View Full Version : Apple rip-off alert
Ok. If you're going to go the Mac route then read this carefully...
I wanted a Mac and my wife knew this so for birthdays and Christmasses she gave me Apple gift cards.
I found I had $1250 worth of gift cards in 7 cards so I went to buy a Mac.
They would only accept a maximum of 4 cards despite the fact they already have all the money.
I rang customer service and got nowhere. I have now filed a Better Business Bureau report against them. Naturally, this has left me with a very sour taste in my mouth and I have filed for a complete refund of all my gift cards. I can put the money toward several Windows systems for the same amount!
griptape
03-10-2008, 11:14 AM
Did you ask if you could buy a gift card with 4 of your gift cards?
Did you ask if you could buy a gift card with 4 of your gift cards?
If they're not going to play ball then I just want my money back and I'll keep supporting Bill Gates. This nonsense has put me right off Apple. Thanks for the suggestion - it is one I'd thought of.
Ray Schnoor
03-10-2008, 11:45 AM
From the Apple website:
"Can I use multiple gift cards when making a purchase?
Yes. You can use up to six cards when making a purchase at a retail Apple Store and up to four cards at the online Apple Store."
It doesn't seem unreasonable to me. Better than some kid showing up at the Apple store with 30 $10 gift cards to buy an iPod.
"Can I merge multiple Apple Gift Cards into a single Apple Gift Card?
Yes, you can do this at a retail Apple Store."
Buying 1 big gift card with 4 of your cards actually seems like a good idea.
"Can the Apple Gift Card be redeemed for cash?
No, except where required by the law of the state in which you reside."
And it may be your only course of action.
Ray.
I'll just wait for the result of my BBB complaint now.
I requested a complete refund of my gift cards.
This whole affair has put me right off Apple.
erichlund
03-10-2008, 01:13 PM
Rhys, you need to develop a thicker skin. Nobody at Apple is conjuring up plans to see how they can screw with Rhys today. There's a clear path around your problem. Just take the path.
Those of you who do the gift card thing should understand that the companies that issue them treat them as unsecured loans. What this means is, if the company goes bankrupt, they not only won't honor them, they cannot. Their secured creditors get priority and won't let them honor unsecured credit. Just ask anyone trying to use one now at Sharper Image.
SynterX
03-10-2008, 01:26 PM
Seems like a perfectly fair policy. Take the 6 cards in, get them combined into 1, then take the 7th one in with the new 1, and you are done. What's the big deal really? Sure it would be nice to not have to, but they set a policy, and that's it. To not buy a great computer because of this one thing sure seems really silly. Suffer through Windows forever because you couldn't use all your gift cards? Huh? Buy the mac and enjoy it.
They only take 4 cards online or via the phone. There is no Apple store in my state.
Rhys...I'm with you on this one!
The rest of you who are defending Apple on this ought to be ashamed of yourselves! Implying that a company's policy that takes your money and then doesn't give you goods and services in return is "reasonable" is a betrayal to every consumer...and it just encourages more bad corporate behavior. Some people may think there's nothing wrong with dubious gift card policies. But, most of them amount to little more than fraud.
There are several states that have taken action on gift card policies and there are a many, many lawsuits out there. There are even some criminal procedings. I would think that most of you would be siding with the consumer rather than with the professional rip-off artists on this one!
In New York we have a "Gift Card Law" that would make what Apple pulled in Rhys situation illegal. That alone should be enough to convince those siding with Apple that their actions are nothing short of criminal.
Apple is already facing class action lawsuits because they wouldn't let people use gift cards to purchase iPhones! Now tell me that's not f'ed up!
Really, there is nothing more anti-consumer than a company that takes your money and gives you a piece of plastic that you can't use. It is plain old robbery, plain and simple.
To me, the only ones who could possibly defend Apple's actions are either fanboys or stockholders! And, who cares how good the machine is if the company that you're buying it from is trying to rip you off? Deciding not to purchase an item because of bad customer service isn't "silly"...it happens to be a very valid reason not to purchase or do business with that company!
The gift cards are just representative of money given to the company (Apple). This ensures that the gift (money) is spent on an Apple product. Under no circumstances should there be a limit as to how many cards constitute a purchase. Someone mentioned a kid buying an ipod with 30 - $10 cards is a problem. Im sure they (Apple) accepted 30 - $10 bills with no objection. I would never buy anything but a Mac computer, but Im always at odds dealing with the company. They have really weird ideas involving the sales of their products. Good luck with your problem but think twice about not buying the Mac computer. A PC will give you more grief than the stupid problem that Apple has created here. Stick it out and take the right route and get a Mac.
