Gift cards

• Gift cards usually do not expire, but there are exceptions based on state rules and expiration laws.
• Gift cards are regulated differently in various states.
• Gift cards can't expire in the US due to legal regulations.
• Some Gift cards can depreciate over time.
• Gift cards are considered a legal perk in the US.
• Gift cards are a profitable idea for businesses due to significant unredeemed amounts.
• Gift cards can be exploited by scammers, resulting in financial losses and disappointment.
• Gift cards are viewed as a form of monetary gifting that some find unappealing due to restrictions and expiry dates.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Offers the recipient flexibility in choosing gifts.
• Can be a thoughtful gesture when tailored to the recipient's preferences.
• Provides businesses with revenue upfront.
• Facilitates gift-giving during holidays and special occasions.
• Can be a convenient option for last-minute gifts.

Cons

• Potential for scams and fraud, leading to financial loss.
• Some Gift cards have expiration dates or hidden fees.
• Unused Gift cards can contribute to wasted money.
• Some people find Gift cards impersonal or restrictive.
• Limited usability and restrictions on where they can be redeemed.

Crowdstrike Offer

• Crowdstrike Offered a $10 gift card as an apology for an outage, but there were issues with redeeming the card.
• The offer seemed inadequate given the impact of the outage.
• The validity and cancellation of the gift card caused further frustration among recipients.
• Some saw the gift card offer as a trivial resolution to a significant problem.

Response

• Recipients felt the gift card was a meager compensation for the damages caused.
• The cancellation of the gift card added to the dissatisfaction with Crowdstrike's response.
• The $10 gift card was perceived as insufficient given the circumstances.
• Some viewed the gift card as a token gesture rather than a genuine apology.

Overall, Gift cards can be a convenient gifting option, but they have their drawbacks such as expiration dates and susceptibility to scams. Crowdstrike's $10 apology gift card was met with mixed reactions, with recipients feeling it was inadequate considering the situation that warranted the apology.