Sharper Image to take gift cards again

Perhaps there is some light in the gloomy economic world. Sharper Image, which has filed for Chapter 11, will begin to take gift cards again. There will be some restrictions on the way the cards can be used, but that is better than the previous option -- which was that they would be worthless.

According to the AP, "In a statement, the company explained that a customer holding a $25 gift card could only use it to buy at least $50 worth of items." So, the management at Sharper Image wants customers to put some cash into their purchases. This rules out shoppers who simply want to get goodies at a cost of $25 without putting anything into the struggling retailers bank account.

Christmas in March. Sort of.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.