BBPhoto
03-10-2008, 03:23 PM
Apple always touted themselves as a kinder, gentler and easier computer company. I went into the Apple super store in Chicago a few months ago looking for an Ipod touch and I was not impressed with the service. Sent me running to Bill Gates for a Zune in no time. We use several macs in the office and the service is always the pits on that level too.
David Metsky
03-10-2008, 03:37 PM
I sincerely doubt the BBB complaint is going to do anything. You're essentially complaining that they have a clear policy and they're sticking to it.
You don't like the policy, that's understandable. But they gave you a way around it. Unfortunately it's inconvenient for you to use the workaround, this is certainly a problem, but how far are you from an Apple Store?
This seems like a reasonable measure by Apple. The accounting rules and overhead for giftcards mean they aren't just like money. There's no reason that a company must treat them the same as cash and many reasons not to.
The fact is that there's a way to do exactly what you want, it just requires a little effort on your part. In no way is that a rip-off or a scam.
Well, not allowing me to have the goods already paid for is theft in my book. It's mutton dressed as lamb with Apple barely scraping through a loophole in the theft laws.
I'm quite happy to join a class action suit against Apple. In fact I'm interested in getting the money back from them now. No way would I now accept an Apple computer. I had thought the world of Apple but now that I find out that Apple seems so little different from the average street mugger, I want nothing to do with them.
tim11
03-10-2008, 04:23 PM
Whether you have 4 cards, 7 cards or 30 cards that means the money already earned by Apple. I can't comprehend the idea of 4 cards limitation... well... the only explanation is RIP OFF. I doubt your complaint will get too far though but good luck; Rhys.
WestCoast
03-10-2008, 04:36 PM
Apple always touted themselves as a kinder, gentler and easier computer company.
That's the image they sell: They're "different" because Steve Jobs wears a turtleneck and jeans, and he likes the environment and Bono. :rolleyes:
The truth is that Apple is out to make money, just like everybody else. But until Microsoft takes their heads out of their arses, I'll continue to buy their computers.
David Metsky
03-10-2008, 04:43 PM
Whether you have 4 cards, 7 cards or 30 cards that means the money already earned by Apple.
Actually, by accounting rules, that's debt already accrued by Apple. It's a funny game.
Opensourcer
03-10-2008, 04:47 PM
I never really trust what the salesmen are telling me. If you ever watched the "Glengarry Glen Ross" movie, you know what I'm talking about. I had one example just recently while looking for the Canon PowerShot A650 IS. When I realized they don't have it in stock, the salesman was of course trying to convince me that it has been replaced by another model, one of those that look like the SD1000 series (a totally different animal). I was aware he was either lying, or had no idea what he was talking about.
When you really need something confirmed, it's good to ask for some paperwork/document that confirms it. Another thing is to be polite even if you're angry because otherwise they'll find hundreds of reasons for not doing business with you. :cool:
tim11
03-10-2008, 04:52 PM
Actually, by accounting rules, that's debt already accrued by Apple. It's a funny game.
Heck David. From your last 2 posts I understand the whole picture clearer; I never thought that way. As an engineer, I was trained to think rationally not criminally :D. That should teach everyone to be more careful when dealing with gift cards.
griptape
03-10-2008, 04:59 PM
I sincerely doubt it's just an arbitrary policy made up just to piss people off. It's likely either a fraud prevention measure, a limitation of the software they use to process the cards, an accounting issue, or a combination of the three. If the worst thing that happens to you this week is you being inconvenienced by having to combine gift cards (and being too much of a cry baby to actually do it) then you're doing a whole lot better than most of the people in the world.
Opensourcer
03-10-2008, 05:49 PM
Actually, it's a good topic for a newspaper story... I'm sure they would prefer not to involve press. One unsatisfied customer can't change much on his or her own, but the public opinion is this thing that many companies are afraid of. :p
Actually, by accounting rules, that's debt already accrued by Apple. It's a funny game.But it's a game that they ALWAYS win. Someone buys a gift card today with today's dollars and it gets redeemed as tomorrow's dollars...which are almost 100% going to be worth less. Plus, they earn interest on the real cash that they took from you...and you earn nothing on the fake cash on your gift card. Add to that the fact the some gift cards expire and the criminals get to keep the money!
