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?
"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.
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.
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.
You already said (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.
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.
Free when the money comes from PayPal balance or bank account.
2.9% + $0.30 USD
when the money comes from a debit or credit card or PayPal Credit
(the sender decides who pays this fee).
I had only heard of Treatful in this space. They said a common use case they didn't expect was buying a gift card for someone on the other side of the country. A lot of times people wanted to get a friend a gift for a local joint in NYC but obviously couldn't pick it up. Makes sense.
I've heard similar feedback about gift cards, but I continue to receive gift cards from friends. All things being equal, I'd much rather receive a GiftRocket instead of holding onto and likely losing a $25 physical gift card
At that point, why not just transfer the money yourself? I get that gift cards > cash for gifts, but if you're worried about the issues you mentioned, you might as well give the person the cash and tell them you know this great new restaurant you think they'd love. It's like you're saying, "Hey, wouldn't it be cool if there were gift cards that didn't have these drawbacks?" It exists. It's money.
True. But my point is that tons of people already use gift cards even though you and I can agree it may not be a rational choice. There's something about the psychology of giving/receiving cash that our culture has not really accepted. It's not thoughtful enough even if you suggest where the recipient spends the money. If they can make Gift Rocket socially acceptable (by playing on the inherent problems with gift cards today) then I think it could be big.