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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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There's probably not a workaround for it. Amazon's gift card terms state \"Gift Cards cannot be used to purchase other Gift Cards, such as Amazon.com Gift Cards, Target Gift Cards, or Borders Gift Cards.\" In essence, the purchase that you're making includes a gift card, so you won't be able to use yours to buy it.

4 replies

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@LightningUsagi: Thanks for repeating the article back to us, just in case we hadn't read it.

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@katstermonster: I wasn't trying to reiterate the article, just point out that there wouldn't be a workaround since it went against Amazon's terms for gift cards.

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@LightningUsagi: The article says that exact thing.

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@katstermonster: If they had so plainly stated the TOS, why were they asking for a workaround, then?

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@LightningUsagi: The point of this article was that the TOS were not intended for situations like this, so they were asking for any unique ideas to get around the computer system that's enforcing the TOS. And actually, the article does state the TOS in plainer terms: \"You get it, Amazon doesn't want you to be able to transfer your gift card simply by buying another one for someone else with the one you got.\"

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67alecto

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@LightningUsagi: I agree. They are trying to buy a gift card with a gift card. Doesn't matter if the gift card they are buying is part of a larger purchase - no companies will let you do that.

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@67alecto:
Safeway allows you to buy gift cards with gift cards. My sister buys people Safeway gift cards so that they can go to the little Safeway \"giftcard mall\" that they have in the stores. She calls it the \"choose your own giftcard giftcard.\"

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@Ickypoopy: Isn't that a little different since the giftcards that Safeway sells are for other places where as Amazon.com & Target.com are on the same system and Borders is a competitor? So they are saying we won't let you use a giftcard to buy another one of our giftcards, or a competitors. Does safeway let you use giftcards to buy other safeway giftcards(honest question I'm kind of curious)? Safeway definitely doesn't sell giftcards to Krogers or QFC though. So yeah I would say the Safeway thing is a completely different beast, besides the fact that they have people at their POS not just a server.

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@YardanCabaret: I have seen grocery stores that let you buy gift cards with a gift card (useful on those \"points\" deals === spend $100 and get points for a free turkey, for example, You just keep rolling the gift card everytime you visit). You can also buy other merchants giftcards at Walgreens (at least last time I checked). It was a great way to turn rebates into gas cards (but they ended the rebate program).

A lot of the rationale has to do with how the registers are programmed.

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pecan 3.14159265

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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So Patrick did call customer service? And they still said no? I think we need additional information here. I don't think one should be quick to raise a pitchfork at Amazon when there's not a lot of information.

Amazon customer service has always been able to \"bend the rules\" when it comes to providing good service. For instance, I had ordered a DVD set from BN.com the day of release and I then got an email that it was delayed - well, I wanted to have it by that Friday because some friends and I had planned a marathon. I call Amazon and ask them whether they would price match BN.com and get it to me by Friday. The CSR told me that normally they would not price match, but in this case, they would. She would make a note on my account that I needed a price adjustment, I would just have to go through the whole checkout process, call back and give them the order number.

2 replies

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steveliv

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@pecan 3.14159265: my approach to customer service is that if my first call is not successful, i call again. trying a different rep might yield a postive conclusion :)

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coren

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@pecan 3.14159265: It seems like it from the lady who didn't think the computer could be ignored.

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coren

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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I believe you can in fact transfer gift card money at Amazon to others - in case anyone is confused by that.

2 replies

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stupidestthing

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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Wooo, back the truck up... You can transfer these things? do tell - OP

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@coren: Yeah the \"Giftcards\" at Amazon are a little crazy. For a few states they won't even make a physical card for you, a little code is all you get.

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sirwired

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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Well, in all fairness to the CS rep and to Amazon, Amazon probably simply did not anticipate the situation, and therefore forgot to implement a way for the reps (or the ordering system) to override it. I don't think there is any evilness involved by anybody, just a simple programming error.

