Report: Best, worst gift cards for 2015

Personal finance website ranks top 10 and worst 5 retail gift cards.

Gift cards remain the top requested gift for eight consecutive years, reports personal finance website GOBankingRates.com.

In a new report, the finance website surveyed gift card options from 30 major retailers — using 10 factors — to rank the 10 best and five worst retail gift cards for 2015.

“Gift cards can make it much easier to get through your holiday shopping list, but our study shows that not all gift cards are winners,” said Elyssa Kirkham, lead reporter on the GOBankingRates study, in a release. “The best gift cards stood out by offering a convenient and cheap way to give with features like free shipping or the option to send a gift card digitally. Some retailers even reward customers who buy and use their gift cards.”

GOBankingRates.com considered criteria including purchase fees, expiration dates, reward options, balance requirements, and shipping options in creating the ranking list, according to a press release.

Best Gift Cards of 2015:

  1. Nordstrom
  2. Amazon
  3. Walmart
  4. Starbucks
  5. Lowe's
  6. Macy's
  7. JCPenney
  8. Target
  9. Toys"R"Us
  10. Best Buy

Worst Gift Cards of 2015:

  1. MasterCard
  2. American Express
  3. Ikea
  4. eBay
  5. H&M

Full study findings are available online.

About the Author