Invalid Apple Gift Cards from Woolworths

coast666 on 12/11/2021 - 21:03
Last edited 12/11/2021 - 21:13 by 1 other user

Hi there,

Not sure if it is the right place to post here. My recent experience with Woolies. On Mon afternoon, I bought 5 apple gift cards on store, then went home and tried to redeem it, then it shows "the code is invalid. Then returned back to store for explanation, was told had to wait for 48 hrs for activation. It is my first time to buy apple gift cards, so I waited and waited, then Wed night, I tried it with same error messages.

Called Apple also with forwards and backwards message, then on Thur am, was told by Apple that cards were voided that time and that's why I can not activate it, and asked me to go back to store for activation (the receipt says 'activation was successful' in fact).

So I caught train and returned back to store on that afternoon again, it was raining also. Then one staff was very rude, and just ignored me, and won't listen and stated store can only activate cards not voided it etc. Anyway, I put complaints via online this morning, was reassured by customer agent someone's investigating soon and would get to me shortly, but until now, no response from them at all.

I have been losing money since this dispute - I am doing computer work, so need cards to buy new apple product, because of this delay, product is out of stock at the moment and won't be available after 3 weeks, I got migraine while dealing this nuisance also.

General Discussion Apple Gift Card

Related Stores

Woolworths
Woolworths

Comments

  • MrsWise on 12/11/2021 - 21:07

    Did you buy them with a stolen credit card?

    • coast666 on 12/11/2021 - 21:07

      of course not, i use my credit card

  • Schema on 12/11/2021 - 21:11
    -1

    Okay, so what's your question?

    • coast666 on 12/11/2021 - 21:14

      i dont know, probably just let people aware this while buying cards from them and how poor service they are doing. For me, i just want to have cards activated asap

  • Yummy on 12/11/2021 - 21:18
    -1

    Called Apple also with forwards and backwards message
    So i caught train
    it was raining also
    I have been losing money since this dispute
    i got migraine while dealing this nuisance also

    Where's Wally?

    • dust on 13/11/2021 - 08:19
      +1

      What?

  • enwar on 12/11/2021 - 21:24
    -2

    Sucks to to be you right now

  • Neoika on 12/11/2021 - 21:28

    the receipt says 'activation was successful'

    I think only Apple can sort it out. I had 2-3 times failed exp over the many years and just re-activated cards instore.

    • coast666 on 12/11/2021 - 21:32

      my case was investigated by senior officer from apple, they said there is nothing apple can do for it, and i have to go back to store for solution.

  • nubzy on 12/11/2021 - 21:32

    I bought one $50 card from Woolies on Monday and the money was taken, but activation failed. Had to go to service desk to sort it out and they activated it there. Hope I don't have this issue when I go to use it later..

    • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 08:27

      mine is 500$ in total, so it's a big money

  • Iwantthebestprice on 12/11/2021 - 22:21

    Seems to be an isolated issue maybe? On Monday I bought 5x$500 vouchers for the iPhone 13 all activated no problem, went back on Tuesday and bought 9x$500 for the macbook pro and again worked no issue. If I can buy over $10K of Apple gift cards with no issues, my question is, what did you do wrong?

    • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 08:26
      +1

      my question what did they do wrong? Apple also suspicious about this activation activity also

    • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 08:28

      also, do you think it is right, staff just refused to listen to me, and turned me away when trying to explain to her (one female staff, also put complaints form into manager)

      • Iwantthebestprice on 13/11/2021 - 16:59

        No I think its very wrong and the same thing has been happening to coles cards with Google play transactions it happened to me for $50 and it's annoying and took weeks of follow up to get a refund. Good luck

  • WookieMonster on 12/11/2021 - 22:25
    +2

    You’re not the only person who has faced this issue recently (albeit at a different supermarket).

    Woolworths is the business that sold you the gift card, so you should try to sort it out with Woolworths. Having said that, the store you bought it from won’t really be able to help you, as their hands are relatively tied in terms of gift card sales. The only issue the store can resolve in terms of gift card sales is if the small receipt said “activation failed”. You can argue as much as you want with the staff, but their POS systems have been designed so that they cannot do a lot in regards to gift card sales.

