Bath and Body Works claimed the top spot, narrowly edging out Red Lobster Restaurants and iTunes. All these favorites had very high levels of satisfaction and were the cards that recipients would most recommend to others. Factors such as retailer preferences and service levels were directly related to which cards consumers chose as their favorites.

• Gift card retailers and issuers are prohibited from charging fees to customers who have used their cards in the previous year.
• Gift card issuers can only charge one inactivity, dormancy or service fee per month.
• Expiration dates for funds underlying gift cards must be at least five years after the date of issuance, or five years after the date when funds were last loaded.

The new cards are responding to a drop-off in sales. During the 2008 holiday shopping season, gift-card sales dropped 5%, the first decrease after nearly a decade of strong growth, according to the 2009 Gift Card Trend Report from Archstone Consulting, a Connecticut-based management consulting firm.

This year, gift-card sales are expected to be flat at best compared with last year, or, at worst, down 5%. The average amount of a gift card is expected to fall about 12% to $46, according to Archstone.

Fees, restrictions and expiration dates on gift cards have tarnished their reputationsfor some gift-givers, said Dave Sievers, retail practice leader at Archstone. Pressure from consumer groups and pending legislation have helped changed certain practices that were unpopular with shoppers.

"It appeared that he was completely setting himself up, furnishing his apartment," explained Minnetonka Police Sgt. David Riegert. "Initially Best Buy reported about 20 to 25 items were taken. They thought somewhere in the neighborhood of about $9,000 in property."

Once Minnetonka Police issued this search warrant, they found about double what they expected. Investigators say Brown would help customers with a purchase at the store, but then used another employee's identification number and a copy of the receipt to return the items.

Authorities say Brown put that money onto a gift card and then spend away on BestBuy.com. It seemingly worked, until a couple customers came back.

Eddie Bauer sells its gift cards and e-cards into the incentive and corporate markets channel, and is a member of the Incentive Gift Card Council.

Citing concerns about its ability to meet debt payments, the Seattle-based firm, established in 1920, asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware to allow the sale to an affiliate of CCMP for $202 million in cash. It is pursuing a related case in Canada.

According to a company statement, CCMP "intends to operate the business as a going concern with little or no long-term debt. CCMP Capital has agreed to: Keep the majority of the stores open and retain the majority of the employees; support company motions to maintain critical vendor relationships and payments; and support company motions to honor gift cards and the company's loyalty reward program."

"This funding not only allows us to advance our company but also brings tremendous knowledge and resources through our investors, all of whom have a wealth of valuable experience," says Gary Briggs, CEO of Plastic Jungle. "We are entering a very exciting phase of our business and remain uniquely poised to create a new and more efficient market where consumers can realize the full benefit of gift cards they receive, and retailers can attract incremental revenue and profit by ensuring gift cards move into the hands of their best and most profitable consumers."

The Indianapolis-based appliance and electronics retailer said Tuesday that it will give $50 off purchases of $299 or more to customers who possess Circuit City credit cards or gift cards of any value.

The discount, which will be honored at all HHGregg store locations, will run through May 31. The discount will not be available at hhgregg.com, and customers can only receive one discount per transaction.

• GiftCardRescue.com
• Plastic Jungle
• MonsterGiftCard.com