Apple Gift Card not valid due to mismatched Serial IDs

I bought a card at CVS pharmacy

I am told that I need a receipt

If you have purchased a Apple Gift Card or App Store & iTunes Gift Card, you have received a receipt.

Contact CVS pharmacy and ask the receipt.

Anyone could say I have purchased a Apple Gift Card or App Store & iTunes Gift Card, but then there must be a receipt.

See this Apple article:  If you can't redeem your Apple Gift Card or App Store & iTunes Gift Card

If you can't redeem your Apple Gift Card or App Store & iTunes Gift Card - Apple Support

Beware of -> About Gift Card Scams -> About Gift Card Scams - Official Apple Support

I am now told to go back to CVS

Report to CVS that you cannot redeem the Apple Gift card and request a refund.

If you still need help, get more help and assistant from Apple directly, see Contact Apple for support and service -> Contact Apple for support and service – Apple Support (UK) 

or Click here for more support and assistance from Apple Support.

We are also users of Apple products & services like you.

but saw that my credit card balance has now been refunded by CVS.

👍 that is good news.

huge waste of time this has been

Secure with one click.

If you have a valid payment method on file, instead of buying or order an App Store & iTunes gift card, you can Add money to your Apple Account balance anytime, no gift card needed, see -> Apple Gift Card - Apple (UK)

That indeed IS good news. 😀

My own “takeaways” from your recent painful experience and my own recent purchase:

1) Get an “Activation Receipt” if at all possible. (these printed-out at the Publix after an approx 15 sec additional delay)

2) Ensure that ALL serial numbers “Match” before leaving the store.

Annotated photo below shows “papers” from my own recent Gift Card purchase.

(top to bottom):

• Purchase Receipt
• Activation Receipt
• Gift Card
• Gift Card Outer Wrap

For a better general understanding of your situation:

Was the tamper-evident seal (example image below) intact when your gift card was purchased ?

(i.e. did you pull the “green arrow” tab and remove the “center strip” of the seal yourself - leaving the other two “side” portions of the seal attached to the outer packaging?)

It is strange that CVS does not give you refund even though you have proof of payment.

CVS sold you the Apple Gift card , and they need to take responsibility.

Report to the police or an agency in your country.

We are also users of Apple products & services like you.

Interesting observations:

Just yesterday, I purchased 2x Apple gift cards at a Publix supermarket.

While using the self-checkout lane, the “assistance needed” light started flashing as soon as I scanned the 1st card.

The attendant needed to come over and personally verify that the tamper seals were intact before the transaction could proceed.

I also received 2x separate “activation receipts” in addition to the regular purchase receipt.

Walmart on the other hand had none of these safeguards in-place. (at least not last month)

Thanks for the reply. We can all appreciate the situation in which you find yourself.

Echoing Raicya’s post; it’s strange that CVS doesn’t make it right.

Did you possibly make the purchase w/ a credit card?

Exercising any protections available there might offer you some relief.

YES!!.. So I ain't the only one!... Lol! I have 3.. $100 and 1.. $500 cards. Plus 2.. $100 cards from just after TG. Same issue! Spent a good 4bhoursbon the phone with probably 5 different people at least. Best person was the gentleman that suggested to lay the 3.. $100 gift cards out at the same time and take a picture. At least Apple is aware of the problem now.

Happening to me now, Apple sending me to Rite Aid and RiteAid does not have the itemized receipt when it is Apple’s fault.