I don't like getting gift cards for or from people who are really close (best friend/close family), I just think it is lazy & like Tink, I think if you care for someone you will put some thought in it. If you really know me, I'm not that hard to buy for. unless the receiver specifically asks for a GC, I go for the gift. I can see how it would be easier to buy GCs for teens though. My MIL gives us GCs every year just because it's easy & I hate it. She never fails to get me one to some store I never shop at because one of her daughters asked for one from that store & so she buys us all one. On the other hand, I do like them for mailing & for the friends I don't see a lot. One of my friends that I only see a few times a year loves McD's sweet tea & gets one daily so I sent her a $10 GC with a note that said have a few gallons of tea on me, in reverse, she sends me iTunes cards because she knows I love music & books.