God, people, it's not fraud. It was the will of the U.S. Court of Bankruptcy. They put the measure in place to protect the company from the influx of customers that *did* flood into the stores to burn up their gift cards and merchandise certificates, fearing the company would go under. Ironically, it was precisely because they feared the company would go under, that it went under. But that's beside the point. The bankruptcy court wanted to ensure that the Sharper Image would be capable of repaying its debtors, which would not happen if products (assets) flew off the shelves hand over fist without so much as a single dollar coming back into the company, the plan being that fresh income coming into the company helps pull the company out of Chapter 11, and therefore return to business as usual. The masses, however, are idiotic sheep and ultimately screwed themselves out of their store credit by getting pissy, waving their hands in the air and stating they'd never return. THAT helped them get their money's worth out of the cards, didn't it? Ultimately, the situation sucks out loud, but it is not fraud. It's court ruling.

As for the customer saying the manager was "internally told," that's complete bull. There was *NO* internal announcement until the company was sold and Hilco started the liquidation process. There were rumors spread between the stores and from some of the higher ups, but that's all, rumor. This article is total, one-sided garbage, rumor in and of iself and nothing more. Makes me sick.