They can play all the accounting games they want regarding how they are represented/reflected on the company's books. But all that really maters is in the end for them is ROI and Net Revenue. And the ROI is for them is good. Bottom line...they win, you lose.
It's a wonder that anyone is dumb enough to buy them at all (no offense to your family, Rhys, but live and learn).
David Metsky
03-10-2008, 06:55 PM
But it's a game that they ALWAYS win. Someone buys a gift card today with today's dollars and it gets redeemed as tomorrow's dollars...which are almost 100% going to be worth less.
But in the meantime it shows up on the books as an unpaid debt. They can't recognize the revenue and trust me, that's important to a company. If you have lots of money out on gift cards it makes your balance sheets look bad.
And it's a bad news story because anyone reasonable who reads it would say "just follow the procedure to convert the cards into one card". It's really not a major hassle; no one is stealing money from anyone; it's just an inconvenience.
But in the meantime it shows up on the books as an unpaid debt. They can't recognize the revenue and trust me, that's important to a company. If you have lots of money out on gift cards it makes your balance sheets look bad.
And it's a bad news story because anyone reasonable who reads it would say "just follow the procedure to convert the cards into one card". It's really not a major hassle; no one is stealing money from anyone; it's just an inconvenience.But it still works out for them because:
1) People who redeem almost always over redeem...that is they take more real cash out of their pocket to acquire an item when using the card. The card only represents a portion of the outlay.
2) Millions of cards are NEVER redeemed or only partially redeemed. After the card expires, that money falls right to the bottom line.
Believe me, gift cards exist because they make untold millions for the companies that issue them. ;)
They are always a bad deal for the consumer...there's no getting around that.
timmciglobal
03-10-2008, 09:37 PM
I wouldn't say they are always a bad deal, it depends on the offer.
For example, Itunes Gift cards are a very neat "tool" in so far as you pay for the convience of limiting purchases. It also allows for "customization" of gifts.
Tim
cdifoto
03-10-2008, 09:43 PM
Boy am I disappointed. I thought this thread would be about stolen MacBook Airs on eBay.
I should have known, based on the author.
I wouldn't say they are always a bad deal, O.K....almost always. But, anything that ties up your cash while transferring your actual bearer instruments to someone else works against you. Period. Anyone who doesn't realize this could use a basic economics lesson.
For anyone who thinks they're such a good idea, how would feel about being paid with gift cards? ;)
Ray Schnoor
03-10-2008, 10:10 PM
But it still works out for them because:
1) People who redeem almost always over redeem...that is they take more real cash out of their pocket to acquire an item when using the card. The card only represents a portion of the outlay.
2) Millions of cards are NEVER redeemed or only partially redeemed. After the card expires, that money falls right to the bottom line.
Believe me, gift cards exist because they make untold millions for the companies that issue them. ;)
They are always a bad deal for the consumer...there's no getting around that.
1) Of course they are almost always over redeemed. If you know that someone wants something in particular as a gift, but you are unwilling or unable to afford this something, you can get a gift card where the giftee will most likely purchase said item. How is this a bad deal for the consumer? The only person that I have ever heard complain about receiving a gift card is Rhys, who wants to combine the 7 Apple Store gift cards he has been accruing for a couple of years. (In this case, gift cards may have been a bad idea for the consumer. Why hold onto gift cards for a couple of years instead of putting the money in the bank?)
2)I would never give a gift card to a person, unless the person specifically requested the gift card. If that person then forgets to use it, it's his problem.
With your logic, the company issuing the card is damned if it does(over redeem) and damned if it doesn't(partially redeem), because I know of no one who has ever redeemed a gift card for the exact amount.
Believe me, gift cards exist not only because they make money for the companies that issue them, but mainly because there is a very large demand for them by the consumer. If there were no demand, there would be no gift cards regardless how profitable they were. There is a demand because people think that they are more personal than giving cash.
Ray.
Opensourcer
03-10-2008, 10:16 PM
I can only add that the mail-in rebates work the same way. When you hear "mail-in rebate", the next word that should come to your mind is "avoid".
