Amex statement credit--return/refund? any other options?

birdnw on 19/01/2017 - 11:28
Last edited 20/01/2017 - 15:27

Dear all,

We have registered 4 of our Amex Cards to the Harvey Norman (HN) statement credit offer back in Nov/Dec 2016. I paid for an iPhone 7 plus across the 4 cards in late December although they were out of stock at the time. At that time, staff from HN told me that it is likely that I will be able to pick it up towards mid-January. I gave HN a call yesterday and they told me that they are still unsure when they will have the phone in stock but hopefully before the end of January.
As I will be going overseas on 27/01/2017 and am planning to give the phone as a gift to a family member, I really need to pick up the phone before next Wed (as it’s going to be Australia day on Thursday). At this moment, I am not holding the hope high in getting an iPhone from HN by that time and am considering buying an iPhone 7 plus elsewhere. (I know that posting the item overseas is another option but I am very reluctant to do this as I don’t really trust services when posting something expensive)
Of course I would like to keep the Amex statement credit if possible (I have already received the statement credits on all the cards)… so I thought about asking to have this money to be refunded on visa prepaid cards (but I am unsure if this will be allowed?). Given that I don’t have anything else that I would like to buy from HN, I am reluctant to exchange the credit to HN gift cards (anyone has experience buying visa prepaid card using HN gift cards?).
Otherwise, I am thinking if I should just get a refund to my Amex Card and risk losing the statement credits (Has anyone return an items after getting the statement credits? Did Amex find out that you did not qualify for the statement credits after the refund?). I am also due to cancel one of the credit card account (we have two cards from this account) by February due to annual fee. Since I have used these cards to pay HN, I am hoping to sort this out before closing the account as I am worried HN will not give a refund if I no longer have these cards/cannot refund back to these cards.
I know I may be thinking too much but I am just not sure about what I should do. I am wondering if anyone can give me some suggestions/advice about this situation. Any ideas welcome… Thanks!

Update:
Called Harvey Norman today as I keep checking on their website. They have the phone in stock—problem solved :)

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Comments

  • yycan on 19/01/2017 - 11:34

    If the full amount is refunded back to Amex, then yes, Amex will take the credit back. If only partially refunded, I don't think they do.

    Perhaps it's better if you just close the account before requesting a refund? Sure HN would have to refund you even if you no longer have the cards?

    • birdnw on 19/01/2017 - 12:09

      Thanks! I will consider doing that :) but still wondering if there is any other ways to work around it :)

      • stickyfingers on 19/01/2017 - 12:13
        +1

        Just tell HN you don't have the card any more and get them to refund it elsewhere. After all it's their screw up.

      • holdenmg on 19/01/2017 - 12:21

        Some HN Stores do have physical stock of this Phone, can they swap stock between stores or give you some kind of authority to collect from a store with stock?

        • birdnw on 19/01/2017 - 12:42

          I went to a HN store before and asked one of their staff members to help me to check if any stores have the iPhone 7 plus in stock. They told me to check on their website. I have been checking on their webpage and it looks like there is no iPhone 7 plus in all HN stores across Aus at the moment.

        • holdenmg on 19/01/2017 - 12:47

          @birdnw: Where are you in Australia (your profile doesn't say).

          When I looked earlier, there was physical stock in some shops.
          e.g. Melbourne - QV or Knox
          Moore Park, Bondi or Auburn in NSW

        • birdnw on 19/01/2017 - 12:48
          +1

          @holdenmg:

          I live in Adelaide :)

        • holdenmg on 19/01/2017 - 12:50

          @birdnw: So do I.

          Anyhoo, it says Gepps Cross home maker centre, so maybe phone the store you ordered through and see if you can do a deal.

