"When You Have No Desires: The Dilemma of Receiving a High-Value Gift Card as a Wedding Present【True Story】"

2020.11.09 published

What do you want if you receive 50,000 yen?

The other day, when I went out to dinner with a friend who just got married, I was asked, "What would you want if you got 50,000 yen?"

(Suddenly)

I thought about it, but it's difficult to pinpoint something I want right away for 50,000 yen.

Personally, I want a coat, and I also want to replace my sofa...

But spending 50,000 yen on a coat feels like a halfway point (for brands at Parco or Lumine, many items are cheaper than 50,000 yen, around 10,000 to 30,000 yen. But I can't afford high-end brands like Max Mara...), and it seems I can't buy a very good sofa for just 50,000 yen.

I just couldn't think of anything that I really want for 50,000 yen…

Do you all have something you would want if you received 50,000 yen?

Shock! I have no use for the gift certificate.

When I asked my friend why they asked such a question, it turns out they received a 50,000 yen gift certificate from a relative but are struggling to find a way to use it.

The gift certificate is valid for ten years, and it's actually an Amazon gift card.

My friend said, "I can't think of things worth 50,000 yen on Amazon... If I were setting up a new home, I might have a lot of things I want like electronics, furniture, or towels, but since we've been living together for a long time, there isn't much that feels like a 'new life' to prepare for.

If it were cash, I could save it and end the conversation with 'I'll use it carefully,' but since it's a gift card, I feel like I should probably report back something like 'I bought this and that' as a way of saying thank you...

Personally, I have many things I want, like games or facial devices, but even those I can buy cheaper at an electronics store than on Amazon."

"Moreover, since it's a wedding gift, it makes sense to buy something we can both use..."

They were struggling with their decision.

@milkwd1104

No change will be given...!

Since Amazon gift cards do not give change as cash, if I want to use the gift, I need to make sure to spend the full 50,000 yen on Amazon.

(I don’t recommend this, but if it were a type that gives change, you could buy smaller items and then cash out the change... Or you can sell it at a voucher shop for about 98% cash value.)

By the way, my friend mentioned considering buying a 130,000 yen microwave and thinking about using the gift certificate for 50,000 yen...

[Lesson] Things to be careful about when giving gift certificates.

After listening to my friend's story, I learned that especially for larger amounts, cash is easier for the recipient than gift certificates...

I also thought I should be careful when considering gift cards, as I don't want it to feel too direct.

(I recalled that I've introduced Starbucks cards several times on marry, and every time I received comments like 'I don’t have a Starbucks nearby, so I’d be in trouble if I received one...')

If you really want to give a gift certificate,

✅ It should have a long validity period.

✅ It should be usable in many places.

✅ It should be a type that gives change.

✅ If it doesn't give change, it should be in small amounts per card (like 10,000 yen in one card vs. ten 1,000 yen cards).

It seems necessary to carefully consider and select the gift card to match the recipient.

@nagisa_marry

By the way, here are some well-known gift cards and certificates with many usable stores:

✅ National Department Store Common Gift Certificate: No expiration date, gives change.

✅ Seven & I Common Gift Certificate: No expiration date, gives change.

✅ Aeon Gift Certificate: No expiration date, gives change.

✅ JCB Gift Card: No expiration date, does not give change.

✅ Mitsui Sumitomo Card VJA Gift Card: No expiration date, does not give change.