Use these ten checks before you order. Open the linked official pages for the conditions that apply to your purchase.
01Start with where the recipient shops
Useful spendingWhen this appliesChoosing a store card as a present
A store card commits the recipient to a particular retailer. Target’s card, for example, is for Target stores in the US and Target.com. Choose it because the person already shops there, rather than because you happen to like the retailer.
Keep in mind: A large face value is less useful if using it requires an unwanted purchase.
More detail
Ask which shop they would choose for an ordinary purchase. If you cannot establish that, a retailer-specific card may be the wrong gift.
Official information ↗ (Opens in a new tab)Match the country and account
Regional restrictionsWhen this appliesSending a digital card to someone abroad
Apple’s US terms restrict US-purchased cards to US accounts and US purchases. The recipient’s account region matters, even when you can easily email them a code.
Keep in mind: A shared language or an international brand name does not establish cross-border usability.
More detail
Confirm the account’s country with the recipient before buying. Do not ask for their password or sign in on their behalf.
Official information ↗ (Opens in a new tab)Check what the balance can buy
Excluded productsWhen this appliesThe recipient wants another card or a particular service
Target GiftCards cannot buy other gift cards or prepaid cards. That rules out buying a discounted Target card merely to exchange it for a more useful brand.
Keep in mind: Do not count on converting restricted store credit into general spending money.
More detail
Name the intended purchase before choosing the card. If it is excluded, select a different gift instead of relying on a later exchange.
Official information ↗ (Opens in a new tab)Compare the amount loaded with the amount charged
Total costWhen this appliesTwo cards promise the same spending balance
Look for an issuance or purchase fee as well as delivery charges. Federal gift-card rules distinguish a one-time issuance fee from a recurring service fee; a restriction on inactivity fees does not mean the card is free to buy.
Keep in mind: Compare the checkout total, not just the number printed on the card.
More detail
For a fixed gift budget, subtract all purchase and delivery costs before deciding how much value reaches the recipient. The example below shows the difference.
Official information ↗ (Opens in a new tab)Read both the card date and the funds terms
Time limitsWhen this appliesThe recipient may wait before spending
The CFPB says covered gift-card funds must generally remain valid for at least five years; some state rules provide more time. Inactivity charges require at least 12 months of inactivity and other conditions.
Keep in mind: The date on the physical card and the availability of the underlying money can differ.
More detail
Ask the issuer about remaining funds if the card itself expires. Do not assume every prepaid or promotional product follows the same rules.
Official information ↗ (Opens in a new tab)Keep a promotional bonus separate
Offer valuationWhen this appliesA purchase comes with an extra reward card
Federal rules treat qualifying loyalty, award and promotional cards differently from ordinary purchased gift cards. Read the bonus’s own expiry and conditions rather than adding it to the purchased balance as if the two were interchangeable.
Keep in mind: An extra reward that needs another purchase may add no value for this recipient.
More detail
Write the purchased balance and promotional benefit on separate lines. For the bonus, record when and where it can be used before assigning it a value.
Official information ↗ (Opens in a new tab)Buy from a seller you can identify
Purchase sourceWhen this appliesA resale listing offers a large discount
The FTC recommends familiar, trusted sources and warns that cards on online auction sites may be fake or stolen. A screenshot showing a balance is not a reason to ignore the seller’s identity.
Keep in mind: A bargain price does not establish that you will receive usable value.
More detail
Use the retailer or an established seller you can contact about the order. Leave an offer alone if payment is being redirected to an unfamiliar person.
Official information ↗ (Opens in a new tab)Inspect a physical card before loading it
TamperingWhen this appliesTaking a card from a shop display
Look for removed security stickers, exposed PINs or scratched packaging. The FTC warns that someone can record the details first and take the money after a shopper loads the card.
Keep in mind: Having the plastic card in your hand does not by itself protect its balance.
More detail
Show suspicious packaging to staff and choose another card. The FTC notes that tampering may affect batches, so changing stores can be sensible if several cards look altered.
Official information ↗ (Opens in a new tab)Let the intended recipient redeem the code
Account ownershipWhen this appliesChecking an Apple gift before handing it over
Apple says linking a gift card to an account moves its value to that account’s associated balance. Unused associated balances are not transferable.
Keep in mind: Redeeming the code on your own account is not a harmless way to test someone else’s gift.
More detail
Keep the code unredeemed until it reaches the intended recipient. Use the issuer’s balance-check route if you need to confirm the card, rather than adding it to an account.
Official information ↗ (Opens in a new tab)Keep the card after the first purchase
Returns and missing fundsWhen this appliesThe balance has reached zero
Visa advises keeping a gift card if you may return an item bought with it, because the merchant may put the refund back on that card. Retain the purchase documentation too.
Keep in mind: Throwing away an empty card can complicate access to a later refund.
More detail
Keep the card details securely with the receipt until the purchase is settled. For a lost or stolen card, contact the issuer promptly; replacement conditions vary.
Official information ↗ (Opens in a new tab) Choose the gift before choosing the promotion
This checklist covers gift-card purchases for personal use in the United States. Apple, Target and Visa illustrate different restrictions; none is a recommendation for every recipient. Cards issued elsewhere, general-purpose reloadable accounts and promotional rewards can have different terms. These are ten purchase checks, in decision order, not a ranking of issuers.
Start with a planned use. Then check region, eligible products and the full cost. A card that fails one of those checks should leave the shortlist even if its advertised discount is larger.
A $50 card does not always mean a $50 purchase
The following amounts are hypothetical US-dollar totals, not current offers from the companies mentioned above.
| Gift |
What you pay, including all fees |
Usable purchased balance |
| Store card with no added charge |
$50 |
$50 |
| Card with a $5 purchase charge |
$55 |
$50 |
| $50 store card discounted by $3 |
$47 |
$50 |
In the second case, the giver spends $5 beyond the loaded value. In the third, the $3 saving is real only if the card is legitimate and the recipient can use it for purchases they would make anyway. A $50 restricted balance should not be valued at $50 by someone who expects to use only $20 of it.
For a promotional bonus, use a second calculation: value of the extra purchases you already intended to make that the bonus will cover. If none qualify before the bonus expires, give that bonus a value of zero. This is our budgeting method, not a promise that a retailer will convert unused funds to cash.
When the request itself is the problem
Stop if an unexpected caller or message tells you to buy cards and send the numbers to settle a bill, fix an account or collect a prize. The FTC describes these as gift-card scam tactics. Verify the supposed problem through a contact channel you already trust. Do not use the number supplied in the demand.
If you have already shared the code, contact the card issuer promptly, retain the receipt and ask whether the funds can be recovered. The FTC also provides a reporting route. Recovery is not guaranteed. For an ordinary failed purchase or an unexplained zero balance, use the issuer’s official support details and your purchase record rather than paying a stranger to investigate.
CouponMori