I have had a bad experience with a gift card and will never buy
By Hopefull90
@Hopefull90 (921)
United States
April 14, 2013 12:00pm CST
another one. I paid 25 dollars for a gift card but when my daughter went to use it it only had .64 left on it. They didn't even look at the code number you reveal by scratching off the cover so we think the girl who sold it to us was able to get the number some how and knowing how much we paid she bought just enough not to go over the amount. My daughter found the same thing happened with another gift card. She didn't have to scratch off the code number to use it. What experience have you had with gift cards. I know many people never use their card. There is a company that will buy back these cards from you for less than its value. Would you sell your card to them if you didn't want to buy anything from the store it was intended?
3 people like this
12 responses
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
14 Apr 13
I've not yet had any problems with using gift cards. Some thieves write down the card numbers and wait for them to be activated http://www.snopes.com/fraud/sales/giftcard.asp (not referral) . I also read that some people carry a scanner much like the ones used on credit cards.
1 person likes this
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
15 Apr 13
I put the amount on myself when I went through the check stand and that is why I knew how much was suppose to be on it. When she tried to use it only .64 cents was left. We think that maybe the clerk was able to get the number off the card and since she knew how much I put on it she was able to know how much to spend. There was a month or two between the time I bought it and my daughter used it so to look through all the store receipts for that number would be more than they wanted to do and since the card said, "No matter how we lost the money they would not refund us" they weren't going to spend the time on it. Another card she had for Fred Myers was able to go through without scratching off the code in the back. Now that I see how easy it is for someone else to use these cards I am not buying anymore.
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
15 Apr 13
I found that stores that have security cameras won't look through them just because you want to see what the cameras might have picked up if you had a crime committed against you. My sister had something happen to her or her car. I can't remember
just what it was but she wanted to store to look through their film but they wanted her to pay 500 dollars to do it.
@AmbiePam (92851)
• United States
17 Apr 13
I would be incensed. The only issue I've ever had with a gift card was one my mom had, and it didn't involve the store. She sent a gift card in a anniversary card to my sister and her husband. Only it never got there. Someone who worked in the post office slit the envelope open, then sealed it back, stealing the gift card. But if what happened to you happened to me, I would raise a fuss. I'd be calling the manager for sure. I'm sure you were very frustrated.
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
17 Apr 13
I did go to the manager so if anyone else complained they would be willing to look into it. The card said "No refunds" for any reason good or bad.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
15 Apr 13
I know one big mall in our country that offers gift cards. And I think that it has been increasingly acknowledged by a lot of people most especially during Christmas. However, I have not hear any news regarding a similar incident here in our country.
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
15 Apr 13
I bought two other cards from other stores and we had no trouble with them. I just think Alco's hired a crooked cashier.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
15 Apr 13
Over here you can pick out your own amount and they put it on a plastic card. Or there are some gift cards (paper ones) with an amount on it already (it's written on it). You can use them at the bookstore or the cinema for example. Annoying about the paper ones is you have to spend all the value at once, they don't give money back in return. Before they were only valid for 1 year or so. Now there is no end date on it anymore. The plastic ones you can't check if the amount on it really there. But if you use it and buy something cheaper you can keep the rest (on the card) and use it for an other time. It's also my experience that most people do not use that gift card or give it away to someone else, so actually it's a waste of money.
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
15 Apr 13
I read an article on how many gift cards are never used. It was a huge amount. It must be for two men I saw on "Shark Tank" to present buying back gift cards as a business.
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
15 Apr 13
I never had trouble with this store before. I am not buying anymore cards but will just give the person cash to spend where they like.
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
14 Apr 13
Oh my goodness, that's just terrible. What kind of gift card was it? Couldn't you call the toll free number and find out what transactions took place? I'd be fuming and wouldn't let it go so easily. I think it's just plain awful.
If I had a gift card from a store I didn't shop at, I'd sure find something to buy instead of losing the money on the card. If you can't find something for yourself, maybe you can buy a future present for someone for a Birthday or whatever. I wouldn't take less for it, but that's just me. 
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
14 Apr 13
It was for a variety store where one can get many different things. We go there all the time so I know the card would not go to waste. I think I remember getting something with a gift card that was really for someone else.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
14 Apr 13
Sorry to hear that you experienced twice the same scam. I heard people had filed complaints about gift cards they bought, they are not worth it, and if the company or store gone broke, you basically got nothing from the gift cards you purchased from them. So, considering it safe, to bought an authentic gift card from a reliable source rather than some random person.
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
14 Apr 13
The one card was O.K. but still the code had not been scratched off and she was still able to use it. The other store I have bought from before and they were O.K. so I think it was more of an unreliable clerk. I did put in a complaint so if it happens again I am sure they will be investigating but for now they can only think that my daughter used the card and forgot.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
14 Apr 13
Hopefull90
That is really frustrating! There is no remedy I guess except to complain. I wonder if some stores would take your word for it and give you credit????
Then too there are probably dishonest people who try to cheat the system.
Sorry this happened to you. I don't use cards..personally I rather give cash. That way the person isn't restricted.
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
14 Apr 13
I tried to get my money back but right on the card it says that no matter what you don't get your money back. They do give coupons worth more than 2 dollars off and on depending on how much I spend there and they give us 10% discount for senior days so I figure I will get my money back by shopping there instead of the stores that don't give discounts. Around Christmas they give a 10 dollars coupon if we spend more than 50 dollars which isn't hard to do since they are the only variety store in town.
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
15 Apr 13
I did put in a complaint so if any more complaints came in they would look into the matter otherwise they jut think that my daughter used the card and forgot.
@Raine38 (12250)
• United States
14 Apr 13
Wow, I never heard of this MO before. I rarely give and receive gift cards and the last one I bought for someone, I ended up not giving and I just used it instead in favor of another, more personalized gift. Anyway, won't the store that you got the card have some online transaction records of the gift card that can let you trace what happened to the balance? But then, I think for 25 dollars and all the hassle that you have to go through, I can understand why some people just wouldn't go through all the trouble.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
14 Apr 13
I used to use many of these in the usa. Never once ever had a single problem there. Sorry you have had.
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
14 Apr 13
This was the first time I had trouble. I am glad it wasn't as much as I usually put on a gift card.
