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If you use Amazon, I've found that the several mall GC's I've ever had work there. You can buy an Amazon gift code for the exact amount left, right down to the penny. Then input the gift code into your account and it stays there as a credit. Never expires, no limitations on how it is spent. And not nearly as embarrassing as going back to the mall and having it not work again.
Really, thanks for the info. I'd never know to even check. How did you find out about this?
I'm trying to buy an Amazon gift card (hope that's the same as gift code). But at the point when I pay, there's only choices for credit card OR an Amazon.com card. Plus, what would I put for expiration date? I'm fiddling around trying to see if anything works. How do I pay w/ a mall GC?
Last edited by Forever Blue; 04-10-2017 at 09:57 AM..
Really, thanks for the info. I'd never know to even check. How did you find out about this?
I don't remember exactly, but the person explaining it to me said the GCs are Visa or Mastercard or Amex branded and the retailer/mall has their name put their name on the card hoping that the recipients will be reminded to use the card at their mall. But the card is actually good wherever Visa/MC/Amex is accepted.
Put the GC in your cart. Then when you go to the pay page where it asks you to choose a payment method it gives you an option to add a credit/debit card. Just put in the card number there.
Darn, I can't remember what to put in the exp date if there is none on the card. Try leaving it blank? Shoot wish I could remember the details.
Now I didn't have to go this far, but another person I told this to even said to inform them that if this situation's not rectified, to tell them that the media/newspapers will be told. Yeah, that will give them a good scare into fixing things!
You must have been having a bad day otherwise, because I truly see no reason to be so up in arms about this.
Regarding the mall GC I suspect you were told correctly and the employee was simply not trained. Unlike the store GCs, the "generic" Visa, mall, etc. GCs are rather inconvenient since you do need to know the exact amount and the cashier needs to put that exact amount as payment. Because it's not a store GC, the store can't know the balance and they also can't request full payment if balance does not cover it - the whole thing will be just returned.
We sometimes get rebates as such cards and then I usually go to Target and ask them to put N $ on that card and the rest on my CC. (I try to spend the whole amount in full at once.) I've done it many times, however, last time, just like in your case, the cashier claimed they can't do that. But I insisted it was possible, so another person stepped in and it indeed went through.
It totally sucks when this happens but hardly worth it alerting the media. Going forward, I'd ask for a manager at the store when there is a GC problem and just stay away from "generic" GC in future. You might want to call the store that did not accept mall GC and politely raise a concern. Maybe you'll get a discount or at least an apology.
Also for such complaints the state attorney general's consumer protection division is a better channel than media. But I do agree with others that this particular case is just not worth it. There was no intention to defraud you, I believe, it's just an unfortunate incident.
Gift cards are scams. The stores get easy profit when card holders never get around to or are blocked from spending the balance. Then they get more profit as the balances are automatically reduced, which you may eventually find in the fine print. Sometimes a chain will continue selling cards as they close stores and leave customers holding empty plastic.
Yeah well, this time, I didn't have that much less on it, so I wasn't out too much money, but still out of something. I still haven't had a chance to go back to the mall & see if it works at another store yet.
A cashier got caught and fired for scamming gift card holders.
If they used a gift card where she had to enter the amount still available after a purchase, she credited the cardholder with half the actual amount and added the other half onto a gift card she had for herself.
Right after Christmas many gift cards came thru her check out line.
She ripped off many people before being caught and fired.
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