As the number of shopping days remaining before Christmas ticks down, shoppers are being reminded to check the fine print when it comes to gift cards. It's good advice, for both those giving the cards as well as those receiving them.

Consumer groups are warning people to understand the terms and conditions of gift cards, including expiration dates and fees. Retailers' cards generally don't have fees, unlike those issued by the major credit card companies.

Educating consumers about the pros and cons of gift cards is appropriate, since an estimated 88 percent of Americans will buy gift cards with a total value exceeding $26 billion.

The convenience of gift cards is hard to dispute. When time and luck are both running out on finding that perfect present, the gift-card option is tempting. But consumers should also understand that when so many cards are lost or misplaced, they turn out to be not such a good deal for the recipient — while being a great deal for the retailer.

The value on lost cards and on partially redeemed cards amounted to about $8 billion last year. That might be one reason that the cards are so popular with big retailers — they represent major sales numbers for which a significant percentage is never exchanged for goods.

In addition to lost or misplaced cards, many people tend to leave an unspent balance on the cards they receive. A shopper might use a $25 gift card for a $21 purchase, but end up leaving a $4 value on the card. At that point, many people will discard or lose the card — and that's pure profit for the retailer. The expiration date accompanying many cards allows retailers to avoid never-ending obligations on their books, but it also means consumers have to pay attention to the fine print, or the cards will, at some point, become worthless.

Consumer Reports estimates that about one-quarter of all people receiving gift cards will not have used the card one year after they received them. Once a card has gone unused for so long, it might never be used. Again, it's pure profit for retailers and lost money for the gift giver and recipient.

So, as people learn more about the drawbacks of gift cards, they might want to spend a little more time trying to find that perfect gift this holiday season. After all, a well-chosen gift is more meaningful to the recipient than a gift card. Given the drawbacks of gift cards, a gift of cash might be a better option for the stumped shopper. At least it's less likely that the value of that gift will be lost, and it will never expire.

For a variety of reasons, gift cards have proliferated recently. But consumers would be wise to view them as a last resort.

All things considered, shoppers would be wise to try a little harder to find just the right gift. But if it can't be found and a gift card is given, it should be accompanied by a reminder on how to use it to extract its full value.