App Store + Gift Card

I received the response from the email I sent to Apple :

Apple wrote:
Hi **,

Thank you for contacting Apple about the App Store. We're so glad you're interested in this new offering. My name is Natalie and I am delighted to assist you today!

Due to tax laws and commerce restrictions for software in Canada, customers residing in Canada may only purchase games and applications using a credit card.

I'm sorry **, but you will not be able to purchase games or applications with store credit or an iTunes Gift Card in Canada.

If you have any other concerns surrounding this, feel free to include them in your reply and I'll do my best to assist you.

Again, I apologize for this disappointment **, I hope that you continue to enjoy the iTunes Store.

It has been my pleasure assisting you. If I can further assist you in any way, you can always reach me for support Sunday-Thursday from 6 a.m to 3 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated **. You may be receiving an Apple Customer Service survey email in 3 to 5 days. Please feel free to leave comments of your experience with my assistance. Take care and have an excellent day!

Yours Faithfully,

Natalie
iTunes Store Customer Support, CA

That is an absolute load. I don't remember this being a problem in January when I bought the iPod Touch Apps package - a software purchase not unlike the 2.0 upgrade. Nor was it a problem when I bought games for my iPod 5G. Suddenly now restrictions on selling software are preventing me from spending the money I already gave to Apple? It's crap.

Message was edited by: Moderator

Im having the same problem and I live in Canada, but listen to this, I even emailed personally to Apple asking if I can purchase upgrade 2.0 with a gift card which he replied yes. And now this happens. How brutal is this.

PS: Everyone please do what im doing and just email complaints and call and complain, its exactly what they deserve.

If apple could hear me!!! All I gotta say is thanks for putting me down 20$ because you cant even get decent employees. YOUR A JOKE!

You need to uninstall iTunes, this would not remove your songs, then you need to reinstall iTunes with the latest version. Then try it again then it will work.

this worked for you? who gave you this solution?

Uninstalling and then reinstalling is not the issue - do any of the above posts lead you to believe this is a software problem?

cristowall 39, i did the exact same freaking thing!!! but in EVERY OTHER COUNTRY (as far as i have found) you can use itunes cards and itunes store credits!!! how much is the canadian dollar worth now? cuz if it's still more than the american dollar, im going to explode with rage!!!

no man, its not a software problem, we all have itunes 7.7 , its just that in canada, we HAVE to use a credit card.... man, i really hope apple reads this...sigh... going to see if i can wire money there manually by talking to someone.

Have you requested a refund for your gift card by going through the iTunes --> Accounts --> Purchase History --> Report a Problem route?

I just had the same problem... bought a $30 gift card thru itunes, wanted to use that buy apps, then find out I can't use the gift card in Canada. I called iphone support, talked to a guy who said he'd talk to someone in the itunes department. I explained I bought it for the sole purpose of applications and that I feel like I wasted my money. He was able to get them to refund my $30 back onto my visa I bought the gift card with, even though I had already added the code to my account (I hadn't spent any of it, if that matters...)

So, if you want try calling them up and asking for a refund, it worked for me!

I can beat that screwed up policy! Here in Mexico, iTunes has NO music! You go to iTunes and only App store appears!! iTunes WITHOUT music (without tunes).

Apparently Carlos Slim (richest man in the world and owner of Telcel-Apple chosen iPhone provider in Mex)already has an online music store, so Apple CAN'T sell music here!!

It is not Apple's fault. It is a draconic requirement by the Canadian government so they can track what software is used by their citizens. The Canadian law makes our Millennium Digital Copyright law positively a free use law.

no, it is not just Canada. I'm having the same problem in Mexico. Both my gift card and credit card are being rejected. My only hope at the moment is to get a credit card from a Mexican bank.

romad wrote:
It is not Apple's fault. It is a draconic requirement by the Canadian government so they can track what software is used by their citizens. The Canadian law makes our Millennium Digital Copyright law positively a free use law.

That is not true. Canadians can buy software products with cash. Whether or not software is bought with an ITunes gift card or cash, the ITunes account could be tracked back to an individual much easier than cash could be. I have never heard of Amazon giving people a hard time about using gift cards for buying software.