in pa, the value can not be less than what you paid for it. Which is why they did away with the "if you dont use your gift card in 1 year we start deducting $1 for every month its inactive" a few years ago
but, 2 years after the exp date, it has to (is supposed to) be turned over as unclaimed property.
""Under Pennsylvania law, unused gift certificates are turned over to the Pennsylvania Department of the Treasury as unclaimed property. The business must turn the gift certificate over two years after expiration date. If there is no expiration date, then it must be turned over five years from the date of issuance. You may claim certificates from the Department of the Treasury by calling 1-800-222-2046. Thus far, The Pennsylvania state treasury has collected more than $2.7 million in unredeemed gift certificates and is currently seeking the rightful owners.""