SirWired

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humphrmi

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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Another reason to hate gift card rebates.

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lmarconi

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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The OP may be referring to a promotion Amazon is having. I know I've bought stuff (mostly DVDs, music or video games) and had Amazon give me a $5 gift card as part of a promotion for the item or $5 in free music downloads. I think they were running a promotion a little bit ago where you got a $20 with purchase of a Wii. So maybe the OP is trying to purchase an item with one of these \"free gift\" cards attached to it and the computer is saying no.

1 replies

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@lmarconi: I'd like change the maybe in your last sentence to a definitely, since it's exactly what the article said:

\"A great deal pops up up that you'd like to take advantage of; Amazon is selling a computer and discounting it by throwing in a free gift card...Unfortunately, since a computer application really runs the show at Amazon, you can't apply your own gift card balance to a purchase that includes a gift card\" (Emphasis mine.) Reading is fun!

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Rachacha

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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\"These online stores are perfect bureaucracies; they have frustrating and arbitrary rules and conditions that even their representatives can't explain or defend, but we can't even blame them for being cold hearted human beings... we are expected just to accept their binary limitations.\"

So this is different from brick & mortar stores like WalMart, Home Depot, Gamestop and others that make up seemingly stupid policies that don't work and store employees and managers are powerless to override the policy?

3 replies

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@Rachacha: Oh completely. The servers just give a smug no in response where as you get consternation, fear, and occasional apathy from the people at checkout/customer service in those Brick and Mortars.

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AnthonyC

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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Yes, it is different. The people at brick-and-mortar stores are told what the policies are (we hope). They're not supposed to override them. In principle, though, they could, if they understood that an exception was warranted. It might get them fired, and it might be really unlikely that they'd do it, but they could.

A computer program is not a person. If the Amazon system is set up in such a way as to not allow this transaction and to not give a means for employees to override, there is NOTHING the employee can do, no matter how much he or she wants to, and no matter whether he or she is willing to make an exception to a policy.

I wonder if there is a way for a CSR to get around this though. Maybe place an order w/ the gift card for something else, immediately cancel it and credit the account, then use the credit to make the purchase the OP wants? It all depends on how Amazon's system is set up.

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Rachacha

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@acvicari: In this situation, it appears as if the Amazon CSR understood what the problem was, probably would have helped if she could but was unable to. What about in situations where the B&M store computers are just as stupid as the Online retailers:

[www.simplydumb.com]
[consumerist.com]

Or receipt checking as a theft deterent. Honestly, if you go to Costco (or WalMart, or Home Depot or...), and purchase 2 full carts of product, and the receipt checker looks at your receipt for 5 seconds...how good a job of reviewing the receipt are they doing...not very, so what is this stupid policy trying to prevent?

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steveliv

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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i hate the fact that if you have a gift card balance available, you are forced to use it when you use a coupon code. if you go to switch payments it will try to bill the alternate payment method, but it will also remove the coupon discount as well.

1 replies

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AustinTXProgrammer

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@steveliv: So you would rather give Amazon an interest free loan? Use the gift card balance, and buy another one if you must!

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@katstermonster: Ooooo. Someone is a bit on the edge today. Did the vaccine come with a dose of snark or what?

3 replies

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@MostlyHarmless: Hey, I thought I was very nice! You should have seen what I was GOING to write. And really, I would have been nicer had the very first comment not also been a \"repeat the article\" comment.

(Not to say my comments are always useful...they aren't. But they don't PRETEND to be useful.)

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@MostlyHarmless: Also, I was much meaner on the other one. :)

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Kimaroo - 100% Pure Natural Kitteh

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@katstermonster: I thought so too, but I enjoyed it.

A lil snark surely livens up a drab Monday morning.

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@Kimaroo - Fortified with Kittydus Purrularis: I almost just blew up at one of my coworkers. She would have deserved it, but still...I probably need to chill out a little. haha.

