Shoppers Find Wal-Mart Cards Not So Giving

[OhioChick]

Source: AP

Wal-Mart Blames Third-Party Verifier For Error
POSTED: 12:05 am EST December 27, 2007
UPDATED: 1:46 pm EST December 27, 2007


NEW YORK -- Shoppers who received the gift of a Wal-Mart gift card this holiday season may have trouble redeeming the cards.

That was the word Wednesday, as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's biggest retailer, said it is having problems with the processing of the cards.

Wal-Mart released a statement, saying that once it discovered the problem, it investigated and found that a "third-party verifier's systems had an inadvertent processing error." That error caused delays in the verification of gift cards, Wal-Mart said. "We are working with the supplier to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and we apologize for the inconvenience to our customers," the store said in the statement.

When reached for comment by The Associated Press, Wal-Mart said it could not provide any additional details on the matter. The company did not give a timetable for when the issue might be resolved.

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/money/14928611/detail.html

[ixion]

1. but I'll bet they didn't have a problem taking the money

they never do. Any big multi-national will very gleefully take your money. Good luck getting any services or products for that money, though.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

25. The company I work for gave each employee gift cards from

Walmart. Oof.

I was on the holiday party committee and tried to steer them from selecting Walfart (suggesting Target instead), but they went with what they did last year: Walfart.

It's been forever since I've stepped foot in a Walfart. I'll probably use the card online.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. I'm sure they'll have it all resolved...

just as soon as the after Christmas sales are over.

[Donnachaidh]

3. that's pretty much a given.

And they'll find a way to add surcharges so the cards won't be worth as much.

[maseman]

4. CNN Money

just said it is all resolved. I hate Wal-Mart so I wanted to see this escalate but it didn't. Rednecks burning down Wal_mart woul dbe funny.

[Trajan]

8. My extremist right wing brother ....

HATES Wal Mart more than anyone I know ....

[Acadia Blue]

13. And he is still RW? I thought the RW loved the cheap good and impoverished

workers.

[Blue Diadem]

5. There were problems on the 15th of Dec with card activations

I had a request for a gift card to Walmart, so DH and I went to get one. It was after I paid for it and was leaving the store that DH told me he'd overheard cashiers discussing their problem with card activation. He asked if the clerk had mentioned it me and I told him no..not one word.

I made sure to give the receipt to the gift card recipient and I made a copy of it too.

Arrgghh..

[Karenina]

6. Unredeemed cards=Profits.

[The Croquist]

17. They buy crap and sell crap

Why should we be surprised that the hired a crappy company to provide crappy gift cards.

[Acadia Blue]

14. You could give Target or KMart instead of thief mart wal mart.

[Blue Diadem]

22. I could but that's not what she wanted.

K-mart is 45 miles away.

Wally world isn't far from where she works. She'd have to travel 20 miles to get to Target.

[dysfunctional press]

23. why not just give cash?

i will never understand the allure of gift cards- i just don't get it.

i'd much rather get or give cash...that way there are no "strings attached" to the gift.

[Blue Diadem]

26. I think it depends on the person.

I tend to give what the people have mentioned to me or to other family members. In this particular case, she'd mentioned to my son that she'd like a gift card there.

The other gift card we gave was to a child clothing store for a 1 yr old grandson. Half of his gift was in toys, the other 1/2 was a gift card. His Mom, my DIL, is signed up at the shop to get extra discounts and notices for early special sales. We had done the same thing for him and his sister's birthdays. My DIL is able to take the gift card and along with the discounts, turn $25 or $50 into double or triple the amount in worth of good quality clothing. She may use them tomorrow, next week, next month or two months from now or buy one item this week and one item next month. One card is easier to keep track of instead of trying to keep $33 and change left from a purchase.

I and my DH often get gift cards. We use them towards larger purchases. This year it will be a smaller freezer we've been checking out. Last year our cards went toward a new TV.

