I Tried to Purchase an iPhone 14 Pro with Gift Cards, Now I'm Really Sad

Lwesternpacificcabby on 13/12/2022 - 14:35
Last edited 21/12/2022 - 02:14 by 1 other user

Initially, I purchased an iPhone 14 Pro from Apple, the ETA was 20th of December, and this was around Black Friday. I thought that was a long wait, so I looked around. I found out that JB Hi-Fi could fulfill my order much earlier. So I cancelled my Apple order.

At the same time, I found out that I could procure JB Hi-Fi gift cards at a 5% discounted rate through Union Shopper. Hell Ye, I thought. So, I spent the next few days setting up Union Shopper and buying the gift cards.

It's now early December, I've got the gift cards, hurray. I make the purchase, express delivery with Toll, an ETA of 8th of December. I'm so smart, so savvy, so wise, I thought.

It's 8th of December, no news…

Today, I get a phone call. JB Hi-Fi will be refunding my order. There's no stock anywhere, and they don't know when they will have more. I'm now stuck with $2k in JB dollars and no phone :(.

I know I can wait, but it just makes me sad, should have just gone with Apple, it would have been close, but likely would have arrived before Christmas.

Yours sincerely,
Sad person

Update: I was able to get the iPhone before Christmas and before Apple's initial eta. As some have suggested in the comments. I decided to look around and directly call a jb branch that had my model in stock. I ended up contacting one in Wagga Wagga, where a fantastic store bloke (sorry, I dont remember his name) manually sent me a link to a custom cart that allowed the phone to be directly shipped from their store. Ozbargain for the win muahahaha, newest and bestest foreverrrrrrrrrr, even as we head into a recession.

Mobile Apple Mobile Phone

Related Stores

JB Hi-Fi
JB Hi-Fi

Comments

  • Hybroid on 13/12/2022 - 14:44
    +1

    Try another colour or storage configuration if you don't want to wait. I can see some in stock across NSW at Macarthur or Mount Druitt stores.

  • HairyChickens on 13/12/2022 - 14:45
    +1

    Not sure where you're located and which colour/storage you are after but there is quite a few around Sydney with a delivery ETA of 15th Dec.

  • MS Paint on 13/12/2022 - 14:46
    +5

    @brendanm

    TRIGGER WARNING

    • brendanm on 13/12/2022 - 17:20
      +5

      Aaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhhh!!!! I think another gift card horror story might send me over the edge.

      • MS Paint on 13/12/2022 - 18:13
        +6

        Stay strong. Just remember the breathing techniques we discussed.

      • Kiro on 15/12/2022 - 10:13

        i once had a gift card, i used all bar $2.24c.

        couldn't cash out, couldn't purchase anything as everything was more then the value left on the card. i keep forgetting it every time i go to JB and its a nightmare that i keep living over and over again.

  • CyberMurning on 13/12/2022 - 14:48
    -7

    what you cannot do with iphone pro 13 that ip 14 can ? its just a phone ….. people buying the latest model arent smart

    • iNeed2Pee on 13/12/2022 - 14:50
      +3

      I went from a Note9 to a iphone 14 pro max.. So I am not smart because I did not go to the 13?
      Come on now.

      • djsweet on 13/12/2022 - 14:54

        correct. A fool is he who buys the latest model. Wise beyond measure is he who buys previous generation technology.

        • iNeed2Pee on 13/12/2022 - 14:57
          +3

          I actually went for the iPhone 14 pro max because it had a better camera and I wanted the purple.
          Also because of the 2000nits compared to 1200.

          iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 13 Pro Max differences in a nutshell:
          Dynamic Island replaces the notch
          Faster A16 Bionic chip
          Improved display with 1Hz refresh rate and Always-On function
          New 48MP main camera
          4K Cinematic video, new Action Mode stabilization
          Satellite connectivity

        • Kiro on 15/12/2022 - 10:15
          -1

          a man who goes to bed with itchy bum wakes up with smelly finger. ; )

          • djsweet on 15/12/2022 - 10:16

            @Kiro: wtf

            • Kiro on 15/12/2022 - 10:17
              -1

              @djsweet: life choice lecture, so i added my 2c in, will save someone oneday….. maybe.

    • Flying Ace on 13/12/2022 - 14:55
      +10

      It wouldn't be OzBargain without someone lecturing someone else on their life choices without having any knowledge of their circumstances.

    • AndyC1 on 13/12/2022 - 19:05

      Spend less money and have a phone that is not the latest show phone.

  • iNeed2Pee on 13/12/2022 - 14:50
    +15

    I love how someone reported this as "Sold Out" 😂😂😂

  • djsweet on 13/12/2022 - 14:52
    +9

    Another day another gift card money saving scheme gone wrong…

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/12/2022 - 15:06
      +1

      and for 5% only… lol

      • CyberMurning on 13/12/2022 - 15:11

        but if 5% from a mil dolla, then okay?