    You’re going to have to continue arguing/liaising with Woolworths customer support and hopefully they can eventually get to the bottom of it.

    If all else fails, you could try Fair Trading? I mean, you’ve paid for Apple gift cards from Woolworths, but Woolworths (or Apple or another party along the way) has stuffed up.

    • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 08:30
      +1

      thanks, i have reported my case to apple, woolie customer service, government fraud site, hopefully it will solve it ASAP

  • WreckTangle on 12/11/2021 - 23:14

    Take the cards and receipts to an Apple store

    • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 08:31
      +1

      i talked to apple online, a senior offiicer called, and there is nothing to do with them, have to go back to where i purchase i was told..

  • kyle on 12/11/2021 - 23:33

    I've had mobile phone recharges (Coles) and Google Play cards (Woolies) not working before.

  • holdenmg on 13/11/2021 - 01:57
    +2

    Is a Chargeback a solution to this?

    Take Card with Purchased Apple Cards and Receipt to Bank and say this just didn't work…

    • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 08:31

      Thanks, i will give bank a call to see what they can do for me

  • CodeXD on 13/11/2021 - 08:44

    Are all 5 gift cards showing as invalid?

    • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 08:45

      yeah, bought same time

  • perhaps on 13/11/2021 - 08:44
    -1

    Had this happen once before with an iTunes card, went back and got them to swap the card over for a new one, reactivate and it worked fine.

    • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 08:45

      lucky you, mine is was abused by staff and just won't listen and turned me away

      • perhaps on 13/11/2021 - 08:58
        -1

        Have you shown the staff the "invalid code" that comes on the apple payment page? Maybe you could try a different store, but in my case I was pretty sure apple couldn't help me either as the card's weren't actually authenticated or verified at the point of sale or there was some sort of issue with the transaction from the vendors side so therefore apple couldn't do anything.

        • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 09:12

          i tried to show them, just they refused to see it, just won't listen, do you think it is good customer service ?

          • holdenmg on 13/11/2021 - 09:15
            +1

            @coast666: Ask for the Store Manager. Be civil and ask them for a solution. Write down the date and time and their name if you need to go to the Bank to proceed further.

            • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 09:24

              @holdenmg: i did, i report to wooli customer service both on phone/ email, about that particupar staff, and asked the issue to be escalate to manager and regional manager yesterday, but until now i didn't receive any update back.

              I was very pissed off that time, was raining day, my hands were full with umbrella, phone, cards, receipts, laptop then standing there for nearly half an hour. On the way to home, train was out of service…

              • Yola on 13/11/2021 - 10:36
                +4

                @coast666: You keep mentioning irrelevant things such as rain, train etc. If you speak to them the way you are telling us I could understand them losing patience. When you speak to people try to keep to the point. They are not interested in your problems. Keep to the point, make it simple and be polite but persistent.

                • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 10:50

                  @Yola: You didnt read probably, first it is frustrating situation. Second, i tried explain,but they refused to listen

              • carderor on 27/12/2021 - 10:44

                @coast666: Do you have woolies customer service email
                i have the same issue with a $200 Ikea gift card

  • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 08:47

    that's why i said it's fraud

  • Blue Suby on 13/11/2021 - 10:30
    +2

    Is it the 'new' Apple card that is paper not plastic? I tried to scan the packet (came up invalid) until I realised the code is sealed inside. (disclaimer-OK I'm old and it was the first time I used the paper ones.)

    • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 10:47

      I am not sure, never purchase apple cards before. The seal just needs to be peeled off , no need to scratch

      • Iwantthebestprice on 14/11/2021 - 00:22

        Correct , you get the card, peel of the sticker which no one can replicate and insert the code… what the hell did you do wrong?

  • thatonethere on 13/11/2021 - 11:55
    -1

    I don't really understand why when you have a credit card you need to go to a physical shop to buy iTunes cards on a credit card, wait 48 hrs then buy something with the card.

