Win-Win: Gift Certificates Shouldn't Have Expiration Dates

I often receive gift certificates (above, an exemplar from a couple weeks ago) for finishing among the top three in my age group at various local 5k races.

Some certificates have expiration dates, some don't.

The other day it occurred to me that both merchant and recipient benefit if the certificate has no expiration date.

From the merchant's point of view, since there's no pressure to use it by whenever, it's more likely to be put aside somewhere or lost: that's money in the bank.

The possessor of an undated certificate is happier not to have to use it by a certain date.

Making it undated also obviates the sort of irritation I felt recently when I finally decided to use a Chick-Fil-A sandwich gift certificate I won last year only to be told when I presented it at the drive-up window that it had expired December 31, 2017.

Sad.