Tell that to Walmart. They won't honor my gift cards any more.
The big print says they never expire. The fine print says that after 24 months, they take out $1 per month as a "handling fee."
I bought several gift cards in relatively small amounts - $10-$15 - as gifts for the nieces and nephews several years ago. Before I'd given them all away, we moved, twice. It's a long story, but much of our "stuff" stayed in storage longer than we'd anticipated, and the gift cards ended up among the things in storage.
When I found them again, they were worthless, and Walmart refuses to refund the balance that should be on them, even though they have gotten the use of the money on the cards for over three years now.
If you think only Wal-Mart does that you are wrong and you better get ready to boycott a whole slew of stores.