Going-away presents, gift-certificates, etc...

I wondered which board to put this on, but think maybe this was the best shot? Since it's sort of move related?

OK. If I do in fact move to England there are several people here (including family) that will most likely give me going-away presents. One friend in particular, after I suggested no gifts but just a party, said no - she still wants to get me a gift.

I also have a birthday in June, 3 weeks before my potential departure date... and have been wondering.

I only want a few real gifts, and I'll ask David to get me those. (Small things, like beads and 2 beading books I want) I don't want precious luggage space wasted by gifts I don't need, and don't want to put gifts in storage, you know?

So I thought, maybe if people really wanted to get me a gift they could get me gift-certificates? That way I can spend money later when I need it, but then I thought "Oh wait... they'd have to get a gift certificate for someplace in England."

So then I wondered if there were any online places you could buuy gift certificates from that are good in both places... ie Amazon.com or something - where they could buy it here but I could use it there, if I spend it on the internet?

Oh anyway.... any suggestions? Ideas?

I'd so much rather not get gifts and just have a party, but I know these people. There's no stopping them. So I thought I'd just offer a little direction so I don't get something stupidly big.

Gift certificates purchased through amazon.com can NOT be redeemed through amazon.co.uk, I just learned.

Rats.

Hmm... I guess they could get me local gift certificates and I can just make a wish-list online, have my mom buy the stuff and ship it over? Or just save them? Or make a big fire? Or buy stuff with it before I go and just get another suitcase?

I'm bored.
So I'm thinking all about this.

I have noticed that when you type in the .com URL for Amazon you get a different site than when you type in .co.uk -- but both are accessible from anywhere.

Wouldn't a gift certificate purchased through Amazon.com be redeemable through Amazon.com even if you lived in England?  

Yeah, but I'm worried about shipping.

They could get me a gift certificate to amazom.com or target.com, and I could redeem them from the UK, but getting it shipped is another matter entirely.

I wish they'd just give me cash.
Maybe they will.

How about an American Express gift certificate??  Certificates should be good to go worldwide, I think.  This way you can spend the £££££ as you please.

"Unlike store cards or gift certificates, American Express Gift Cheques let the people you care about get exactly what they want, every time. That's because Gift Cheques can be used to buy virtually anything, from stereo speakers to a new sweater, from a spa treatment to a puppy. And because they are available in a variety of denominations, Gift Cheques are ideal for everyone on your list - for friends and family or for tips and thank you's."

It did mention that they are good in the U.S. (?? internationally??)  I don't see why you couldn't use them in the UK..  

That's a great idea!

I'll give that idea to mom, since she's the one who would spear-head a gift brigade, bless her heart.

Yvonne, you're the sweetest.

I can totally sympathize with you!  I went home briefly before my wedding (which was being held here in the UK), and everyone wanted to give me a wedding shower.  

We looked at every site we could find on manners for a polite way way to say, please bring cash but everyone said it was the last thing you should do.  In the end my mom came up with a little ditty to put in the invitations that gently remided them that I was going over seas and I had a min. of packing space, hoping that they would get the hint and bring cash.  In the end I registered at Target for the flattest things I could find (picture frams, towels, place mats, cooking griddle   etc..)  It all packed a treat and I got a nice selection of house hold goods.

The American Express Checks are also a great idea!  I'm not sure about the gift version, but you can exchange Amercian Express Checks, in dollars at the post office for no commision.  I often pay my American credit cards and student loans in this manner.

I can sympathize too, but the other way around.  When we were moving back here all of my English friends kept wanting to buy me going away presents.  I kept having to explain to them that all of our stuff was already packed and we needed what space there was in the suitcases for clothes!  They couldn't seem to understand why we couldn't just "ship another box over".    They just didn't understand how much it cost or how well packed and taped up a box going over seas has to be!  Bless them.  

Eventually they got the hint though and I ended up with a very nice (and none to cheap) necklace and a pair of earrings and some CD's and postcards (of Liverpool) and various other "flat pack" items.  Also got an extra large Union Jack Flag!    She said it HAD to be huge because "everything is bigger in America"  I plan to use if for a wall hanging if I ever get a wall.  

Anyway I don't really have anything to contribute to this subject except that when we were still in the UK we ordered stuff from Amazon.com and they shipped it over there.  Will have to ask "the Scrumpmeister" if they charged extra and how much, but I do know they shipped it over.  Both books and videos.

I've purchased gift certificates in the Uk from CDnow.com for a relative in Holland. Just had to enter the amount I wanted in Guilders. I'm sure it would work from US to UK as well. Also, there's stuff like landsend.co.uk.
Believe it or not I once spent a US Gap certificate (in $) here in the UK!

Ooooh. I'd love  Gap certificate!

Just a note, there is a UK Yankee page devoted to overseas gift giving, it is at:
http://www.uk-yankee.com/gifts.html

The sites included on that page I have verified to take overseas credit cards for delivery in which ever country list that you've chosen on that page.

Regarding Amazon, they can order gift certificates from Amazon.co.uk from the US for you to redeem when you get here, there is no problem with that. Works the same with Amazon for sending gifts to loved ones back in the States, our family uses them all of the time.

How did I not notice that page before?
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And hey - it's nice to see theres a pirate smiley just for me.