A gift card is a card that is issued (发行) by a store. These cards are big money makers for stores. One reason is that when gift card holders go to the store, they often see other things to buy, and they spend more money than the gift card is worth. Unused cards are another reason. Stores make millions of dollars because large numbers of people never use their cards again. They either lose them, forget about them, or decide that it's not worth the effort.
Gift cards are becoming very popular in many countries around the world. In the US, they are one of the most popular kinds of gifts. Why? People love the convenience—gift cards are easy to buy and easy to use, either in the store or online. Therecipientcan choose his or her own gift, and the giver does not have to worry about finding just the right thing.
Receiving a gift card, however, is not the same as receiving a gift. A real gift is a better reminder of the person who gave it. The message of a real gift is more likely to be, "I spent some time trying to find the right gift for you because I care about you." Often a gift card does not send the same message as a real gift. It may seem to say, "I was in a hurry. I didn't have time to think about what you would really like."
In today's world, gift cards are certainly convenient. However, they can make us forget the real purpose of giving gifts, which is to build a closer connection between the gift-giver and the gift-recipient.
