Why Can't I use an Apple Gift card to buy an ipad!?!

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Level 1

146 points

Why Can't I use an Apple Gift card to buy an ipad!?!

So, I received an apple gift card for graduation from college. It was $500 and I wanted to use to buy an iPad.

The person at the apple store said I was not allowed to use a gift card to pay for more than %50 of an iPad.

My question is...WHY? They got their money when someone purchased the gift card, what does it matter?

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this issue, or knows why this is apple's policy. It just doesn't seem to make sense to me.

2.4 GHz Aluminium Macbook, iBook G4, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Dec 2, 2010 1:05 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Michael Morgan1

Level 7

23,831 points

Dec 2, 2010 1:16 PM in response to cph2133

A. No one here would know or, if they did, would be allowed to discuss it here.

B. Raising issues about Apple policies is one fast way to get posts and threads removed from these forums. You can, should, research this on your own via the TOU accessed to your immediate right.

C. All of that said, sounds like total BS to me, and I'd be talking at least to a supervisor at the store you were trying to do business at.

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Answer 2

xlcf

Level 1

5 points

Dec 2, 2010 1:27 PM in response to cph2133

I feel really sorry for you and I hope that you can use 100% of the gift card to purchase the iPad -- make sure not to install 4.2 tho... What they are doing might be illegal, go back to the store and complain.

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Answer 3

Dec 2, 2010 3:03 PM in response to xlcf

@xlcf The OP never ask about 4.2 in his question. 4.2 works great. I ask my local Apple store and the sales person told me I could use a gift card for an ipad.

The OP should call and ask to speak to a manager.

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Answer 4

cph2133 Author

Level 1

146 points

Dec 2, 2010 5:16 PM in response to RevGilliam

I wasn't trying to stir anything up. I'm familiar with the TOU, I was sort of more asking, in a polite way, was this guy at the apple store just full of bull or what.

If others had the same issue, then it really is an apple policy (although I can't find anything about it on their website about limitations of apple gift cards.)

If no one has heard of this, then the guy at the store was just feeding me lines. Although I don't understand why he'd no against running a gift card as opposed to a credit card.

Anyhow, it appears this is a limited situation that no one else has ever heard of.

Thanks for the help guys.

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Answer 5

Chris CA

Level 10

82,440 points

Dec 2, 2010 5:26 PM in response to cph2133

My question is...WHY? They got their money when someone purchased the gift card, what does it matter?

What was the manager's response when you asked him "Why?"

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Answer 6

Dec 2, 2010 5:30 PM in response to cph2133

He thought you Looked sketchy and the card was bought with a stolen credit card?
That's why he wanted a partial cash payment.

Nothing illegal about it.

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Answer 7

Chris CA

Level 10

82,440 points

Dec 2, 2010 5:46 PM in response to Johnathan Burger

He thought you Looked sketchy and the card was bought with a stolen credit card?

so he would still accept half the stolen money?
😟

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Answer 8

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,707 points

Dec 2, 2010 5:56 PM in response to Chris CA

+"so he would still accept half the stolen money?"+

Perhaps in Ohio $250 is the cutoff from petty theft to grand theft.
😉

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Answer 9

Dec 2, 2010 10:30 PM in response to Chris CA

No, someone using a card bought with a stolen credit card would not have cash or want to use it.
The iPad would be purchased using the illegally obtained card, the purchaser would turn around and sell it-probably only getting around $200-$300 for it.

Not wanting to pony up the cash could be a sign of naughtiness.

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Answer 10

Chris CA

Level 10

82,440 points

Dec 2, 2010 11:18 PM in response to Johnathan Burger

That is a very, very big assumption.
Apple could simply check the gift card and see if the purchase of that card was valid. They would have to Do that anyway to verify the amount on it anyway.

Not wanting to pony up the cash could be a sign of naughtiness.

I have a gift card and want to use it so that is a sign of naughtiness?
If i got a gift card and could not use it, I would be beyond ticked off! It' s valid or it isn't.

Nothing here -> says anything about a limitation as the op describes.
-> http://store.apple.com/us/help/gifting?mco=MTM3NDgzMjA

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Answer 11

Dec 2, 2010 11:21 PM in response to Chris CA

I am raising a possibility of why the apple store did not accept the card.
I am not saying it IS the reason, just speculating.
My reasoning is based on 13 years of dealing with credit card,check fraud and gift card fraud.

Do you know for a fact they can check to see if the payment method of the card is legit?
What happens if it was purchased by check within the past 2 days?

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