Gap Options Card

The Gap Options card, like other retailer-issued gift cards, has no fees and never expires. Unlike other retail cards, though, the Gap Options card can be used at all Gap-owned stores, including Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Piperlime. It can also be used for online purchases from these stores. The Gap Options card is sold in $10 to $200 denominations and can only be purchased online. If you would like a gift card that can be e-mailed or printed out, reviewers suggest looking at the Sears eGift Card (no purchase or shipping fees).

We found the best analysis of retail gift cards, in general, at Consumer Reports magazine, where retailer- and bank-issued cards are compared and discussed at length. The Federal Trade Commission discusses gift cards and the fine print to watch out for, though specific cards are not covered. CBS News, likewise, does not specifically talk about the Gap Options card but does recommend retail cards over bank cards due to the fees and expiration dates of the latter.