My other son in prior years, requested gift cards to a place he uses for framing some of his collectibles. We couldn't possibly afford the $200-$300 for the frames but we have given him a gift card to be used towards one. That way, whenever he was ready, at least part of his purchase was covered and came from us.

Cash certainly can be fine if that's what the person wants, it's just not the way my family does it.

[dysfunctional press]

30. our family never does gift cards- we find them to be rude.

where cash is something that can be spent anywhere for anything, when you give someone a gift card, you are forcing them to shop in one particular place. cash is ALWAYS a more versatile gift than a gift card. it's amazing how many sheep there are that just love to obediently jump through the hoops that corporate america puts up for them. corporate america LOVES gift cards, because studies have shown that up to 40% of their value is NEVER used. which means that the people that buy them are often just making donations to the companies bottom line.

[Blue Diadem]

33. As I said, it depends on the person.

Yes, cash is easily used, too easily used sometimes and that's precisely why there are some in my family that prefer gift cards. Some people plan on what they'd like, utilize the card along with their own cash to purchase something they normally wouldn't be able to get.

For those who don't like them..don't give them. I certainly would never give one to someone who doesn't like them or doesn't use them.

I'd also never dream of telling people they're sheep. Our family openly communicates and I've given what people like and specifically ask for.

ie: This year when I discussed with one son what he would like, he asked if it was ok that we combine his Dec. birthday and Christmas to get something he wanted. I did, ordered it and he's very happy. If he had instead, asked me to get him another gift card for his framing, that's what I would have done.

[libodem]

7. I was with my son yesterday

and waited about 45 minutes for him to come tell me he couldn't get his ammunition from the sports counter with his card. (I went shooting with him at an indoor range yesterday for the first time ever)

[allisonthegreat]

9. Figures-I was the recipient of one of those cards n/t

[cornermouse]

10. Next year, give cash.

It spends too.

[Acadia Blue]

12. And they can spend it where they want

[unapatriciated]

15. I always give cash but for a different reason

If someone else chooses to support Wal-mart that's their choice not mine. I have never shopped there and never will.
This is what they get away with in the states-what they do in third world countries is slavery sometimes worse. I will not knowingly support it.

http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/05/01/usdom15797.htm

http://www.hrw.org/reports/2007/us0507/

[tularetom]

11. Nothing says "I care for you" like a gift card from fuckin wally world

[mnhtnbb]

16. How'd you get that cat to give Mal-Wart the finger?!

[AngryOldDem]

31. We received Wal-mart gift cards this year in lieu of a holiday cash gift...

I work at a nonprofit that underwent a disastrous upper-management change this year. Most people there are extremely socially conscious and would never shop at Wal-mart, for all the reasons you can list. So imagine the reactions of many when the executive director passed out $100 gift cards this year. Talk about being totally clueless about the people you are in charge of.

I heard that a lot of people went over to the administrative office and demanded that they get the cash in return for the gift card, and that management complied.

[JeanGrey]

40. Too BAD I didn't get one!!!! I ended up with one anyway when

Wal Mart Generously took back a gift Target refused to even give me a store credit on, the assholes.

[sarcasmo]

18. I hope they are investigated over this screw up.

Oh wait, so many politicians are bought and paid for by this Corporation.

[madmom]

19. I hate to bust up every bodies hate fest here but the problem was not with

Walmart gift cards it was with other peoples gift cards that are sold at Walmart, in fact the only card that would activate was the Walmart card. I work at Walmart and we knew of this well before xmas and stopped selling them. If the customers were not told of this it was because that individual didn't bother, we were told just a few hours after it happened to not sell any more!

[Blue Diadem]

20. So it was the restaurant cards and visa gift cards then?

This was the first time I'd seen gift cards for other businesses in with the Walmart cards.

Whew..I feel better knowing that. I'd hate to have my DIL have troubles when she uses it.

Thanks madmom.

