a greeting card having an audio message recording and playback device permits recording of personalized audio messages to be played upon opening of the greeting card . the recording device is operable in either a trial mode or a use mode . in the trial mode , which would be applicable when the card is displayed in a store , a potential purchaser may experience the functionality of the card by recording their own test message . the test message is played back initially for the potential purchaser but is not subsequently played back to be later heard by other potential purchasers . in the use mode , which the card may be switched to after purchase by removal of a trial mode panel from the greeting card , a user recorded message is played repeatedly upon subsequent openings of the card . the user recorded message may be followed by a prerecorded recording , such as a song . additional prerecorded messages , such as voice prompts with instructions for recording a message , may also be included .