Ray Schnoor
03-10-2008, 10:21 PM
O.K....almost always. But, anything that ties up your cash while transferring your actual bearer instruments to someone else works against you. Period. Anyone who doesn't realize this could use a basic economics lesson.
This doesn't make any sense. Say I buy a gift instead of a gift card, how is my cash not tied up while the gift is sitting in my closet waiting to be given away? Either way, it is still a gift. Now if I were to buy a gift card to use on myself, I could see this argument meaning something. The only other way this argument makes sense, was if you were going to give a check as a gift. But then if the giftee "forgets" to cash it, it is still a bad deal for the consumer(receiver of the gift).
Ray.
This doesn't make any sense. Say I buy a gift instead of a gift card, how is my cash not tied up while the gift is sitting in my closet waiting to be given away? Either way, it is still a gift. Now if I were to buy a gift card to use on myself, I could see this argument meaning something. The only other way this argument makes sense, was if you were going to give a check as a gift. But then if the giftee "forgets" to cash it, it is still a bad deal for the consumer(receiver of the gift).
Ray.If you don't get the corporate "wealth transfer" feature of gift cards, then there's no more splanin' to be done.
Needlessly give away your money to corporate America if that's your goal in life! A noble cause indeed! Why do I care anyway? :D:D:D
BBPhoto
03-11-2008, 08:53 AM
That's the image they sell: They're "different" because Steve Jobs wears a turtleneck and jeans, and he likes the environment and Bono. :rolleyes:
The truth is that Apple is out to make money, just like everybody else. But until Microsoft takes their heads out of their arses, I'll continue to buy their computers.
Thanks Westy... I really needed the laugh today!
Well, I've written to Apple's CEO now.
Wow, infantile pedantic, sensationalism, ridiculous etc etc, a lot of thoughts come to mind in this thread, what a proud moment for the site, I'll refrain & instead in a real big Wayne's world voice say "wow dude.:D:D:D:D:D
griptape
03-11-2008, 03:22 PM
Well, I've written to Apple's CEO now.
I'm sure his secretary will be happy to "file" that for you.
I'm sure his secretary will be happy to "file" that for you.
As it's a registered letter, I doubt that will happen. Don't forget it's a business letter from my company.
David Metsky
03-11-2008, 03:55 PM
Please let us know what kind of response you get.
erichlund
03-11-2008, 04:27 PM
As it's a registered letter, I doubt that will happen. Don't forget it's a business letter from my company.
Wow, Rhys! You really do think that matters to the secretary of the CEO of a multi-Billion dollar company? The real question is will it even reach the secretary of the CEO, because the mail room will have carte blanche to sign for registered mail. In all likelihood, the mailroom will have been directed to filter mail to the CEO.
Let me make a prediction: Your letter will be redirected to customer service, where a response will be drafted by someone in the service pool, and it will be "signed" by a senior customer service person, possibly even with a fancy title. However, the "signer" may never actually read or even see the letter, as the signature will be created graphically from boilerplate. It will note, in the text, that it was redirected, in order that it may be given the attention that it deserves (I hope we all understand what that means).
However, it's quite possible that your letter, if it gives Apple a reasonable solution, will take that solution, if for no other reason than to make you go away and not bother them anymore. If it doesn't, they may offer you some reasonable solution, for the same reason.
erichlund
03-11-2008, 04:32 PM
One thing you have to understand: Apple doesn't really care. This is a company that, when a bunch of problems were noted on the customer service website about problems with the monitors of the machines where the computer is built into the monitor (I don't remember which Mac this is), they simply deleted those from the website and filtered new entries so that this "news" would not become a public problem.
Very rarely a letter does reach its intended recipient. I've had that happen a few times and usually the recipient has been a pleasant enough fellow. I've communicated with a few MDs (managing director) in Britain when their underlings have been particularly useless. I do recall having had a letter from the CEO of Canon US, signed by himself (not a rubber stamp) in response to some suggestions I made for improving the XT.
Most of the time letters are received by staff at the corporation rather than the intended recipient. Adding "personal" to the cover of the letter does frequently ensure that staff don't generally open it but leave it for the MD/CEO himself.
When letters are sent registered, more attention is paid to them because the company realises that the matter is more serious. More effort is usually made to find a resolution acceptable by both parties.
