Does that gift card expire? Am I going to get hit with fees if I don't use it for a while? Can I reload it?
The interactive chart below answers those and other questions about gift cards offered by dozens of the nation's most popular restaurants, retailers, airlines and other businesses. That way, in these difficult economic times, you can make the smartest possible decision when it comes time to buy this holiday season.
Click on one of the stores below for more information, or scroll down this page to find links to the rest of our 2011 gift card special section.
Methodology: From late September through early October 2011, CreditCards.com surveyed gift cards from 63 major restaurants, retailers, airlines and other businesses. We tracked those cards in nine different areas that can impact a consumer. We gathered that information using several different methods, cross-checking them against each other for accuracy. We visited the businesses' websites, called their toll-free customer service phone numbers, called individual stores and/or visited individual stores in person.
PIN defined as a cardholder-created security code needed to conduct a
transaction involving a card, whether its checking a balance, making a
purchase or something else. It does not include PIN numbers that are
found on the back of a card.
Free shipping/delivery is only for physical cards. Being able to send an e-card for free doesn't qualify.
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
Three most recent Emerging payment systems: Prepaid, debit, gift cards stories:
$45 million heist shows vulnerability of prepaid cards – Prepaid debit cards are quickly growing in popularity among consumers, but the global conspiracy that stole $45 million from two Middle Eastern banks shows that they’re also attracting attention from another element: criminals ...
2013: What's in the (credit) cards for you? – Smartphone magic that lets you breeze through checkout lines? Higher barriers against rapacious card rip-offs? We ask analysts what's ahead in 2013 ...
Overdrafts on prepaid cards: Good deal, or debt trap? – Overdraft programs on prepaid cards are sneaky, high-cost loans that should be outlawed, consumer advocates say. But some customers of the card company NetSpend couldn't disagree more ...
Did you like this story? Then sign up for CreditCards.com’s weekly e-newsletter for the latest news, advice, articles and tips. It's FREE. Once a week you will receive the top credit card industry news in your inbox. Sign up now!
