1. Watch for hidden fees. Some may require an activation fee or you may be charged a monthly inactivity fee.
2. Keep receipts. These come in handy of you lose a card or if it doesn’t work when you try to use it.
3. Check the expiration date. New laws may affect gift cards so they no longer expire but it’s worth checking.
4. Double check the fine print on the bonus. Sometimes there are restrictions making it not a true gift card.
5. Consider the viability of the business from whom you purchase a card. If they go bankrupt, so (perhaps) will your card.
6. Check out Gift Card Exchange sites for discounts like Cardpool.com, PlasticJungle.com, ECardExchange.com, and GiftCardRescue.com. These sites come in handy when you receive a card you’d rather trade. Also, check out Top Ten Reviews at http://gift-card-exchange-review.toptenreviews.com or Gift Card Granny at www.giftcardgranny.com for an overview of these sites.
7. View the Federal Trade Commission site (http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0182-gift-cards) for more detailed rules.