What a lot of people erroneously think is that letters get ignored. The fact cannot be further from the truth. Most letters - as long as they're not rude or obnoxious - get attention. Emails, I have the feeling, get deleted by spam filters and often those left get very cursory examination if they're not from known senders. It's a strangely popular misconception that postal mails get ignored. My dad used to complain that when something went wrong, he'd tell people to write a letter in about it and they'd say that letters would be binned without being read. Certainly in his organisation that was not true. I have not seen letters being ignored in big companies/organisations although small non-account companies tend to be bad that way. My last boss was bad for that but then we are talking about somebody that sold and used pirated software (hence I told him where he could stick his job).
Mark_48
03-11-2008, 05:14 PM
I fail to see the big deal being made out of all this. From Apples website on gift cards it states that multiple gift cards can be merged into one at a retail store - end of story. Oh crap, no retail stores listed in SC :eek:
Interestingly Rhys isn't the only one with too many cards...
http://consumerist.com/consumer/apple/apple-wont-sell-you-a-computer-because-youve-got-too-many-gift-cards-240959.php
http://consumerist.com/consumer/gift-cards/update-apple-will-sell-you-a-computer-if-youve-got-too-many-gift-cards-242734.php
Worse comes to worse, put'em out to ebay with the rest of the crowd..
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&catref=C6&from=R10&ftid=2&fcd=1&fstype=1&satitle=apple+gift+card&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1
Just looked at completed ebay sales for Apple gift cards. How does a $399 Apple gift card sell for $510 +$10s/h?
Looking at it closer the seller has 0 feedback....sumtin' fishy
Yup. Nearest store is about 6-hour drive (3 hours in each direction). At $3.10 a gallon and at 19mpg that's not a drive I'm making anytime soon!
This thread has been interesting if for no other reason than to alert people about giving gift cards. I fail to see any reason for objections from anyone here in your sending a registered letter. Whether it gets to Jobs or not is beside the point. The point is, you did your best to clarify a bad situation. There are so many know-it-alls here who dont know their elbow from their toe. Just ignore them and good luck in your efforts to deal with Jobs.
29 states...that's more than half for those who are math challenged, have passed gift card abuse laws. Doesn't that tell you all something? And just like every other rip off, from extraneous cell phone fees, to excess atm fees and bank fees, to creeping cable fees, once the government wakes up and acts, the purveyors of greed always find another loophole.
But like always, fat-assed lazy Americans are to blame for their own mess (which, amusingly, they don't even realize is a mess half the time). Now, I understand ignorance. And, I even understand stupidity (I mean look at all the SUVs on the road). What I don't understand are consumers who are anti consumer! :D:D:D
I fail to see any reason for objections from anyone here in your sending a registered letter. Whether it gets to Jobs or not is beside the point. The point is, you did your best to clarify a bad situation. There are so many know-it-alls here who dont know their elbow from their toe. Just ignore them and good luck in your efforts to deal with Jobs.I really think this is a case of prejudice...if it weren't Rhys who started the thread, there might have been a different reaction to it. I'm sorry to say that...but I think it's true...
It has sadly changed my opinion of some of the people here...
I really think this is a case of prejudice...if it weren't Rhys who started the thread, there might have been a different reaction to it. I'm sorry to say that...but I think it's true...
It has sadly changed my opinion of some of the people here...
Ach. I don't worry about the twonks on the 'net. There are just so many of them. Whenever a twonk turns up, I try to educate them in the right way. Sadly many are simply too far gone to appreciate the help though.
griptape
03-11-2008, 07:47 PM
I really think this is a case of prejudice...if it weren't Rhys who started the thread, there might have been a different reaction to it. I'm sorry to say that...but I think it's true...
It has sadly changed my opinion of some of the people here...
My opinion isn't based at all on a personal like or dislike of anyone. It's based on the fact that I've worked in retail for a very long time, and I understand their side of it.
Even a single exception made on a policy designed to prevent fraud opens up the flood gates of people who are ACTUALLY trying to commit fraud when you know you've made an exception, and then can claim you're discriminating against them when you won't make the same exception. Discrimination is something that a retailer can be held liable for. Following their policy that is openly accessible to the public isn't even in the gray area of illegal.
Rhys is of the opinion that his way is right and there is no other way to do things in this case, and the only satisfactory way to resolve it is if they give him CASH. Well guess what, if someone who wasn't as honest was trying to do the same thing, if they make an exception for him, they have to make an exception for the criminals too. I have no sympathy for someone who has been offered a solution and would rather make it harder on himself by not accepting that solution.
