Gift cards, elec. appl. cords

Why are gift cards, which are purchased with cash, subject to a charge =

for purchase and lose value when not used in a certain time period? =

Also, long cords on appliances were considered unsafe soooo.....now =

they're so short they don't reach the outlet and WE NEED TO PURCHASE =

EXTENSION CORDS TO USE THEM. Is this a help to the consumer? I =

don't think so! Anna Davis, Hatfield PA