Legal Question in Business Law in California

Re: Gift cards redeemable for cash? (By law)

Yes. See Civil Code � 1749.5, which states in pertinent part: "(b) Any gift certificate sold after January 1, 1997, is redeemable in cash for its cash value, or subject to replacement with a new gift certificate at no cost to the purchaser or holder. [�] (c) A gift certificate sold without an expiration date is valid until redeemed or replaced." Nevertheless, if it contains an expiration date, was sold at a discount, or was given as an award, prize, etc. without any money in exchange, it cannot be redeemed. Section 1749.45 defines a "gift certificate" as including gift cards. Hope that helps.

Re: Gift cards redeemable for cash? (By law)

Mr. Cohen has given you an excellent answer, but I see one other aspect of your question that might be worthy of comment:

It's possible, I suppose, that California law may not apply to a gift-certificate transaction that took place outside California. For example, if the certificate were sold by a New York store of a national chain, the chain might argue successfully that the law of New York, not California, governs the future validity of the certificate. (I have no idea what New York's law is, but it could be quite different).

The applicability of New York law could then govern attempts to redeem the certificate anywhere-- California, New York, or Timbuctoo.