The Food Scout

I’m on a Food Scout mission right now, visiting some supermarkets in the Chicago area. Today at Dominick’s new Lifestyle
store downtown, I noticed this big kiosk with dozens of different gift cards from all kinds of companies, inviting you to put some money on some and give them as gifts. One whole side was dedicated to “dining out” gift cards from companies including PF Changs, Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, California Pizza Kitchen, Starbucks, and McDonalds.

For someone who wants to give away money to everyone , and wants to ensure that the recipient actually treats themselves to a gift, rather than spends the money on groceries or gas, this is certainly convenient. In the past, you have had to hoof it all over town to pick up gift certificates for Best Buy, Toys R Us, and Home Depot.

But I was struck by the hopefulness of all these restaurants and other companies that had stacks of $15 to $25 cards on the kiosk, that there would be a number of people who might go by this display and decide to pick up some of these cards while they were buying milk and eggs.

Unfortunately, gift cards have become less attractive for a couple of reasons in the past year or two: 1) many companies subtract value from the card if it goes unused for more than a few months or a year; 2) companies that go out of business don’t honor the value on the cards. 

My biggest problem with receiving these cards is that I have to remember to use them. As someone whose wallet is already too fat with credit cards, library cards, frequent shopper cards, medical cards, ATM cards, business cards, and receipts (oh yes, and a little cash).

So given that we ALREADY have Red Robin, Coldstone Creamery, Starbucks, Panera, San Francisco Oven, CVS, Toys R Us, Best Buy, and Barnes & Noble cards, AND have to remember we own and need to use them before they expire or get lost, I can’t imagine burdening anyone else with one of these card, so I’d rather just take them out to eat and partake in the gift myself!