        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/12/2022 - 15:45

          for a mill yeah ok

          for 2k - with a chance of being stuck with JB vouchers…? (and even if you get the phone, then you have some remainder credit left that you need to spend with JB)

          shrug

  • ECE on 13/12/2022 - 15:03
    +4

    Being an ozbargainer doesnt pay sometimes. It will just stress you out ✌🏿

  • Master Bates on 13/12/2022 - 15:09

    Patience is a virtue.

  • Transient on 13/12/2022 - 15:10
    +3

    I was in a similar position. All the JB stores in my area showed no stock online with delivery expect in Jan. I went into a JB store to change some gift cards. On the way out, I thought I would try my luck and asked the person in the phone section if they had any stock - black or gold colour. He went to the store room and much to my surprise came out with one. He said they had about 20 in stock and they came in about 5 days prior (I bought it on 5 Dec). So maybe try asking in store as the website stock levels are not accurate. YMMV. Good luck!

    • iNeed2Pee on 13/12/2022 - 15:12
      +1

      Yup, my store showed I was 9th on the list.
      Preordered it anyway, next day I contacted another store. I was told I was 4th on the list there so I transferred the order.
      Within 20 minutes I got a phone call telling me that the phone had actually just come in (6 of them).
      Crazy. Went from 4-6 weeks to a one day turnaround.

      • Transient on 13/12/2022 - 15:26
        +1

        I hope this is not the new normal.

  • dtxau on 13/12/2022 - 16:34

    Sorry about your loss.

  • bobbified on 13/12/2022 - 16:48
    +4

    I TRIED to purchased an iPhone 14 Pro with Gift Cards,. Now I'm Really Sad.

    Fixed it!

  • Nillionaire on 13/12/2022 - 17:19

    I tried to purchase an iPhone 14 Pro by ordering it instead of going in store and purchasing something that was in stock at that time despite knowing about ordering delays, now I'm really sad.

    Sorry dude, hope things work out for you

  • solidussnake on 13/12/2022 - 18:27
    -1

    $2k for a phone yikes 🥴 another young person who couldn't wait for the latest and greatest

    • lightfoot on 14/12/2022 - 15:18
      +1

      well, OP could've been using an iphone 8, saved all these years to buy the new one. Don't judge without knowing the background story.

  • Nutrino on 13/12/2022 - 18:29
    +7

    best part is now your funds are locked in to jb.

    • kerfuffle on 13/12/2022 - 20:04
      +3

      Just as well their gift cards never expire. Can pass them on as heirlooms

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 14/12/2022 - 00:00
        +1

        Op’s great great grandkids:

        This inheritance is terrible! Haha

      • jlien on 14/12/2022 - 09:43

        until JB goes into voluntary administration and all gift card holders become unsercured creditors never to see their money again.

        Just ask any dick smiths GC holder.

        • Nugs on 24/12/2022 - 21:31

          Or Brash's
          .

  • Hardlyworkin on 13/12/2022 - 19:03
    +2

    I'm sad that you're sad because of not getting a phone.

  • Dexter on 13/12/2022 - 19:11
    -1

    They should refund the money if they cancel your order. Dem da rules.

    • millhouse on 13/12/2022 - 19:40
      +3

      They did.

      He bought gift cards through a third party. He ordered the phone. The phone order was cancelled. They refunded the money back onto gift cards of equal value.

  • BargainGain on 13/12/2022 - 20:59
    -2

    The same thing happened to me just then with Amazon!!
    I am also a sad person. I am now stuck with the card balance. No help from Amazon customer service. Missed out on local stock because of my preference to shop through Amazon.

  • Mechz on 13/12/2022 - 21:42
    +4

    So instead of being ahead by 5% you're now behind by 95%.

    I wish the ABC show The Checkout was still around to cover these things.

  • sumyungguy on 13/12/2022 - 22:10

    Same sadness here. Back in the day I purchased discounted JB gift cards to get an iPhone Xs. The unit was DOA and there was no more stock available to replace it. I was stuck with $1K of JB credit - ended up redeeming on a Miele HX1 because I hate holding gift cards.

  • peanut48 on 14/12/2022 - 08:06

    I was sorta in a similar situation but chased their online availability across 4 stores to find one. I drove all over town but was worth finally getting it. It’s a present for my dad who is overseas, so I needed it before I left. I also had to do the same to secure an iPad. I was stressing I’ll be stuck with $3k worth of GC but got lucky by obsessively checking online and just rushing to the stores no matter how far they were for me.

  • OzOz on 14/12/2022 - 08:20

    Call or go into a store as they do have them and then no waiting for delivery either. Early Christmas present to turn your frown upside down!

  • Diannah on 14/12/2022 - 08:38

    Similar thing happened to me. So I kepted on searching everyday which store had stock. Once they had stock in a store I called the store and explained I had an order and if they can send it out. And they did.

  • jrvb42 on 14/12/2022 - 19:30
    -3

    Yes, it's true you are really sad for trying to buy an iPhone

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