[madmom]

21. Yes from what I understand it was the other "third party" cards. You are welcome.

[Hugin]

29. Then this story and the 114 others like it on a Google news search are all incorrect?

http://www.wbtv.com/news/topstories/12848687.html

:shrug:

[madmom]

35. I have no idea, I'm just relating what I was told about the "third party" gift cards.

[dysfunctional press]

24. what do people see in gift cards anyway?

i just don't understand the allure- why not give cash instead? go to the bank and get nice crisp new bills, and buy a nice greeting card to put them in, if you feel that it's important to show that you extended some effort in giving the gift...

i've seen reports that up to 40% of cards are never redeemed. and some lose value over time. and many can only be redeemed at one particular chain. too many strings to be attached to what's supposed to be a gift, not a hassle or a charitable donation to a retail chain(in the case of cards never redeemed).

[RamboLiberal]

27. Personally I'd rather get a gift card

A little gauche to give cash among non-familial adults, i.e. friends. I have a a ton of past Xmas gifts littering the closets that I've never used. At least with a gift card I'll get a good meal or something I really want or need.

But then because of a local grocery store promotion in my area that gets me .20 off every gallon in a tank of gas for every $50 I spend there including buying gift cards to restaurants & retail stores I buy them even for myself. That promotion has saved me around $300 in gas this year.

I also like the promotions - ususally restaurants - that give say a $5 free gift card for every $25 you buy. I buy them for myself and get at least a free or partially free meal from them.

[dysfunctional press]

28. why is cash "gauche", but a gift card in the exact same amount not?

"At least with a gift card I'll get a good meal or something I really want or need"

and you can't do that with cash?

i disagree with your premise ENTIRELY. at least with cash, I get to decide where it will be spent and how. with a gift card, you are forcing someone to shop in one particular store. i've had two gift cards that never got used, because in one case, the store went out of business before i could use the card, and the other was for a chain that had no stores anywhere near me.

as for the promotions you mention- i don't know where you live, but i've never seen any of them in this area.

[Blue Diadem]

34. That reminds me, DH got a coupon printed out with his receipt for $10 off a gift card.

He was able to purchase a $25 gift card at Meijer store for $15. We'll use it ourselves.

That's great your grocery store has that promotion.

[antigop]

32. OhioChick, I'm very curious...have you seen anything identifying the "third-party"?

Where/what/who is this "third-party" and where is the "processing" done?

[OhioChick]

36. I've Been Searching and Searching

and all that I can find is that their "third-party verification supplier" is responsible.
I have a feeling of where it's done.....will look more.

[antigop]

37. Hmm...maybe your suspicions are the same as mine? n/t

[OhioChick]

43. You Bet.

I can't find anything regarding this "third party."
If over 70% of their goods sold come from China.....I can imagine who this third party is.

[Dulcinea]

38. I love gift cards (but not from Wally World.)

I know some people don't like them or use all of them, but I always do! I usually request them from bookstores, Amazon, Target, or Old Navy for my kids. That way I can buy them clothes when they need them.

I'll take a gift card every time over something I don't like, won't use, & will end up returned or on eBay.

[JeanGrey]

39. Say what you want. I dispise Target and love Walmart. I got

a present once again from Target that I needed to take back and of course they REFUSED to even give me a store credit. It made me so mad I said "I'll take it to Wal Mart". I did they gave me the money back for it no questions asked.

[onager]

41. Almost as good as the Jelly Of The Month Club!

"Clark, that's the gift that keeps on giving all year!"

:rofl:

[Infinite Hope]

42. Shit happens. They'll fix the glitch and the cards will work.

No reason to assume conspiracy about everything. Obviously they'd never get away with such a scheme and would be forced to give customers the benefit of the doubt if the system wasn't fixable. However, it's fixable. Don't get bent out of shape when not merited - the functional equivalent of 'crying wolf.'

[humbled_opinion]

44. Standard gift exchange where I work n/t