$61 worth of fuckery

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Because I was even more half-asleep than usual this morning, I forgot to pack a bottle of soda with my lunch. So I had to buy one at the swamp before going on lunch.

I selected my Coke Zero and took my place in line behind a woman buying $61 and change worth of stuff.

For payment, she hauled out three of those Visa gift cards we all love so very much. She handed them to the cashier, explaining one of them had $50 left on it, but she didn't know which one.

Cashier runs the first card through for $50. Declined.
Cashier runs the second card through for $50. Declined. I couldn't move to another line because there was somebody behind me by now, the other lines were longer, and even the service desk people were busy with other people.
Cashier runs the third card through for $50. Declined.

Customer goes into her purse to dig momentarily for another card, but then ultimately decides to pay cash--and whips out a big honkin' wad of bills, with at three hundreds on top and many twenties further in the stack. Money handed to cashier, change given, bag taken, and then I can finally buy my Coke Zero--and get to lunch several minutes late. ><

[Mr Hero]

Sad thing is this kind of fuckery isn't exclusive to your store. I get guests all the time that give me different cards until one doesn't decline.

[bankworking]

Those gift cards are so annoying. We'll get people who come in and buy 20-30 of them at a time. Fortunately we updated our system to make selling them in bulk easier (we used to have to key in the buyer's information on each one separately),but it still takes forever.

I don't get why they're considered such a great gift. Whenever I get one, I go out of my way to use the whole thing in a single purchase, usually groceries, just so I can get rid of the thing. Why pay three bucks to give someone what's basically cash?

[Dreamstalker]

Only thing I can think of is some people don't trust a recipient with that much cash? Or gift cards are easier/somehow 'safer' to mail (they might as well be cash in that sense though, with the 'not replaceable if lost or stolen' disclaimer; I've had some people mail me gift cards which got yoinked before reaching me...). I daresay it would be better if the recipient had to fully activate them...but then that would require them thinking.

A cashier I was helping out last night got a lady who had one of our store gift cards, and had no idea how much was on it. When he ran it, there was something like 80 cents...had she brought another method of payment? Nope. For a $45-something grocery order. Apparently since '$50' was printed on the card, that's how much should be on there all the time (where does one get these magic endless gift cards, and can I have some?)

Snarl, rant, rave, manager gets called and I get snagged by another cashier so didn't get to see the fallout (except that she left with no food).

[Pixilated]

I can give you one reason why people give gift cards: because they don't know what else to give. And this is not necessarily the result of laziness or disinterest. My nearly-80 mother no longer wants "stuff." She does not use scented soaps, perfumes, jewellery, etc. She no longer reads. She does not go to the movies. In fact, she no longer drives so does not leave the house unless somebody else (her home support worker or a neighbour) is driving ... and she rarely goes anywhere even with her friends anymore. Long-distance calling cards? She does not call any of us (we are all long-distance). She no longer works on any hobbies (crocheting, etc.) Buying her clothing only results in another trip to return it because it's not what she "always" wears (uh, mom, they don't even MAKE some of that stuff anymore). The stuff that she does wear – mostly inexpensive sweats – she has tons of.

So I used to get her gift cards for "her" supermarket, figuring if nothing else I could help her get some groceries, maybe stuff she normally wouldn't buy. Last Christmas she opened it and said, "Oh, I don't shop there anymore."

*sigh*

She said her home support worker always goes to Really Cheap Supermarket instead (which she's apparently not too happy about). I pointed out that if she gives HSW the gift card to More Expensive Supermarket, she has to go there. Don't think I got through, though ...

And I have no idea WTF I am going to get her this Christmas.

[Kristev]

Have you thought of some music?

[depechemodefan]

One day I was in the express lane in Wal-Fart. There was some people behind me and I was next in line when I saw a Wal-fart employee with an item and a gift card. I felt bad for him, because I figure he might be on break and to wait in a long line would suck, so I let him go in front of me (latter on I thought that it might have made the people behind me made-no one said anything though). Of course, there was some fuckery with that gift card. It took more than 5 min. to fix what ever problem it was though

[MoonCat]

I buy those to use online with Amazon and a couple of jewelry-supply companies because they don't take PayPal. I don't have a credit card and if one of these card numbers gets pirated, the thief won't be able to use it--or if they are, I won't be out a lot of money (I usually buy cards for $50 or less). But I also go online to confirm the amount left on my card before I try to use it anywhere.

[Gravekeeper]

Hah, I had someone try to do this with me this week with a couple of prepaid Mastercards. It was a first for me. Also, its impossible to do for us. We're not a corner store so we can't just divvy stuff up. ;p

[the lawsmeister]

.


Cashier runs the first card through for $50. Declined.
Cashier runs the second card through for $50. Declined. I couldn't move to another line because there was somebody behind me by now, the other lines were longer, and even the service desk people were busy with other people.
Cashier runs the third card through for $50. Declined.

How much do you want to bet that all 3 cards went back in the purse so she can annoy people in another line one day by trying them again.

[blas]

For the life of me, my parents practically refuse to give me gift cards for Christmas (save for Kwik Trip ones) or my bday because they aren't "thoughtful" enough.

Well, it saves you the headache of trying to guess my size (or having to ask me, which gives me hints you're buying me clothes, which is all I seem to ever want to buy), which colors does she like, is that her style?

I love gift cards. Unfortunately, my parents refuse to accept them as gifts, and tell me I am not allowed to buy them gift cards. So I have to spend forever trying to pry the living hell out of them what they want for Christmas, firstly, then I have to spend forever and a day looking for what they want, if I can even get it out of them.

[TawnyMyst]

In the past few years my parents have taken to saying they have everything they need for Christmas. So what I have taken to doing as my gift to them is find a charity that we both agree with and making a donation in their name and sending the tax receipt to them along with a card. For example, my Dad is a volunteer fire fighter, so this year the charity I chose for him is my local cities fire fighter association's children charity. In previous years it's been breast cancer research, parkinson's research, the policeman's ball, etc.

[Syriilord]

How much do you want to bet that all 3 cards went back in the purse so she can annoy people in another line one day by trying them again.

Sorry, I don't make bets unless there's at least some chance of me winning

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

How much do you want to bet that all 3 cards went back in the purse so she can annoy people in another line one day by trying them again.

I'm almost certain they did. I know they didn't get left with the cashier.

[Pojodan]

Just a couple days ago I was browsing for an aisle to check out in at the grochery store. When I found one with only one person in line and no items left in their cart, I started to move to put my items on the belt, but then I noticed the person ahead of me was whipping out a stack of gift cards.

When me and the two people ahead of me in the next aisle over were done, the gift card person was still standing there.