How to Choose the Best Mother’s Day Gifts

Spring brings with it sunshine, flowers, Easter eggs, and Mother’s Day. Of course, shopping for Mother’s Day gifts can be tricky—how do you get her something that means as much as she means to you?

Whether you’re planning well in advance or looking for last-minute Mother’s Day gifts, it’s important to not just find something she will enjoy but also only spend your money on gifts that will deliver what you’ve bought.

Let’s take a closer look at fun Mother’s Day gift ideas and tips on how to avoid shopping disasters!

Key Insights

• Make sure that you’re aware of the top recent scams when shopping for Mother's Day gifts. 
• 74% of shoppers chose greeting cards for Mother’s Day and another 74% also gifted flowers.
• 60% of shoppers arranged a special outing for Mother’s Day instead of just sending a gift.

Online Gift Shopping

Online purchases are convenient, and that makes them great gifts. It seems like almost anything can be ordered online, and with online wish lists, you might already know exactly what your mother wants without having to guess. Online gift shopping is also a lifesaver if time gets away from you and you forget to check on when it is Mother's Day.

Of course, you want to find the best Mother’s Day gifts, and online shopping can help you find great options within your budget. Explore deals, special offers, and coupons for new gift ideas. Before you buy, read customer reviews to avoid websites with poor quality, shipping delays, or bad service.

Exploring customer issues may help you avoid problems before you spend your money.  For example, in online review #5957498 one Curtis Stone customer shared that they  ordered a “chopper for a Mother’s Day gift.” Unfortunately, the item never arrived, and the customer “was so disappointed” that they recommended that you “don’t buy any products through this company.”

Tips for online gift shopping on Mother’s Day

A little research can help you shop with confidence and make Mother’s Day special. Here are some helpful tips to ensure a smooth customer experience while shopping online for Mother’s Day:

• Be sure you shop for gifts from stores without negative reviews. 
• Shop with stores where you’ve previously done business.
• Сheck the delivery and return policies before ordering to ensure a smooth delivery.
• Be wary about online deals that seem too good to be true – they may be bait for shopping or credit card fraud.

Flower Bouquets

Flowers are a classic and always relevant gift for mom. You can choose various bouquets or indoor plants that will delight her for years. Such popularity means that florists are very busy. To avoid a negative customer experience, place your flower arrangement order in advance to ensure everything goes well. 

Unfortunately, some retailers don’t come through with the Mother’s Day flowers you’ve ordered. One reviewer shared that they received “a completely UGLY set of flowers.” The reviewer claims they bought flowers and “even paid extra” for a floral arrangement that was “falsely advertised.” 

Tips for flower bouquets on Mother’s Day

Here is the list of hints that can help you with ordering flowers for Mother’s Day:

• Be sure you order your flowers well in advance for the holiday. 
• Consider having your flowers delivered the day before to avoid the pressure and rush of the florists on the actual day off. 
• Be sure you do your research as well and look for Mother's Day reviews before making an order.

Candy Gifts and Food Orders

There’s something to be said for Mother’s Day gifts that she can enjoy and even share with you. Perhaps the best Mother’s Day gifts are consumable ones like candy and food orders. If you’re looking for Mother’s Day gift basket ideas, you can find plenty through various retailers. Or you can make your own by buying special food items and adding a custom card.

Of course, gift baskets and candy or food delivery are not exempt from holiday shopping issues. A customer left review #5865409 about their disappointment in ordering Edible Arrangements for Mother’s Day. 

…the strawberries got moldy in 24 hours while they were in the refrigerator. My mother didn't even get to eat them.

According to the customer, she has ordered a similar gift “every Mother’s Day and I have never had them go bad in 24 hours.”

Tips for candy gifts and food orders on Mother’s Day

This holiday is a popular time for food and candy bouquets. So, here is a list of helpful tips to enjoy the Mother’s Day celebration:

• Consider ordering well in advance for a delivery a day or two earlier than the actual holiday to be sure your order gets the attention it deserves and arrives on time. 
• Don’t forget to check reviews to be sure you’re dealing with a company that you can trust.