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Kimaroo - 100% Pure Natural Kitteh

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@katstermonster: Is there a paticular reason that you're in this mood, or is it \"just a case of the Mondays - the snappy version\"?

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@Kimaroo - Fortified with Kittydus Purrularis: I think it's just a case of the Mondays. I do have a longstanding hatred for my coworker, though, and she's really asking for it today...

Just a hint: if you get paid more than I do because of a fellowship that you don't deserve, that caused one of my friends to not be able to get his Ph.D. for lack of funding...don't complain to me about only getting paid once a month instead of every 2 weeks.

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lmarconi

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@katstermonster:
just for the record, I did read the article, I was gently trying to suggest to the other commenters above me who were telling the OP to purchase the gift card in a separate order that it was most likely impossible.

I do appreciate your treating me like a five year old.

also for the record, I rewrote this post a few times as well. My first one was a lot meaner : )

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@lmarconi: There's a reply button on the lower right of each comment. In fact, you just used it to reply to my comment. So you could have and should have just replied to them, since, you know, it was directed at them.

That's cute, that little smiley face you threw at me to try to make me look like the bad guy. Here's mine! :)

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@katstermonster: Ouch. That not getting PhD part blows.
And yes, she should be the last one to whine about it. And hellooo ever heard of \"keeping a budget\"?

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@MostlyHarmless: Yeah, I feel really bad about it because he's disgustingly smart and a really good engineer. And then I feel less bad because he's now my ex...heh.

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stupidestthing

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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OP here.

I sent Amazon an email reiterating my concerns. I did get a reply Monday morning from a Sunday email (that's a +) but the outcome was the same. This rep didn't even bother recognizing it might just be an unforseen result of programming.

\"From your message, I understand you'd like to purchase the $75.00 gift card with other items in your cart on a single order and you'd like to apply the $30.00 gift card balance available in your account.

I'm sorry to inform that if you do have gift cards in your shopping cart when you place your order, you cannot pay for that order with another gift card or a gift card balance on your account. Gift cards can only be used to pay for eligible items. You can read more about that on our Gift Cards Fine Print page here:

www.amazon.com/help/gc#fineprint

If you wish, you can place the order for merchandise and gift cards and use any other eligible payment method for the order. If you do wish to use a gift card or gift card balance to pay for your order, you'll need to remove the $75.00 gift card placed in your shopping cart from the order.

But, In order to take advantage of the $75 gift card promotion, you need to purchase the $75.00 gift card added to your Shopping Cart along with the item when the promotion is in effect, otherwise the Gift Card offer will not apply.

Therefore, I'd suggest you to place an order for these 2 items together with any other eligible payment method and you can certainly use your gift card funds on your next order.\"

It seems to me the conclusion they need me to draw is that when we buy a gift card, lock in a future purchase with their store and preemtively pay them for something that they don't have to remove from their inventory, allowing them to add our amount to the free interest generating pile, we're really supposed to cosider the amazon balance a discount they are giving us the privledge to use and therefore subject to the cannot-be-combined-with-other-offers restrictions that abound in the coupon world, as opposed to the cash that was paid up front for that gift balance.

Wow, this is a lose lose for Amazon, not only am I reconsidering my purchase, but I'm thinking about my potential gift recipients getting denied the use of their gift in the same way, and now I'm much less likely to Buy these gift cards... go checks?

2 replies

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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@stupidestthing: Hi there. A very good friend of mine (actually recent ex BF) is interning at Amazon in the Gift Cards programming division right now. We once had a conversation about this exact rule: It's in place to prevent money laundering, and it's was his (the friend's) impression that this is in place both according to federal guidelines and Amazon's ethical policies.
It sucks because most people (like you!) wouldn't be fishy about it, but it also kind of makes sense. I came up with this use case, too: Person A buys a GC for Person B, generally assuming that Person B will use said GC to purchase items for himself. Instead, Person B buys another GC for Person C, which is not in the spirit of Person A's gift. Admittedly, Person B could just use the original GC to buy a present for Person C, but this makes it a little less sleazy-like.
I'll be sure to forward this post to my friend so he can share it with his team!

