Q: We purchased a Red Lobster gift certificate card at Giant Eagle to send to our daughter in college at Pitt. She never received it and we tried tracking it down. We called Giant Eagle and Red Lobster in hopes of putting a stop on that card so no one else could use it. We kept our receipt from Giant Eagle and also called Red Lobster in Sharon. Red Lobster told us those are issued exclusively to Giant Eagle and they don't keep records for those cards. Are we out of luck?

JUDY MYLO, New Castle

A: It looks that way, Judy.

First things first. If you buy a gift certificate from Red Lobster, the rule according to its Web site is: "We can't replace it if it's lost or stolen."

That's the official rule, but the Red Lobster in Sharon told me that if a customer has the receipt for that gift certificate, they can and will track the number of that gift certificate and replace it. Without the receipt, you would be out of luck.

If you buy and lose that Red Lobster gift certificate purchased from Giant Eagle, even with the receipt, you are out of luck. Why? Giant Eagle's Dick Roberts said it's because it's a third-party gift card.

"Giant Eagle doesn't have the technological capacity to deactivate lost or stolen cards or to activate replacement cards of third-party retailers," said Mr. Roberts. "Giant Eagle would have to have access to the systems of each of the retailers in the program to make that feasible."

This lack of "technological capacity" wouldn't just apply to Red Lobster gift certificates, it would apply to any third-party gift certificates Giant Eagle sells -- Home Depot, Best Buy, Starbucks, all of them -- so it is wise for consumers to be aware. Giant Eagle told us they can't replace lost gift cards.

So why would anyone buy a third-party gift certificate from Giant Eagle?

Obviously, it is convenient to pick up a gift certificate while grocery shopping. It cuts out a trip, but there is a hidden perk here.

"If you purchase a gift certificate at Giant Eagle," said Mr. Roberts, "you get fuel perks. If you know you are going to buy a $300 television at Best Buy, you can buy yourself a gift certificate at Giant Eagle and get 60 cents off on your next fill-up at Get Go."

A nice perk, but if you take advantage of it, be careful with that gift certificate. If you lose it, with or without the receipt, it will not be replaced.