Family Dollar complaint: Gift Card Refund Refusal

I purchased an Apple gift card – $ 200 – at Family Dollar Store 8020, on 11 Nov 2020.

Attempted to utilize the card, it is invalid, already been used.

I requested a $ 200 refund on 12 Nov 2020.

An older male Family Dollar Store, took the card to the back of the store stating he had to call to verify the gift card.

The employee made me wait approximately 30 minutes.

I never saw the employee again.

Another younger male employee brought the card back to me and apologetically stated I would not be refunded for the invalid card. He was very kind, understanding, and every part the gentleman. His patience, understanding, and demeanor kept a not so good situation from being any worse. He was cool, calm, and very patient under a stressful situation.

The other older male employee did not have the backbone nerve to tell me the same thing the younger male had to.

The older male employee needs extensive human relations training in how to deal with less than satisfied customers.

I contacted and provided Apple Support with pictures of the card and the purchase receipt.

This is a problem with the gift card industry.

I’ve purchased a number of gift cards from different retail merchants, some of the cards were redeemed prior to purchase.

This is a financial security issue. How the gift card numbers are being used prior to purchase by innocent unsuspecting customers is unknown.

Whomever is perpetrating the theft, they’ve figured out how to redeem the gift cards before the cards are delivered to retail merchants.

Strongly recommend Apple and other gift card distributors find a theft proof way to “lock” the gift cards so that the thousands of dollars being lost by merchants and distributors can be stopped.

Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration.

Respectfully,

René

WM. RENÉ ARNOLD, SR., M.A.A., USAF RETIRED
11438 Crescent Peak
San Antonio, Tx 78245
210 – 207 – 0273