Opensourcer
03-11-2008, 11:03 PM
Hey Rhys, take a peek in here:
http://consumerist.com/consumer/gift-cards/update-apple-will-sell-you-a-computer-if-youve-got-too-many-gift-cards-242734.php
Seems like a solution to your problem. ;)
My opinion isn't based at all on a personal like or dislike of anyone. It's based on the fact that I've worked in retail for a very long time, and I understand their side of it.
Even a single exception made on a policy designed to prevent fraud opens up the flood gates of people who are ACTUALLY trying to commit fraud when you know you've made an exception, and then can claim you're discriminating against them when you won't make the same exception. Discrimination is something that a retailer can be held liable for. Following their policy that is openly accessible to the public isn't even in the gray area of illegal.
Rhys is of the opinion that his way is right and there is no other way to do things in this case, and the only satisfactory way to resolve it is if they give him CASH. Well guess what, if someone who wasn't as honest was trying to do the same thing, if they make an exception for him, they have to make an exception for the criminals too. I have no sympathy for someone who has been offered a solution and would rather make it harder on himself by not accepting that solution.I totally understand what you're saying, and companies surely have a right to protect themselves against fraud. But, what they loose to this type of fraud is nothing compared to what they lose in reputation by promoting policies that punish consumers, however silly you think those consumer demands are. Reputational risk is the greater threat...but small minded managers don't understand that. Consumer trust... however unreasonable you think that threshold of trust is...once lost is almost impossible to regain.
And 29 State Attorney's General and/or state legislatures did find many gift card practices/polices "illegal". Just because a company's policy is "openly accessible to the public" doesn't make it legit. That's simply fallacious logic...and sounds more like a cop out and apologist rationalization rather than a reasonable argument...no insult intended. ;)
cdifoto
03-12-2008, 03:17 AM
I say Rhys should buy up a bunch of iPods, 3-4 cards at a time, and sell them on eBay for more than retail. :D
It is a wake-up call about gift cards and the devious things companies can get up to once they have your cash. On a moral basis, what Apple is doing is completely immoral mind, when you discover that the CEO has apparently taken LSD on many occasions according to wikipedia, all becomes a little clearer.
Jobs may have taken LSD but he also has taken your money and given you nothing in return. Not too stupid to me.
Ray Schnoor
03-12-2008, 09:14 AM
Things also become a little clearer when you read "Jobs experimented with LSD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_jobs)" on Wikipedia and come away with
...when you discover that the CEO has apparently taken LSD on many occasions according to wikipedia...
Exaggerations like this may lead one to believe that some of your statements are not entirely true.
Ray.
David Metsky
03-12-2008, 09:21 AM
But, what they loose to this type of fraud is nothing compared to what they lose in reputation by promoting policies that punish consumers, however silly you think those consumer demands are.
Except very few reasonable people think this policy punishes anyone. Most people don't collect that many cards, and most people don't think it's very difficult to go to a store to combine cards. Yes, it's inconvenient for some, but it remains a reasonable restriction on gift cards.
I don't think there's anyone who would question that gift cards have restrictions that make them less ideal then cash. But consumers continue to find value with them and the merchants are well within their rights to put some restrictions on their use due to accounting, logistical, or fraud prevention reasons. Or simply because they can get away with it. I wish they didn't, but they can and they do. Feel free to protest, but the general public isn't that concerned, IMO.
SynterX
03-12-2008, 09:25 AM
I think it's a fair policy. Gift cards are intended to be just that, given as a gift in place of a product. I don't think they want people collecting them up. That said, I don't see how fraud factors in. How is someone going to scam gift cards? They either were activated at a store or whatnot, or they are empty. Collect 100, or 2, who cares?
That said, If I had that much money sitting on gift cards, I'd sure as heck find a way to use them! I'd make a road trip to an Apple store and get them combined. I'd chalk it up to a learning experience. Next time, I'd have people send me a generic Visa or MC gift card, not a specific one.
I don't see the BBB or legal action, or anything is going to help matters. The policy was public, not secret.
Has anyone bothered to compare Apples gift card policy to any other high-profile retailer? I would be surprised to see other stores not doing the same kind of thing.
