Design Crafters

Yesterday in our photo Christmas cards blog I mentioned that some states have a law that gift cards don’t expire (but can have inactive fees). There are some other things you need to understand when it comes to gift cards.

A promotional gift card is completely different than a regular gift card. Promotional gift cards act more as coupons and will have an expiration date on them. They don’t fall under the same guidelines as regular gift cards. The laws refer to gift cards that you have actually put your own money on. With promotional gift cards, the store is basically giving you free money ( a coupon).

Here is an example of a promotional gift card:
Last Christmas Toys R Us gave away a $20 promo gift card when you purchased the Leapster/LeapMax system. You could then use the $20 card on any future purchase by the specific expiration date printed on the card.

I was inspired to look up this so-called law when last Christmas I got stuck behind a lady who was freaking out at the cashier because she claimed it was illegal for them to reject her promo gift card that expired almost two years ago. The poor cashier didn’t know what to say as the lady spewed off, made threats and held up the already long line. The lady apparently heard it on the news but obviously didn’t get all the specifics. Now that you know, hopefully you won’t become this lady or this cashier.