Do gift cards expire?
Some gift cards expire, but ask your state for the funds back By Jeff Gelles Knight Ridder Newspapers Greg and Barbara Shannon enjoyed a fine dinner a few days after Christmas at Philadelphia’s Sansom Street Oyster House. But what happened next left a sour taste in their mouths. When the couple tried to pay part of the check with a $35 gift card, a manager returned with bad news: The card was worthless because it expired a year after purchase. To Greg Shannon, who had bought the card as a stocking stuffer last Christmas for his wife, that seemed unfair — not to mention bad practice for a restaurant that presumably wanted their return business. It was also misleading, according to state officials who enforce Pennsylvania’s laws governing gift cards and certificates. And the language on the back of the card, issued on the Oyster House’s behalf by an Illinois company, Restaurant.com, didn’t help. Beneath a bold promise saying, “Treat this card like cash,” the card says this in smaller, li
The gift cards vary regarding expiration dates. Some are valid for a year, some for two and others never expire. There is legislation being introduced in many states to eliminate the use of expiration dates altogether. Generally, there are rules and specifics on the back of most of the gift cards. Our inventory is current and it turns over quickly enough to keep it fresh.