          This is stock of:
          http://www.harveynorman.com.au/apple-iphone-7-plus-256gb-jet…

          But, you don't want the order reversed or cancelled, they should be able to work something out

          Unit 1, 760 Main North Road, Gepps Cross, SA 5094 08 8342 8888

          Thursday night until 9PM :+)

          Oh, happy and safe travels. :+)

        • birdnw on 19/01/2017 - 12:52

          @holdenmg:

          Hi,
          I just checked again and I cannot find iPhone 7 plus in stock on their webpage? I think they may have iPhone 7 but not 7 plus? I actually ordered the item through Gepps Cross HN and just called them yesterday…

          I even called the City Cross store just to find out if they have stock in store and they said they don't have any iPhone 7 plus in Adelaide at the moment :(

        • ezzaf on 19/01/2017 - 12:55
          +1

          @birdnw:

          Gepps Cross is showing stock of the 256GB Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus on HN's website

        • holdenmg on 19/01/2017 - 12:56

          @birdnw:

          Well, maybe call them and say their Website says they have stock using the link:
          http://www.harveynorman.com.au/apple-iphone-7-plus-256gb-jet…
          Unless, there is some disconnect and they are out again. I'd be upset to go out there and find they were outta stock, it is miles from here.

        • birdnw on 20/01/2017 - 15:29
          +1

          @holdenmg:

          I called them yesterday and they had no stock in place. I called today and they have 1 in Adelaide!

          PROBLEM SOLVED— Thanks everyone :)

        • holdenmg on 20/01/2017 - 20:14

          @birdnw: Cool Bananas! The power of OzBargain. :+)

  • Maki on 19/01/2017 - 11:35

    They will cancel the credit if you refund, I had that once.

  • JimB on 19/01/2017 - 11:47
    +1

    Have you asked to refund the whole lot to another credit card?

    • birdnw on 19/01/2017 - 12:07

      It would be great if they will do that for me

      • 2jzzzz on 19/01/2017 - 15:27

        I have a Visa and Amex linked to same account. I buy on Amex and refund to Visa, the same people don't care what card it goes to as long as it goes back to a credit card. They just don't want to refund cash.

  • stickyfingers on 19/01/2017 - 12:14

    I doubt they'll let you purchase pre-paid Visa cards with a gift card, they wouldn't let me purchase iTunes cards with one. Pathetic considering it states on the back of the card that it should be "Treated like cash".

  • djkelly69 on 19/01/2017 - 13:14

    You could get lucky like me - I bought 2 x carports from this deal, plus a cheap USB drive to get over $300 in early December. Carport purchase was cancelled due to price error (duh).

    Purchase was refunded in two parts (first carports then the USB a couple of days later), but statement credit stayed on the account.

    But definitely try to get it refunded to a different card in the first instance.

  • mskeggs on 19/01/2017 - 13:22
    +9

    I'm sympathetic about you getting messed around, but you have really pushed the bargain envelope by claiming against multiple cards for an item that wasn't in stock that you (presumably) will also seek TRS for?
    Sometimes the extreme bargain fails, that is the price of extreme bargaining.
    I think trying maintain the statement credits when you do not end up purchasing an item from HN is, at the very least, unethical.
    If you got a refund in, e.g. prepaid VISA cards so your cashback was still honoured, you would have cost HN/Amex $300 where they have made zero profit, against the terms of their offer.
    Probably the best outcome would be to try and push to get the phone from another store before Wednesday.

    • birdnw on 19/01/2017 - 15:48

      Well, that's the outcome that I would like to achieve as well—getting the phone from HN.

      I had no intention to get a refund when I initially paid for the phone and it would make things a lot easier if I can just get the phone from them.

      After all, maybe I will still end up just getting a refund and buying an iPhone elsewhere next week. I would just like to get some ideas from others about this situation :)

  • jelko on 19/01/2017 - 13:52
    +2

    What a tangled web we weave…

  • Bab on 20/01/2017 - 09:10

    I had an order cancelled after receiving the Amex credit and the credit stayed with me.

  • Some Guy on 30/01/2017 - 11:39

    Under Armour refused to process a return to a different card. AmEx took back the shop small and online retail credits (from those November promotions).

    I suspect you'd have more luck instore.

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