Digital gift cards: the last frontier of shopping

What are (digital) gift cards?

A gift card is a prepaid coupon valid for a given service or shop. It allows people to pay for their purchase using the amount on the card, without the need for cash or being forced to share some personal details by using a credit card. While the process of buying a card in order to purchase stuff may seem counterintuitive, the system has many advantages and is becoming more and more popular in today’s world.

What kind of goods can I buy with a gift card?

There are thousands of stores and services to choose from. Nowadays, almost every big brand offers some kind of gift coupon. Think of Amazon, Zalando, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, MediaMarkt, Just Eat and hundreds, thousands of others. It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for, you can be certain to find a gift card to suit your needs. Some of the goods and services you can get gift cards for include:

• Shopping (clothes, books, tools, whatever)
• Videogames (games, credits and so on)
• Windows, Apple, Android credit
• Subscriptions (Netflix, Game Pass, World of Warcraft and more)
• Prepaid cards
• Cryptocurrencies
• Mobile phone top-ups

What are the benefits of vouchers?

The first and most obvious benefit is that a coupon holds a fixed amount of credit. Say you wish to buy something that costs about 50 euros, if you get a €50 gift card you are guaranteed to keep your spending in check. No chance you’ll be tempted to spend more, since that would exceed the card’s limit and you would have to switch to a different payment method. This simple psychological effect is enough to help you manage your spending and avoid buying too many things you don’t really want.
Another important advantage of gift cards is safety: each card has a complex unique code, which is practically impossible to guess or steal. And even if you are REALLY unlucky and somebody manages to obtain the code somehow, all you stand to lose are the few euros on the card itself. Things would be a lot more serious and unpleasant if a thief gained access to your bank account or credit card details.
Last, but not least, a gift card can be a lifesaver if you have no idea what present to give a friend. Just get a nice voucher from a generalist store (like Amazon) and let your friend choose whatever they want. Much classier than money in an envelope!

Do gift cards make for a nice present?

Yes, a gift card can be a very nice present. If you buy a physical gift card in one of the many stores that sell them, you can wrap it up in some beautiful gift paper, and maybe complete it with a beautiful ribbon. When it comes to digital vouchers things are less straightforward because you don’t have a physical item to give, but an obvious solution is to just print the code (possibly with some colorful, themed graphics) and wrap the print as a present, showing care and creativity. Or, if you buy a gift card at Gamecardsdirect, you can use our unique gift wrap service. With it, you can compose a nice personalized email that will be sent directly to your friend. This is an effective replacement for a physical present and will show your friends how much you care about them. At our store you can find lots of cards for Gaming, Shopping, Going out, Cryptocurrency, Mobile top-ups and more.

Where can I find a digital coupon for what I want?

Some of the most popular cards, like Apple, Netflix and Google can be found in every supermarket and general-purpose store. The Internet is full of webshops that sell every kind of coupon imaginable. It’s usually very safe to buy gift cards online, just be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. If you want to be certain you are safe and the card is legit, make sure to only buy from reputable sellers, like for example Gamecardsdirect. We are the one-stop gift card shop, and have been in the business of digital gift vouchers for over a decade, so you can trust us to provide great service.