Seriously, I don't know why people give gifts, Ill take a gift card over an unexpected gift any day. As of now, I have 3 toys R Us gift cards, 3 BestBuy cards, 1 circuit city card, 1 Barnes & Noble, and one American Express card. gonna go buy my first flat screen tomorrow. Dont know what I'll get with the B&N card though.
you should be able to swap gift cards back for money, if you told them they were bought in error, or in mistake. ie' tell them you have no use for them, they should give you a refund
Gift cards a re convenient. But really you are forcing someone to have to buy from a specific store. That kind of sucks but I guess its better than a really cheesy gift they did not want anyways.
Try getting a book. Here's a few suggestions. http://www.amazon.com/Driving-Mr-Albert-America-Einsteins/dp/0385333005 http://www.amazon.com/Im-Stranger-Here-Myself-Returning/dp/076790382X http://books.google.com/books?id=Z6...&ct=title&cad=one-book-with-thumbnail#PPP1,M1 http://www.amazon.com/Wobegon-Boy-Garrison-Keillor/dp/0140274782 All are good reads.
I told my sis I had the giftcard and didnt want it, she wanted it, so I'll probabaly give it to her when I go to my parent's for Christmas. The Einstein's brain looks interesting though.