*Nightmare with Australia Post Online Store* Bought an eBay Gift Card from Australia Post with $0 Balance

egodrip on 27/09/2019 - 00:03

So around two months ago now I purchased a $100 eBay Gift Card from the Australia Post Online Store as Cashrewards were running a promotional 5% cashback on gift card purchases.

After around 3 weeks of waiting after the gift card had been marked as shipped, and I'd received an email confirming so, I contact Australia Post to sort it out. As there weren't any tracking events associated with the tracking number I had been provided, they told me they would send a replacement.

One and a half months later, after contacting them three times to remind them to resend the card, the eBay card in question finally arrived.

However, I just tried to use the card and I got an error message telling me there was no balance left on the card. The physical gift card I received was packaged in its original form and the metallic strip at the back of the card covering the 'Redemption Code' was entirely unaltered. I double-checked the balance at ebay.com.au/ebaygiftcard but that also confirmed the card had a $0 balance.

I'm aware that, most likely, this is the result of some brute force code generator scam, but it also makes me lose quite a bit of trust in Australia Post.

How should I go about this? And has anybody else had a similar issue?

Should I contact both Australia Post and eBay and see who offers the better solution?

Financial Gift Card

Related Stores

Australia Post
Australia Post

Comments

  • Hybroid on 27/09/2019 - 00:06
    +11

    I'm aware that, most likely, this is the result of some brute force code generator scam

    Or, more likely, it wasn't activated on dispatch. Contact the vendor you bought it from (AusPost) and raise a case to resolve. Nothing to do with eBay, they didn't sell you it.

    • whooah1979 on 27/09/2019 - 05:15

      Ebay didn't sell the item to op, but they may still be able to help with their MBG.

      Op, open a SNAD and follow the instructions to get a refund.

    • websterp on 27/09/2019 - 07:29
      +3

      ^ This is exactly what happened.

      There is no point taking this up with eBay as it is not their fault to start with. The person who packed your order(gift card) didn't follow process and activate the card before it was shipped. Any gift card that is not activated by the seller is just a piece of plastic no matter what the face value is.

      This is the reason behind shops and supermarkets displaying hundreds of gift cards out in the open without the fear of being stolen. Unless the card is scanned, paid and activated at the checkout it has no use to anyone.

      So you should contact Auspost and explain what might have happened and they will be able to assist you for sure.

  • screensaver on 27/09/2019 - 00:25
    +2

    Australia Post helped me on their facebook page

  • screensaver on 27/09/2019 - 00:30
    +3

    No need to mention the discount, this was an everyday purchase from their online store

  • profar on 27/09/2019 - 07:35

    II’ve had cards activated with receipts and after scratching the pin 0 balance .

    So there are other reasons in play as well .

  • rdhupar on 27/09/2019 - 08:33
    +7

    They are not activated. Contact Aus Post to activate them.

  • videoman on 27/09/2019 - 08:53
    +5

    Yeah you need to call Australia Post to activate them. My cards came with a piece of paper explaining that you need to call them first.

    • profar on 30/10/2019 - 19:46

      Love the two comments above to call them to activate them . Done still some are not activated and Aust Post say contact Ebay cards services that are a night mare to deal with . Eg from Aust Post have 20 cards of which 19 were active and one not after the phone call .

      Final result after activation( Woolies receipt at register and Aust Post phone call) around 1 in 300 will have no balance !

      After discounts of 5-10% and the monster 18.6% ( even though egift cards aren't the problem) the physical cards mathematically are still worth it .

  • Coal Fact0R on 04/12/2019 - 15:54
    +1

    From the description:
    Please note: For your protection, gift card orders $200 and over in total are required to be activated once you have received your order. Call 1800 331 794 between 8.30am-5pm AEST, Monday-Friday to activate your gift cards.

    I called the number and the girl over the phone was clueless at first and she told me to call back the same number again, lol. I insisted her to do the right thing and her manager came over and he finally activated all the gift cards. Takes 24 hours to activate.

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