they gave me a small token gift card as a thank you. When I went to use it I was told it didn't have any money on it. If it was from a close friend I'd tell him we need to get those jerks for ripping him off, but these neighbors are more casual acquaintances. On one hand I'm thinking bringing it up might just make them feel embarrassed that their gift didn't work, or feel like they have to replace it. Bringing it up might cause more hassle for them than it's worth when all they were trying to do was a nice friendly gesture. Though on the other hand if it was me I'd want to know some jerk company stole my money. Should I tell them what happened?

Full rant: This is why you don't buy gift cards. Something like a quarter of all of 'em sold in the U.S. never get used (). People don't quite treat them as cash and lose them, have no real immediate use for 'em and forget about 'em, etc. It's free money to corporations for something that they may not ever have to deliver on. But this isn't a rant on corporate America (though of course there's lots to rant about), it's just a word of caution about practicality.

I get it, people buy gift cards cause they don't know what to get someone, but a cash gift feels cold and transactional, etc. But what if you even think about all the above, buy a gift card for someone to a place you know they enjoy and frequent regularly, and then the thing doesn't work? Of course the business isn't going to care. They're going to assume the would be redeemer is trying to scam them. The gift receiver will have no receipt or details to protest. And to even try to get to that point they'd have to go back to the gift giver and have the awkward conversation of, "Hey I know you were trying to do something nice, but this didn't work."

That's where I'm at.

I have some neighbors that I'm friendly with, but we're not particularly close friends or anything. This fall the guy had some health issues. We live in a neighborhood with tons of trees, and the leaves were piling high in their yard. I knew that wasn't normal for them, saw the guy trying to keep up with it, but having a bit of a go. So I just did their leaves whenever I was taking care of my own to help out. Well, last week they left a Christmas card for me in my mail box (we don't usually exchange cards).

In unrelated casual conversation a few months ago I'd chatted with the couple about how they loved Shake Shack, I'd said I'd never been, and they said I should try it sometime. Sure enough in the Christmas card was a $20 gift card to Shack Shack and a note, "Thanks for the help with the yard, give Shake Shack a try."

This weekend I was out and about and thought, "May as well try this burger." When I tried to pay with this gift card I was told it was invalid.

This was a brand new gift card obviously right off the store shelf, appearing the same as the new they had in the store, etc., so no reason to believe the neighbors had accidentally re-gifted a used one or anything. It was just a small token amount as an unexpected and unnecessary gesture from upper middle class folks so certainly no reason they would have gone out of their way at all to get a "gray market" or something card or anything. Clearly someone at the store just hadn't activated it right or something when they bought it.

Of course I've already ordered this burger, my gift card doesn't work, and I'm standing there not sure what to do. So like an idiot I just pay for the food. Now I'm sitting here typing this feeling like an idiot and pissed at myself for not just leaving. I'm thinking, "Not only did these jerks steal $20 from my neighbors, the whole thing ended with me buying a lunch as well that I never would have even gone for if it wasn't for that gift card - that didn't work. I hate that store."

So I'm pissed. I hate the idea of Shake Shack just getting away with this bs. If it'd been reversed and a gift card I'd given ended up like that I'd want to know so I could raise some hell with 'em, even if it didn't get anywhere other than me never going there again.

I'm also borderline crazy on principle though. I know lots of folks would be mildly annoyed, but shrug it off as stuff happens, it's only $20. If I raise it to the neighbors it may result in nothing more than them feeling awkward and embarrassed. They may possibly feel like now they just have to go buy another one or something. We don't really know each other beyond pleasantries and light neighborhood passing chit chat, so they probably won't realize it's not the gift card or lunch that I care about but the principle, and think, "Is this guy really worked up over a burger and fries?" I certainly don't want to cause them any hassle when all they were trying to do was a nice token gesture.

Bottom line Don't buy gift cards. A gift recipient already sees a one for one cash equivalent with the card, so what's the difference? If you want to give an "experience" gift to a restaurant, specific store, or etc, just give them cash with a nice note saying, "Please treat yourself to ____ on me. I think you'd really enjoy it." Then if they do, great. But if not, at least your money isn't lost, one way or another.

But anyways should I tell my neighbors Shake Shack sold them a faulty gift card or just let it go?