Gift Cards

Gift cards are a quick and easy option for the best Mother’s Day gifts, but they have a few drawbacks as well. Unfortunately, these cards often run afoul of gift card scams. Gift cards are common and often tucked inside a greeting card, making them easy to spot when sent by mail. Scammers also use tricks to steal funds from the cards before you even have a chance to send them to your mother for the holiday. 

Even without scams, sometimes gift cards can be complicated to use as gifts. One reviewer received a Massage Envy gift card for Mother’s Day. However, when the customer tried to enjoy their spa day, they were told the barcode “expires after 120 days so I was not able to use my gift card.” 

I have tried emailing and calling the corporate office, but no one will get back to me to resend me a new barcode so that I can actually use the gift card. The employees at the actual Massage Envy were no help.

Tips for gift cards on Mother’s Day

If you’re going to buy and send gift cards for Mother’s Day, consider a few ways you can keep yourself, your funds, and your gift safe. Here are some helpful tips:

• Order a digital gift card to send via email instead of a physical card. That would avoid issues with mail theft and scammers using deceptive codes on physical cards.
• Don’t buy gift cards anywhere but in a reputable store. Before you buy, check that there is not an extra sticker over the barcode or signs of the card being opened.
• If possible, buy gift cards that are held behind the counter in a store or in a place that is not easily accessed by the public, as those cards are more likely to be tampered with. 
• Be sure to check any expiration dates to avoid gifting a card that can’t be used before it expires.

Home Gifts

Home gifts are always appreciated on holidays. If you know your mother enjoys spending time at home, why not buy a Mother’s Day gift to help celebrate an occasion that she will use all year long? Just be sure that the item you buy will stand the test of time.

One consumer in review #5816723 shares their negative customer experience with Mercari after receiving a broken product:

my granddaughter was purchasing this with her own money for her mom for mother's day and is si heartbreaking to her.

Tips for home gifts on Mother's Day

Of course, there is always the chance you might get things a bit wrong. However, try to follow these steps to get the best home gifts for Mother’s Day:

• Certain comfort items like throw blankets and aromatherapy candles would be a safe bet for most mothers. 
• Be mindful that some stores create and sell high-quality items while others are more interested in turning a profit on cheap items.
• Check reviews to be sure you’re dealing with a good store.
• Check return and refund policies, just in case your gift looks different in person than you’re expecting.

Wellness Gifts

For moms who love to stay active, fitness-related gifts are a great choice. Consider exercise gear, yoga mats, or kitchen tools for healthy meals. But before buying, check online reviews to be sure you’re ordering from a reputable company.

Tips for wellness gifts on Mother’s Day

Here are some tips for selecting wellness gifts that may make your mother happy this Mother's Day:

• If you want to celebrate your mother’s activities and lifestyle, opt for something that enhances the activities she already enjoys. Binoculars can improve hiking and bird watching, for example. 
• Be wary of offering wellness gifts that might send the wrong message—no mother wants a new scale or body mass tracker as a Mother’s Day gift, for example, if she didn’t specifically request it! 

PissedConsumer Store Merch and Club Subscription 

If your mother is an active consumer who interacts with many stores, either online or offline. She definitely has her own favorites among them, as well as those who left unpleasant memories. Why not surprise her with exclusive merchandise from the PissedConsumer Store to amplify her consumer’s voice and express her opinion visually? 

You may customize any T-shirt to showcase her attitude towards a particular company and advocate for consumer rights. By wearing it, she will become a part of an empowered consumer movement that values transparency and trust. 

Do you want to improve your mom’s customer journey and find support from experts and fellow consumers? You can give her a subscription to the PissedConsumer Club, a consumer community that offers its members personalized experience and guidance through the issue resolution process. Get tips on how to resolve consumer issues, templates for effective complaint letters, smart checklists on how to protect yourself against scams, and other helpful information. The PissedConsumer Club delivers up-to-date knowledge and proactive tips you won’t find anywhere else.

Get a Perfect Gift for the Special Day

As you start shopping this year, remember that what you’re ordering will never replace quality time with you. After all, the best Mother’s Day gifts are accompanied by a long visit. Avoid typical consumer issues by shopping early, choosing wisely, and checking customer reviews before spending your funds so that everyone can have a happy Mother’s Day.