If you don't like the stores from the gift cards, give the cards to somebody who does. If you want, instead of telling your relatives to stop giving you gift cards, you might want to tell them which stores you enjoy shopping at. You might also suggest to them that they give you American Express or Visa gift cards that can be used multiple places.

If someone gave me porn, and I disapproved of porn, should I give that to someone else? Giving someone a gift implies that you yourself approve of whatever it is you are giving. A better solution would be to give it to a crisis center, a homeless shelter, or an orphanage of some sort.

It doesn't hurt to tell the relatives that you don't shop there, but do enjoy shopping at wherever you feel is more PC. Just don't lecture them on their choices.

I regularly am given cards for a chain coffee store. I don't drink coffee. I do regift those, because I am not morally opposed to coffee.

Bettery yet--eeeeeeebay!

I believe there is a website where you can exchange gift cards.

I would recommend craigslist or ebay. I don't know if she'll think this hypocritical, but she can sell those cards for cash and spend the money wherever she likes. I agree with Prudence that the money has already been paid for the cards, so someone's gotta use them. But if the LW doesn't want to, then she can at least get some cash (even if it's not full value) out of them and buy the clothes her conscience will allow her to.

Also try the site: http://www.swapagift.com/

You can buy sell and trade gift cards!!

Regifting or donating does not solve the LW's problem. The stores get the money when the cards are bought, so no matter what SHE does with them, the money is in the pocket of a corporation she considers unethical. Depending on how well she knows the givers, she can explain why she doesn't support those stores, or simply say she likes X or Y store (even grocery stores give gift cards) or ask for money cards.

My company gives out Starbucks cards, I love coffee, but find Starbucks coffee pretty gross. I've had a hard time giving them away, most people I know also doesn't like Starbucks. I have handed the unwanted cards out to homeless people.

Aquagirl:

Regifting or donating does not solve the LW's problem. The stores get the money when the cards are bought, so no matter what SHE does with them, the money is in the pocket of a corporation she considers unethical. Depending on how well she knows the givers, she can explain why she doesn't support those stores, or simply say she likes X or Y store (even grocery stores give gift cards) or ask for money cards.

Good point. As soon as the person pays for the gift card, the store has gotten their money.

I work in the garment center and I know first hand, it is difficult to find a company that doesn't produce at least some of their garments overseas. Otherwise, the clothing would be very expensive. Even the top name brands do most of their production in sweatshops. So the cost isn't a determining factor as to whether or not the garments were made in America. It could just mean there is more of a profit margin going to the company.

dumb_blonde:

My company gives out Starbucks cards, I love coffee, but find Starbucks coffee pretty gross. I've had a hard time giving them away, most people I know also doesn't like Starbucks. I have handed the unwanted cards out to homeless people.

Give them to me! I LOVE Starbucks!

We used to have Starbucks coffee here at my company for the coffee makers. The company was thinking about switching to Dunkin Donuts coffee. I hate Dunkin Donuts coffee (well hate might be a strong word, because I am drinking it right now) but it's not as good as Starbuck's to me. They had a poll box set up in the kitchen to vote on which brand will be the "company coffee". No matter how many times I (and other Starbucks lovers) voted, we lost our Starbucks! :(

IncogNeato:

If someone gave me porn, and I disapproved of porn, should I give that to someone else? Giving someone a gift implies that you yourself approve of whatever it is you are giving. A better solution would be to give it to a crisis center, a homeless shelter, or an orphanage of some sort.

....

Wait -- so Incogneato would give porn to an orphanage? That ought to make Tiny Tim throw away his crutches.

;-)

Yes, my high school English teacher would have taken off a letter grade for unclear use of pronoun.

The porn, though, I'd just toss.