Physical Gift Cards used in Online Purchase

jmayo033 wrote:

I recently used two physical gift cards to make a purchase on the Apple website under my Apple ID. THe purchase did not use the entire gift card balance. Upon order completion it stated my balance was XX amount of dollars. I tossed the physical gift cards…

Doesn't the unused balance go to my apple ID?

If you redeemed the Gift Card into your Apple ID, yes.

If you entered the codes for a specific purchase, no.

How does Apple not have the ability to check the balance of the card I entered on the website?

Probably to avoid getting inundated with lookup requests, but you'd have to ask Apple about that.

With the card, here is how to: Check your gift card balance - Apple Support