I had the same issue wanting local grocery gift cards for one of my kids. Guess what? A nice CC mom who loved near that college town went and got them for me! Woohoo! And she did it several times as that is where she shopped!
I’ve never had issues getting small businesses/restaurants that aren’t chains to mail me gift cards.
I’ve had varied luck. I can name a couple of places in D2’s college town that will sell you one at the counter, but not via mail. (So I learned to leave a little “me time” when I went to campus to stop for those errands, as they were some of D’s favorite places)
I saw these posted somewhere, microwaveable slippers. https://www.amazon.com/Snookiz-Slippers-Microwaveable-LavaTech-Electric/dp/B07BN6PTHR/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1544091857&sr=8-3&keywords=microwaveable+slippers+women
A HUGE thank you to whoever it was that suggested Archie McPhee!!! I had never heard of this store until someone posted about it in this thread. My goodies arrived yesterday, and I am cackling with glee. I can’t wait to see my family’s expression on birthday/Xmas!
Got some stocking stuffers at World Market last night. Who knew there were pens that could tell you “what would a sloth do?” every time you click the clicker? P.S. They nap a lot… They also had predictive pens for mermaids and unicorns and one that provides emergency excuses.
Speaking of emergencies, I also bought a small book there (will fit in a stocking!) that is full of emergency compliments such as “much like chapstick, you are not medically necessary but still quite addictive”, and “you are totally capable of keeping a cactus alive for 2-3 weeks”.
“Most of what I put in is practical”
We’re very much into the practical camp. I’ve found that if it isn’t practical, my kids aren’t going to use it/enjoy it. Gag type gifts might provide a brief chuckle but then turn to clutter/junk immediately. I’d rather plow that $$ into their travel or Roth IRA funds.
^^ Good thing pens are practical, lol.
Thank you @greenwitch I ordered the fortune telling pen and unicorn pen for my son’s stocking!
@doschicos , my silly gifts are practical too! Crazy cat lady socks for D, Kung Fu playing cards for H, and a car sun visor with millions of cats all over for my son’s rad 80’s Camaro! Oh, and Big Foot wrapping paper. Hahaha!
Practical AND funny I have no problems with. More power to you. 
I’m a big fan of ironic socks.
I have learned that I buy the stocking stuffers that make sense (and will be used) and then fill in the rest with even smaller gift cards - like $10 - to Starbucks, Chick fil A, local coffee shops. This morning I even looked up a local outdoor ice skating rink to see if I could get a gift card! It’s only like $5 per person - a fun easy night out for my S and DIL.
I saw a cute idea to buy one of those small, inexpensive, pocket-size photo albums and put all of the gift cards in it as a stocking stuffer.
That RBG finger puppet/magnet might work for one friend.
Speaking of practical, I stopped by my local AAA office and picked up paper maps for kids’ stockings. They each have a car at college and attend out-of-state. They think their phone navigation will always work, all the time, but we parents know things can and do stop working! I’m going to highlight the route home
This isn’t for a stocking stuffer, but this seems to be the active Xmas present thread. Amazon has a 2 story emergency window escape ladder on sale today. Our extended family laughs at me because for our annual Dirty Santa I always give safety items, but I have had family members thank me years later for the can of “fix a flat” or jumper cables etc. that ended up saving them on a cold night.
^^^ I bought this for my S and DIL one or two Christmases ago and were in an apt! Now they are in a two story home and I made sure to stick it in their bedroom closet when when I spied it when we moved them in!
I am also very practical but thankfully don’t have a 2nd story.
I just bought a pair of the microwavable slippers for my elderly mom, who will love them. After I checked out, Amazon suggested I might like a CPK gift card. Hmmm… Amazon is reading this thread too!
@Lindagaf, where do you find the sun thing with cats? Sounds like a good gift for my son.