Alamo Car Rental $500 Alamo Gift Card only wrth $230!!! Dallas, Texas

I paid $500 for an Alamo gift card to give to my sister.  One month later she found she would not get to travel so she gave it to me. 

I reserved a truck online for a weekend in Dallas.  When I checked in, the counter clerk informed me that the value of the gift card that I had just paid $500 for was only worth $230.  When I asked her why, she replied, "because that is the way it is".

When I returned home and contacted the corporate office to ask for a better explanation, their answer was "because that is the way it is."  They are merged with National Car Rental so neither of those companies will ever get my business in the future!