5 ms·

Me: "Hey dude, there's this great new Mexican place on your block. Here's $30. Enjoy." = free Me: "Hey dude, check out this website that's going to tell you ab

by pekinb 16y ago

Me: "Hey dude, there's this great new Mexican place on your block. Here's $30. Enjoy." = free Me: "Hey dude, check out this website that's going to tell you about this great new Mexican place on your block. Here's $30. Enjoy." = not free

wallabe 16y ago
Seems like you're arguing against gift cards in general. $100b worth of gift card spending suggests other people feel differently. Maybe you're not the target market? http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1005802 http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1005802
- pekinb 16y ago
  $X is worth $X in gift cards. I'm fine with that. I hate the idea of paying this company when they don't add any value.
  - klochner 16y ago
    It really depends on whether the cost is worth avoiding the effort to get the gift card and send it to your friend. I don't see a lot of value add (as a giftcard replacement) for vendors who are already selling gift cards online.
  - old-gregg 16y ago
    "Don't add any value"? I thought the idea/value was to give people the option of sending gift cards for any business. That Mexican restaurant you keep referring in your examples may not even have a giftcard program.
    - pekinb 16y ago
      It wasn't a gift card in my examples. It was cash. Or an American Express giftcard. Just like you'd be getting with GiftRocket, except GiftRocket wants a cut.
      - pg 16y ago
        It wasn't a gift card in my examples. That's what makes it invalid as an example.
pg 16y ago
Sure, but in that situation, as you say http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2351451 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2351451 you wouldn't give a giftcard either. Giftrocket is only meant as a replacement for giftcards, not as a replacement for cash.
- pekinb 16y ago
  I would give a giftcard if one were available. I'd buy a $30 card for $30. If one weren't available, I sure wouldn't pay a company $1.50 to set up a hoop for my friend to jump through.
  - pg 16y ago
    You already said (http://news.ycombinator.com/edit?id=2351451 http://news.ycombinator.com/edit?id=2351451) you'd give cash in that case. It seems clear to me that you're just trying to invent reasons to attack Giftrocket.
    - pekinb 16y ago
      That's unfair. I have no skin in this game. The example I gave originally addressed the establishment with no gift cards. Then I had to respond to the claim that Giftrocket is trying to replace gift cards, so I said I'd always pick a gift card if one were available, and if not, I'd give cash over paying a third party. You'd use the service. I wouldn't. I argued why I don't see anyone using it. Don't write me off as an internet misanthrope trying to ruin everyone's fun. edit: I'll be more constructive. I'd consider using this if it somehow felt like a gift card instead of a deposit to my paypal account.

by pekinb 16y ago

wallabe 16y ago

Seems like you're arguing against gift cards in general. $100b worth of gift card spending suggests other people feel differently. Maybe you're not the target market? http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1005802 http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1005802

pekinb 16y ago
$X is worth $X in gift cards. I'm fine with that. I hate the idea of paying this company when they don't add any value.
- klochner 16y ago
  It really depends on whether the cost is worth avoiding the effort to get the gift card and send it to your friend. I don't see a lot of value add (as a giftcard replacement) for vendors who are already selling gift cards online.
- old-gregg 16y ago
  "Don't add any value"? I thought the idea/value was to give people the option of sending gift cards for any business. That Mexican restaurant you keep referring in your examples may not even have a giftcard program.
  - pekinb 16y ago
    It wasn't a gift card in my examples. It was cash. Or an American Express giftcard. Just like you'd be getting with GiftRocket, except GiftRocket wants a cut.
    - pg 16y ago
      It wasn't a gift card in my examples. That's what makes it invalid as an example.

pg 16y ago

Sure, but in that situation, as you say http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2351451 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2351451 you wouldn't give a giftcard either. Giftrocket is only meant as a replacement for giftcards, not as a replacement for cash.

pekinb 16y ago
I would give a giftcard if one were available. I'd buy a $30 card for $30. If one weren't available, I sure wouldn't pay a company $1.50 to set up a hoop for my friend to jump through.
- pg 16y ago
  You already said (http://news.ycombinator.com/edit?id=2351451 http://news.ycombinator.com/edit?id=2351451) you'd give cash in that case. It seems clear to me that you're just trying to invent reasons to attack Giftrocket.
  - pekinb 16y ago
    That's unfair. I have no skin in this game. The example I gave originally addressed the establishment with no gift cards. Then I had to respond to the claim that Giftrocket is trying to replace gift cards, so I said I'd always pick a gift card if one were available, and if not, I'd give cash over paying a third party. You'd use the service. I wouldn't. I argued why I don't see anyone using it. Don't write me off as an internet misanthrope trying to ruin everyone's fun. edit: I'll be more constructive. I'd consider using this if it somehow felt like a gift card instead of a deposit to my paypal account.