Opensourcer
03-12-2008, 09:32 AM
On a moral basis, what Apple is doing is completely immoral mind, when you discover that the CEO has apparently taken LSD on many occasions according to wikipedia, all becomes a little clearer.Then I guess he's not very different from Bill Gates (http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/Bill.Gates.html), and others (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:OAC/List_of_people_who_have_taken_psychedelic_drugs).
Ray Schnoor
03-12-2008, 09:32 AM
Hey Rhys, take a peek in here:
http://consumerist.com/consumer/gift-cards/update-apple-will-sell-you-a-computer-if-youve-got-too-many-gift-cards-242734.php
Seems like a solution to your problem. ;)
...I don't see the BBB or legal action, or anything is going to help matters. The policy was public, not secret.
Has anyone bothered to compare Apples gift card policy to any other high-profile retailer? I would be surprised to see other stores not doing the same kind of thing.
In defense of Rhys, if you read some of the information on the link provided by Opensourcer, Apple's gift card policy may not have had this 6 card(phone) or 4 card(web) restriction when he started collecting the gift cards a few years ago.
Ray.
griptape
03-12-2008, 09:39 AM
Just as a by the way... go to wal-mart and try and use 7 gift cards in a single transaction. Guess what, YOU CAN'T. The register will stop at 6. However, you CAN buy one gift card with 6 of the cards. Don't believe me? Go try it. Then you can stop shopping at wal-mart AND use windows. Your life will be so much more convenient.
SynterX
03-12-2008, 09:56 AM
Wow, I wouldn't think of saving up gift cards over a few years, wouldn't even occur to me to do that. I don't know Rhys, I'm very new to these forums. But, I'd be ticked off too, just not sure I'd go down the "write a letter/BBB/attorney/mad beyond an hour" route. That's just me. I have an Apple store 1 hour away. 3 hours away is pushing it, but I'd go and do the combine into one deal just to be able to follow my original plan of buying a new computer. Only the road trip is stopping him from doing what he wants.
Apparently my problem has become quite a hot item: http://consumerist.com/366421/apple-still-wont-sell-you-a-computer-because-youve-got-too-many-gift-cards
SynterX
03-12-2008, 10:09 AM
I still think Rhys should buy the mac somehow. Using a windows pc for years over this is just not a fair tradeoff. File the complaints, raise a ruckus, but don't punish yourself any further.
griptape
03-12-2008, 10:13 AM
How is a 3 hour road trip so inconvenient for someone who likes taking pictures? Just make yourself a day of it and make it a good time. It's really only as bad of a situation as you decide to make it.
David Metsky
03-12-2008, 10:40 AM
Apparently my problem has become quite a hot item: http://consumerist.com/366421/apple-still-wont-sell-you-a-computer-because-youve-got-too-many-gift-cards
I'm not sure what your definition of "hot item" is, but this hasn't quite reached that point yet. :)
6 hours away from home is a bit of an impossibility. I have a 9 y/o at school that I have to drop off at 7:30AM and pick up at 2:45PM. I keep my trade to within 50 miles of home, not least because petrol is now $3.15 per gallon. Just the fuel to go to Charlotte and back would be something like $60 and then add parking (which can be expensive and hard to find in cities) and possibly road tolls as well.
No. Far better to follow the route I am. If worst comes to worst, it's probably cheaper to file a case in the small claims court than to go to Charlotte!
David Metsky
03-12-2008, 10:51 AM
I just re-read my last reply and I realized it sounded much harsher then I intended. I really do hope you come to a mutually agreeable solution to this situation.
griptape
03-12-2008, 11:13 AM
6 hours away from home is a bit of an impossibility. I have a 9 y/o at school that I have to drop off at 7:30AM and pick up at 2:45PM.
No. Far better to follow the route I am. If worst comes to worst, it's probably cheaper to file a case in the small claims court than to go to Charlotte!
Yeah, because a court case would certainly take less than 6 hours and $60. How silly of me. :rolleyes:
Opensourcer
03-12-2008, 11:14 AM
I'm not sure what your definition of "hot item" is, but this hasn't quite reached that point yet. :)LOL
That was a quick "patch" for their policy. I wonder what will Apple do next (rethink their whole policy?), and how will other companies react.
Maybe they'll try something like: "you can use one gift card a day". :D
One thing is certain... If anybody suggests gift cards again, I shall tell them what the problem with gift cards was this time. It's the first time I've ever been given gift cards.
