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wh smith "gift voucher" short expiry date con

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  • System
    System Posts: 178,352 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    It is a plastic credit card type gift card i have bought lots of times before as gifts and this has nothing explaining it is anything other than a normal "gift card" the writing on the front does say WH Smith GIFTCARD (in capitals) so when is a GIFT CARD not a gift card????

    And there's no expiry date on this card? If so then you've got a strong case!
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Macadamia wrote: »
    Yes. I agree with you. This is a con. Anytime restrictive terms and conditions are not brought to your attention is an attempt to con. And they depend on people just moaning about it and taking the hit. What they do not seem to take into acount is the number of people on forums like these who do the public spirited thing and give praise, vent and warnings. So THANKYOU for bringing it to my attention. :T (and that's why I have thanked your post - don't know why no one else has so far.)

    I think many people are unaware of the shortlived duration of giftcards - and put them in their wallet for a rainy day - and then, when they try to spend them, are told there is nothing on them, and then believe they have spent the money themselves, rather than the card balance has expired or disappeared into thin air.

    This should be challenged.

    Why not write to Smiths explaining, just as you have done here, what happened, and asking them for recompense. Even your original £10 back would be better than nothing.

    (and then update us to tell us what their response is.)

    I e mailed them last week and they basically said tough there was an expiry date on the card I should have looked - I agree but I was "sold" the card by the salesperson on the till in and amongst spending a fortune with them so just tucked the gift card in the section of my wallet where I keep them with out looking too much assuming it had the same terms and conditions all the others I have bought from WH Smiths over many years (obviously not any more!!!). I replied to their negative e mail saying I would not just let it go at that and gave them four days to come back to me with something but they haven't even had the courtesy to reply to my second e mail so that is why I have put it on here - to warn others who will probably still have them in their purses and to show WHS up for not making the T and C clear when you are "sold" it from the counter staff - as they are all highly trained at selling the add ons at the till! Shame they're not as highly trained at customer care!!
  • goater78 wrote: »
    And there's no expiry date on this card? If so then you've got a strong case!

    Yes there is an expiry date that I overlooked at the time but with such a large company if the T and C was any different to their norm I would have thought it should have been brought to my attention.

    I have bought lots of Gift cards from them as I have 2 daughters and they come in handy as pressies especially if you dont know the child's interests very well or if I am sending them through the post. Ironically I have bought about 4 since buying this one but as this was for £15 I didn't want to send it as the norm for present giving amongst my children is £10 and it would have been a bit flash and inappropriate to give £15
  • Dave_C_2
    Dave_C_2 Posts: 1,827 Forumite
    In reply to my use cash:
    missile wrote: »
    just loses its value due to inflation :(
    Last time I looked gift cards were not index linked, so just the same as cash :)
    goater78 wrote: »
    The deal was get a £15 gift card for £10.
    But the OP lost the lot when the card expired :( The deal worked out as £0 for £10

    Dave
  • System
    System Posts: 178,352 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Dave_C wrote: »
    In reply to my use cash:

    Last time I looked gift cards were not index linked, so just the same as cash :)


    But the OP lost the lot when the card expired :( The deal worked out as £0 for £10

    Dave

    That's the OPs fault not the deals.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Am I the only one who would ask 'Why is a £15 gift card being sold for £10?' and/or check for caveats like the expiry date/limiting Ts and Cs before buying it?

    Maybe I'm really cynical but if something was that good an offer I'd be looking for the catch!
    Common sense?...There's nothing common about sense!
  • Azari
    Azari Posts: 4,317 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    OP, how large was the printing for the expiry date?

    Was it on the front of the card or the back?
    There are two types of people in the world: Those that can extrapolate information.
  • Azari wrote: »
    OP, how large was the printing for the expiry date?

    Was it on the front of the card or the back?

    Cant deny it was on the front and it is about a quarter of the size of the "WH Smith" and the "GIFTCARD"

    Unfortunately as already admitted I put it straight into the section of the purse where I keep the children's gift cards and don't generally get them out unless we are going into that particular shop to spend it!! Im not a shopaholic type either so not likely to keep coming across the card unless I need it.

    Also on the back the usual disclaimer of refer to website for terms and conditions (yeh right on - perhaps if there was enough time in the day between two children and H / home to run / business to run / elderly parents to care for and in and amongst have a life!!!)
  • flashg67
    flashg67 Posts: 4,128 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    My OH works in WHS and says the promotion was quite clearly displayed on the card and promo material? She said some regulars took full advantage - the promotion ran for a few weeks I think, so they were buying a greeting card every week then getting the £15 voucher for £10 over & over again.
    She works there, so I didn't need to point out that what costs £15 in WHS can likely be bought elsewhere for £10 anyway!
  • flashg67 wrote: »
    My OH works in WHS and says the promotion was quite clearly displayed on the card and promo material? She said some regulars took full advantage - the promotion ran for a few weeks I think, so they were buying a greeting card every week then getting the £15 voucher for £10 over & over again.
    She works there, so I didn't need to point out that what costs £15 in WHS can likely be bought elsewhere for £10 anyway!

    Yes thank you and totally agree with your last comment but the traditionalist in me has always liked buying the cards as birthday pressies rather than the modern shops etc - they can still buy the games, dvds,cds etc but I can always hope someone just might be tempted to buy a BOOK with it!!!

    As far as displayed on promo material etc _ i didn't actually see any of this - it wasn't til I got to the counter the sales person suggested it.
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