After Arlene Vinson's favorite boutique in her hometown of Brea, Calif., went out of business a few years ago, her husband Norman--perplexed about what to give her for Christmas--decided that about 20 of the $50 bank-issued gift cards sold at their neighborhood mall would be the ideal gift; she could redeem them at any store in the shopping center. But nearly six months later, when Arlene tried to buy a $20.50 blouse with $2.50 in cash plus a gift card with $18 of unspent credit, the sales clerk said it couldn't be done, citing a fine-print rule on the back of...
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