Look That Gift Horse In The Mouth

I got an e-mail over the weekend alerting me about buying gift cards from certain stores. It seems that said stores are planning to either close or file for Bankruptcy after the holidays, yet continue selling gift cards -- which will be worthless after January 1. Apparently, there is no law preventing them from doing this. On the contrary, it is referred to as “Bankruptcy Planning”.

Anyway, here's a list of the stores mentioned in the e-mail. If you're planning on giving gift cards this year, it might be wise to check the list. I myself have already bought a card (and in a sizeable amount, I might add) from one of the stores shown on the list as closing, so I'm now planning to mail it early so the recipient will have ample time in which to use it before the store closes. Personally, I find it sleazy and unethical in the extreme that any store would sell gift cards that they know will be unredeemable in a very short period of time. If there is no law, there should be.


Circuit City (filed Chapter 11)
Ann Taylor - 117 stores nationwide closing
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug,and Catherine's to close 150 stores nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close 27 stores, and more after January
Cache will close all stores
Talbots closing down specialty stores
J. Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots)
Pacific Sunwear (also owned by Talbots)
GAP closing 85 stores
Footlocker closing 140 stores, more to close after January
Wickes Furniture closing down
Levitz closing down remaining stores
Bombay closing remaining stores
Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January
Whitehall closing all stores
Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.
Home Depot closing 15 stores, 1 in NJ ( New Brunswick )
Macys to close 9 stores after January
Linens and Things closing all stores
Movie Galley Closing all stores
Pep Boys Closing 33 stores
Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores
JC Penney closing a number of stores after January
Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores.
Wilson Leather closing down all stores
Sharper Image closing down all stores
K B Toys closing 356 stores
Lowes to close down some stores
Dillard's to close some stores