Bought a DJs Gift Card but Its Listed as Something Else on Their System

LVelour on 14/01/2019 - 17:39

Hello fellow OzBargainers,

I've been a long time member and have come across a tricky problem which i'd like to request the collective wisdom of other fellow OzBargainers for help on.

  • I bought a $50 Gift card in September at DJs to take advantage of the Vogue Fashion night bonus.
  • Gift card was paid on Amex card and could not have been purchased on any other card
  • Tried using the gift card last week and was shown as 'invalid' at the registers
  • Was referred to the gift card customer service team and provided proof of purchase by using my credit card statement and an investigation began
  • Gift card representatives checked their end of the system for proof of purchase and could not find proof that I purchased the gift card (despite showing on my credit card statement)
  • Instead, the gift card representative found an exact match for a purchase (date, and cost of the purchase, and store) however it did not show up as a gift card purchase, but a purchase of a "designer handbag" at $50.
  • The Amex card is seldom used was not used for any other purchase aside from the David Jones gift card
  • Representative requested for a receipt as proof of purchase which I was unable to provide (this may not even help my case considering that its showing my purchase as a handbag which I did not purchase)

Any thoughts on this will be greatly appreciated. The fact that my purchase is showing up on their system makes it bag makes it difficult to argue that I bought something otherwise, but i'd like to ask what options I may have available to recover my funds spend on the gift card.

Financial Gift Card

Related Stores

David Jones
David Jones

Comments

  • HighAndDry on 14/01/2019 - 17:47

    Instead, the gift card representative found an exact match for a purchase (date, and cost of the purchase, and store) however it did not show up as a gift card purchase, but a purchase of a "designer handbag" at $50.

    Uh. Yeah that's going to be an issue. A few options, but honestly none of them with much chance imo:

    1. If you have any messages/correspondence/etc with anyone else around that time about the gift card (e.g. a text to a friend saying "Sorry, running late, just getting a gift card from DJs" etc)
    2. CCTV footage, but seeing as this is from September last year…. don't like your chances;
    3. If the bag is a fairly rare design, maybe ask DJs to do a stocktake or (more likely since, again, this was in Sept), ask them to check their stocktake results and see if they have one more in stock than their system shows;
    4. Honestly this might be your best shot - talk to Amex and see if they're willing to help - Amex very often sides with their customer, but in this case even they might balk at doing anything.
  • Ace Ventura on 14/01/2019 - 17:48

    I have no clue, nor evidence, anecdotally or otherwise, but all I can think is that a sales person has gotten themselves a new handbag knowing it wouldn't be brought to light until the gift card was used.

    • HighAndDry on 14/01/2019 - 17:51
      +2

      That'd be pretty brazen, since the receipt that the salesperson must've handed to OP would show "designer bag" instead of "gift card", plus any CCTV footage would still show them taking a bag from the backroom without paying for it, since the receipt is in OP's name and not the salesperson's…

      • Ace Ventura on 14/01/2019 - 18:07
        +1

        Yeah it would be, I haven't really thought it through, may not be possible, just the first thing that came to me. Many staff members would know the cctv is unlikely to be viewed until there is an issues, the timeframe here would give a perp good chances of the cctv being deleted and recorded over.

  • original15 on 14/01/2019 - 17:58
    +2

    What happens if they scan the gift card at the register now? Does it scan as gift card or handbag?

    • kerfuffle on 14/01/2019 - 20:00
      +1

      Gift card and you don't scan it (if it has a barcode) until it's time to load the funds onto it. Unless you do a manual sale using the generic department and what they call track, no designer bag (dept 5131 for stuff like your Chloe and Mansur Gavriel) will be sold for $50.

      Source: ex-DJs staff

  • Rukiata on 14/01/2019 - 17:59
    +1

    chargeback never got the handbag

    • HighAndDry on 14/01/2019 - 18:16

      Yeah, with Amex OP might even have a shot, but…. considering this was an in-person purchase (I'm assuming, otherwise OP would have an email trail of the transaction/receipt), trying to argue "I know I paid, and got a receipt, but honest I never actually got the bag when I bought it!" will be hard.

      Problem is, the truth of "I got a receipt for the bag but I actually bought a gift card" is going to sound even more incredible to anyone not OP (or us I guess).

  • loulou1 on 14/01/2019 - 18:17
    +2

    A designer handbag for $50??? Perhaps that transaction was towards a layby or something?
    Is it possible that the $50 was put toward a layby of a handbag (either accidentally or on purpose by the clerk) and no receipt was ever given to you?

  • holdenmg on 14/01/2019 - 18:40

    What did AMEX say?

  • Velour on 14/01/2019 - 19:56
    +7

    Hi everyone, thanks for your input in this it's greatly appreciated. I just finished calling AMEX about this matter and they said they will handle the investigation after I provide them with a few pieces of information to get everything going. I'm not sure of how long it may take for an outcome but I will keep everyone posted on the results of the investigation.

    As a semi-parting summary, I hope that everyone who reads this maintains caution on buying gift cards in store. While it's always a good idea to keep a receipt handy, certain situations like this sometimes may not always help your case. It's probably best to double triple check your receipts before leaving the register (if you could help it). Nobody will think you're being OCD, you're just making sure you get what you paid for (as a true Ozbargainer does!)

    • HighAndDry on 14/01/2019 - 20:22

      It's probably best to double triple check your receipts before leaving the register

      Couldn't agree more. I don't think I'm OCD (or just don't know it) but I almost always do this because I always pay by card and that's pretty much the only way to make sure you've been charged the right amount.

  • SmiTTy on 14/01/2019 - 20:46

    Which DJs? Are you allowed to name them.. Just so we can be more cautious esp at that shop of course.

    • kerfuffle on 14/01/2019 - 20:49
      +1

      Elizabeth Street. Previous comments from the OP indicate they're a Sydneysider, unless they went to Bourke Street Mall while the promo was on. It won't be any other DJs as Market Street doesn't do designer handbags and the rest don't participate.

      • Velour on 14/01/2019 - 20:59

        Correct it was Elizabeth Street however knowing this shouldn't exclude you from being wary of the other stores. It's always good to be vigilant with your purchases (as I have learned the hard way)

        • kerfuffle on 14/01/2019 - 21:01

          Yeah, always check during these promos, especially if you're doing split payment on multiple Amexes; very easy to stuff up the transaction if the sales assistant isn't careful and not many (I do, but I don't work there any more so can't help with any investigating) know how to reverse it

  • chumlee on 14/01/2019 - 21:46
    +2

    Gift card shows as hand bag. That pretty much sums up DJ's IT systems

  • Velour on 19/01/2019 - 21:36
    +5

    Hi everyone,

    Just wanted to give you all an update on how everything went. David Jones came back and said they’ve had a “processing error” on their end (take what you will from this) and have given me a replacement gift card. Case closed !

    • holdenmg on 21/01/2019 - 03:57

      Oh, good result. :+)

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