    Just stay at home and buy whatever using your credit card direct from the store.

    • WookieMonster on 13/11/2021 - 11:59
      +1

      There was an in-store only bonus points offer where OP would earn 20x Everyday Rewards points for every dollar spent on Apple gift cards at Woolworths (which is equivalent to 10% of the gift card’s value returned to them in the form of Everyday Rewards points).

      • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 12:24

        Yeah, that's the reason I went there, but don't realize it gives me so much trouble this time, first buy experience also

    • Iwantthebestprice on 14/11/2021 - 00:23

      Wait 48 hours lol this never happens all my cards activated within 5 mins of leaving the store

  • TheTinMan on 13/11/2021 - 12:06
    +1

    I had an interesting experience with Coles:

    Went to buy 5 $500 iTunes cards at promo time
    Told me I could have only 3 per day
    Paid for three and received three cards, the other were put back by the staff
    1 out of three was activated - 2 were not
    I looked at the receipt and matched the bar code with receipt codes to determine that only 1 matched
    Apple and Coles pointed the finger at each other
    Eventually put to Coles that they had processed three cards, and given me the two unprocessed cards
    Thank goodness for CCTV as it proved me correct
    A lot of messing around to get the end result

    Did you try to buy more than 5 Cards OP ?

    • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 12:21

      At least in your case, staff is willing to check, but for mine, won't listen and won't check receipts.or cards, just turned me and tried to argue with me ….Mine was 100x 5 cards

  • coast666 on 13/11/2021 - 12:25

    Latest news, just receved a call from store manager, apologizing what that particular staff did to me, but cards still under investigation

    • carderor on 27/12/2021 - 10:45

      Did they give you a refund?
      How did you manage to sort this mess out
      I have the same issue with $200 IKEA gift card from woolworths, have paid a visit to them more than a few times last week and they keep saying Manager is not available come back later.

      • Yola on 28/12/2021 - 08:52

        You need to email the Manager and HO. Do not let them fob you off. The longer it takes to present your issue the more difficult to resolve as people forget what happened.

  • carderor on 28/12/2021 - 22:13

    Got it sorted out at IKEA, they let me use that card instore.

    • coast666 on 28/12/2021 - 22:17

      sorry, just saw the message, that's good, it took me 3 weeks to let wollie sort it out, it was stressful and frustrating experience.

  • carderor on 28/12/2021 - 22:21

    yeah I was lucky the dude at ikea was just really nice and humble.
    But yeah Woolies Manager was so freakin Rude…I have not words to express.
    If that is the kinda attitude gets into Managers Post at Woolies I am dissapointed.
    Lesson learnt do not buy gift cards.

    • Yola on 29/12/2021 - 14:49
      +1

      I have used hundreds of GC. Use them for all my supermarket shopping and more. Only once I had a problem where someone had used the card and substituted a spend one. Coles financial services accepted my word and refunded 5 x $100 cards. Do not cut off your nose to spite your face.

  • carderor on 28/12/2021 - 22:23

    Thanks to everyone on this board for helping out.
    Highly Appreciated!
    Have a awesome NEW YEARS everybody!

    • coast666 on 28/12/2021 - 22:27

      thanks for sharing, happy new year, lesson, no gift cards for me in the future

  • ck009 on 01/06/2023 - 11:27

    @coast666 I am in the same boat now….bought Apple GCs from Woolworths and 3 of them didn't work….Apple told me those cards are voided and asked to get a refund from Woolworths but Woolworths are saying since the activation is successful, they can't do anything further….can you give me any tips on how you got Woolworths to refund you and what approach you took….

  • coast666 on 01/06/2023 - 22:22

    Hi there, i remembered it took me around 3- 4 weeks to get it sort out. It was stressful, as you mentioned contacted Wollie, they said nothing to do with him, apple also etc. Then i think Apple solved the problem … After this, won't interest in buying any gift cards… Good luck with that.

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