Legal Question in Consumer Law in Washington

Re: Expiration of gift certificates in the state of Washington

The gift certificate is binding because the purchaser knew at the time of purchase that it would expire.

Re: Expiration of gift certificates in the state of Washington

Yes, this is legal. Gift certificates are a type of retail contract to deliver goods or services at some future time. At the time of sale, the store or company selling the gift certificate can place whatever limitations it wants on that delivery so long they are made known to the buyer at the time of purchase.

In your case, the actual gift certificate states an expiration date right on the document. Under contract law, since the date limitations were not hidden and were in written form, the buyer is presumed to have understood them when he purchased the gift certificate. The salon is under no legal obligation to give you a refund or adjustment after the stated expiration date.