Credit: Shutterstock photoEditor's note: This story has been updated. See the 2013 gift card survey and accompanying chart .
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 .
Don't have Flash? Check out the HTML version of our gift card chart .
Source: Joint CreditCards.com/Bankrate.com survey.
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.
See related:Gift card survey 2011: E-cards take center stage , 2011 gift card comparison chart , 18 ways to get gift cards for less , How to replace a lost or stolen gift card , Gift card rules: fewer fees, more time to use , 10 creative ways to wrap gift cards , Give gift of flight with airline gift cards , 2011 airline gift cards comparison chart , Gift card scams: How to spot them, avoid being a victim
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