Rhys -
I also sympathize with you. If they aren't associated with a person's name and you want help from a Californian, I'd be happy to help out.
That said; they're not an exception. Gift cards almost invariably work like that. Isn't it odd however; they probably give a full cash refund for an opened computer returned within 2 weeks. With a gift card - there's no loss to them. Obviously; they do it because they can. They also do it so they don't have to distinguish between purchased gift cards and those given for returned merchandise.
Gift cards make perfect and fair sense for returned goods. The merchant has already ordered restock, they now have to hassle with these opened goods, etc etc. Giving cash back adds to their loss. For that case; a no-cash-conversion gift card makes perfect sense.
Companies that also offer non-refundable gift cards for purchase know full well what a bad deal it is. It only makes sense for the gift originator if they want some control over the gift's content. It's like giving a MacDonald's card to a homeless person - you don't want them cashing it in for booze.
You should advise your wife about the drawbacks of using gift cards and just deal with it for this one.
EDIT: Another $.02 - the part about "only 4 cards" is BS for cases where there's no local store to cash it in.
I'm wondering if a written and polite appeal for an exception to this limitation would probably be the best course of action. If you get nowhere; one trick is to send it to the VP Marketing along with a list of magazines that you plan to send a factual history of your situation to. I did that once for a defective Jet Ski and got my full $8000 returned (included the purchase of the trailer). This after 1 year of repeated denials. Marketing execs think differently than the bean counters.
Opensourcer
03-12-2008, 04:19 PM
If you get nowhere; one trick is to send it to the VP Marketing along with a list of magazines that you plan to send a factual history of your situation to. I did that once for a defective Jet Ski and got my full $8000 returned (included the purchase of the trailer). This after 1 year of repeated denials. Marketing execs think differently than the bean counters.Oh, you mean the Ron Burley's approach (http://consumerist.com/366713/interview-with-ron-burley-customer-service-avenger).
Honestly, I'm skeptical about it, although in some cases, and maybe in this one too, it might work.
I certainly would avoid any brute-force solutions. Pressure - yes, but not war. I'd try to find the right person that would eventually help Rhys.
To Apple's credit, they read about my problem and took steps to fix it. I had my Macbook via FedEx this morning and a complimentary copy of Aperture too. Wow! I've just got my Macbook running and after trying it out with a game of chess, this is the second thing I've done on it.
To Apple's credit, they read about my problem and took steps to fix it. I had my Macbook via FedEx this morning and a complimentary copy of Aperture too. Wow! I've just got my Macbook running and after trying it out with a game of chess, this is the second thing I've done on it.How did they read about it? What "steps" did they take to fix it? :confused::confused::confused:
How did they read about it? What "steps" did they take to fix it? :confused::confused::confused:
They read about it on The Consumerist website and took a complete day to locate my phone number. They hunted but I don't think they're as used to tracing people as I am - I used to hunt debtors for the business run by a family friend. All they knew was that somebody called "rhys" had complained on the consumerist.
Anyway... they phoned me and we discussed the issue and they apologised profusely and they're doing several things:
1. They said they're going to work on the ordering system so that more than 4 cards can be used online.
2. They said they're going to have a word with the sales team to make sure they know that people can use more than 6 cards over the phone.
3. They sent me my Macbook and a complimentary copy of Aperture as compensation. Initially they were going to send an iPod Nano but as I didn't know what that was, they suggested a software solution - hence Aperture.
I've had several phonecalls from them and they seem genuinely concerned that all goes well.
Its nice to see the squeeky wheel still gets oiled in America. So much for the people still tryng to figure out their elbows from their toes. Well done Rhys.
erichlund
03-14-2008, 12:14 PM
Well, that's a lot better than they ever did for me. Glad everything worked out OK.
Mark_48
03-14-2008, 12:14 PM
Sometimes a little bad press on the internet gets things fixed. Glad to hear it worked out OK. Give a report on how the new toys are when you're up and running.
Hey how come you didn't get your picture on the consumerist site like Charlie did?????
Sometimes a little bad press on the internet gets things fixed. Glad to hear it worked out OK. Give a report on how the new toys are when you're up and running.
Hey how come you didn't get your picture on the consumerist site like Charlie did?????
Never sent one. I might if they ask me to.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.9 Copyright © 2012 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.