I was going to write about GiftRocket, but before I had a chance, I got an offer from the company. If I wrote a post about my experience with their company, they would send a $10 GiftRocket to the person of my choice. Why not? I’ll take $10 sent to a friend in return for something I was going to do anyway.

I was selling jewelry and shiny rocks at a music and healing festival. A young man and woman couple liked my work and wanted to get a few things, but didn’t have any cash. I told them I’d take PayPal if they could send it from a phone, but there were problems: low battery, no service, PayPal saying the credit card needed to be updated. We agreed they’d send a PayPal payment once they got home, and I’d meet them with their merchandise after I received their payment.

I hadn’t heard from them, so I called the woman the next evening. She was having some trouble with PayPal; they said she owed $30 and she didn’t want to have to have to spend that extra money right then to be able to pay me. (I don’t know how one can get in debt to PayPal, but that’s between her and the corporation.)

She asked me if I did GiftRocket.

I told her I’d never even heard of GiftRocket.

She explained that she could send me money through GiftRocket, and I could have it transferred to my PayPal account. I told her that I’d look at the website. If I thought it looked good I would sign up, then text her to let her know to send the funds. She said she didn’t think I had to sign up, but to go ahead and take a look at the GiftRocket site, then let her know what I wanted to do.

I went to the GiftRocket website. Here’s how GiftRocket explains what they do:

A GiftRocket is an ecard accompanied by a cash gift and a suggestion of how to use it.

It’s the intention of a gift card without the hassle. Suggest a business they’d love and write a nice note. We’ll deliver it and send them the cash. They’ll fulfill the intention of your gift, but if they want to use it elsewhere, no big deal.

I went to the FAQ to find out more on how I would be able to spend the money. I didn’t want my payment from the couple tied up on a gift card to some store I didn’t really want to shop at.

The answers to the following two questions set my mind at ease.

What happens when I redeem a GiftRocket?

When you redeem, you get the gift money right away. Then you can go spend it at the business suggested on your gift and write the sender a thank you. There’s no certificate to carry around, and no cash stranded on a card in your drawer.

How do I receive the money?

We can transfer to your bank account, deposit into your PayPal account, or mail you a check.

At that point, I felt comfortable receiving payment through a GiftRocket gift card. And the woman was right: I didn’t have to sign up for any sort of account through GiftRocket. All a sender/giver needs to give a gift card through GiftRocket is the receiver’s email address.

I texted the woman and told her to go ahead with the GiftRocket gift card. It didn’t take long for me to get confirmation that the gift card had been sent to me. I met the man half of the couple at the corner store down the street, and the transaction was complete. I had the gift card money transferred to my PayPal account, and in a day or two, it was there.

I had a great experience receiving money through GiftRocket. I like the option of GiftRocket for people who don’t want to send cash, but don’t want to deal with PayPal. I also like knowing that if I receive a gift card through GiftRocket, I have the option of having that money transferred directly to my bank account.

Yippee GiftRocket!