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stupidestthing

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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Apparently I can give the GC to anyone I want (asked them after it was mentioned above) and anyone can use a GC code before it's entered into a particular account. But that just means that if I (B) had gotten a GC (or email with GC code as I have in the past) from A, I could just forward it on to C, and there on to D,E,F, etc. - So the wholething is moot, at least in my purchase case, there's a record to trace, my account and my CC#. So yeah, they might claim fraud protection or whatever, but I'm not seeing it flesh out in that form.

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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Perhaps this is to keep people from laundering money through Amazon's gift card system.

If multiple small gift cards can be used to purchase a large one, law enforcement may not be able to track the money efficiently like they can when the money has to pass through the major credit cards.

And keep in mind, there are some expensive things on Amazon that would make good bribes....

See also:
[moneycentral.msn.com]
[www.philadelphiafed.org]

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$\"user-pic\"$

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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I posted this as a response to the OP's comment, but I also wanted to put it at top level to make it more visible:
A very good friend of mine (actually recent ex BF) is interning at Amazon in the Gift Cards programming division right now. We once had a conversation about this exact rule: It's in place to prevent money laundering, and it was his (the friend's) impression that this is in place both according to federal guidelines and Amazon's ethical policies.
It sucks because most people (like you!) wouldn't be fishy about it, but it also kind of makes sense.
I came up with this use case, too: Person A buys a GC for Person B, generally assuming that Person B will use said GC to purchase items for himself. Instead, Person B buys another GC for Person C, which is not in the spirit of Person A's gift. Admittedly, Person B could just use the original GC to buy a present for Person C, but this makes it a little less sleazy-like.
I'll be sure to forward this post to my friend so he can share it with his team!

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November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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Work around. Order something else using the gift card. Cancel the order, you end up with a store credit. That is automatically applied to what ever one buys, at least that is my experience.

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H3ion

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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I read it as saying that you couldn't use a gift card to buy a gift. Never mind.

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gingerCE

November 18, 2009 4:53 PM

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In the last 6 months I have paid for items from Amazon using gift cards on items that gave me Amazon store credit including a $10 Amazon credit on anything and $5 Mp3s download credits with no problem at all. The credits were added to my account automatically with no problem.

I am confused--was the OP trying to purchase a gift card using a gift card or an actual item that had a gift card promotion attached to it? If so, just buy the gift card in a separate transaction.

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gingerCE

November 18, 2009 4:53 PM

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I think the original post needs to be edited. It makes it sound as if you cannot use Gift cards on amazon to purchase items that have a special promo attached to them giving the buyer a store credit. That is not true as I have done it several times.

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jimates

November 18, 2009 4:53 PM

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Take the current offereing for the Wii and WiiFit bundle with a free $50 gift card.

You have to put the Wii, the WiiFit and the $50 gift card in your cart. Once in the checkout process the total amount will be discounted $50 (the cost of the card) but since the order still includes the purchase of a gift card you cannot pay for the order with a gift card.

This also eliminates the built in profit from the promo. You can buy the deal and sell the item at regular price or slightly below. You will profit the $50 gift card. If you sell for $20 below retail you still profit $30 which is not bad. You could buy 6 of these deals and then use the 6 gift cards to buy a 7th. The 7th deal would be free from the profit of the gift cards.

Almost all gift cards have terms saying you cannot purchase other gift cards with them. Some merchants will let this rule slide if their system will accept the payment type. I use Giant Eagle gift cards to buy Staples gift cards and then use the Staples gift cards to buy eBay gift cards. Just this past weekend Staples decided they will enforce the terms now, and not allow me to purchase eBay cards with their gift cards.

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