John Lewis wouldn't sell to me as i needed to pay more than Gift Card value. Is this the norm?

Teddg

Hi,
Firstly apologies if i've posted this in the wrong spot, I'm new to this forum and this seemed like the nearest match.
I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this problem and whether they had come to a resolution with John Lewis?
I was gifted an All in One Card from work which can be spent both online and instore at a number of shops including John Lewis. I decided yesterday to use the gift card as part payment for something at John Lewis (the gift card is for £50) and the value of the item was greater than £50 and hence I would pay the balance with my Credit Card.
However, after a number of attempts online to use the gift card I found out that John Lewis treat the Gift Card as a Credit Card and therefore you can't use the All in One Card online as well as a Credit Card (so you can't spend more than the Gift Card value online).
Assuming this was an online issue I phoned to place the order over the phone but was told the exact same thing and therefore they wouldn't take my order by phone either.
After contacting Customer Services they again repeated the same story and advised that if I wanted to use the Gift Card and a Credit Card together (i.e. to spend more money with them) I'd have to go to a John Lewis Store to do so as that can be done in-store (although they did say, you can't do that because we're in lockdown and I don't live anywhere near a John Lewis).
This just seemed really strange and therefore I wondered if anyone else had come across this and is it just John Lewis that deal with the All in Once Card this way?

Thanks in advance.

  

 

elsien

It seems to  be an issue with the card generally rather than specifically John Lewis.
If you look at theone4all gift card site FAQ

How do I spend the One4all Gift Card Online?

In a nutshell: use it like you would a Visa Debit card. ........

 I want to buy something worth more than the value of the card.

In-store: simply tell the cashier how much is on your One4all Gift Card and they will swipe for this amount, then you can pay the rest via cash or card.
Online: unfortunately this is not currently possible, as most websites do not accept multiple payment methods.

 And on the JL page. Please make sure that the total cost of your basket is equal to or lower than the value on your One4all Gift Card, as most online stores will not accept multiple payment methods.

Is there an option to top up the giftcard to the required amount? 

Teddg

Hi, thanks for the response. That seemed liked a good idea as I hadn't thought of that but a quick check on the website has discovered "Unfortunately it is not currently possible to top your card with additional funds, as the One4all Gift Card is a single-load card". 

cymruchris

Can you buy a John Lewis gift voucher with the card? Or does it exclude the purchase of a gift voucher? Then use said gift voucher towards the purchase of the item you want?

Teddg

Hi, thanks for the responses.
I've had some success. After escalating within John Lewis, to their credit, they've just phoned and agreed to refund me the value I couldn't spend on my my Credit Card so that the item I wanted to buy was reduced to £50 (i.e. the same value of the gift card).
The latest person I spoke to advised this was the first time they'd been aware of the issue so it's something they're going to look into for future Customer.

Thanks again.

elsien

Brilliant. Perseverance has paid off. 

vacheron

Good result OP.
I was going to suggest similar things to those already offered. Buy a John Lewis Gift card with the "all in one" card then use that with your main credit card to make the purchase. 

What I tend to do with these now is load them into my Amazon "top up" account as I am always using that for odds and ends, so it will get used up eventually on something. 

Bougainvillea

Buy a John Lewis giftcard with your credit card that covers the amount the one4all card won't pay (e.g. a £25 giftcard plus £50 one4all if the item is £75.)  Use the giftcard first and then the all4one. if you have a few pounds left over, then spend at Boots or M&S instore.

There are a few highstreet chain shops (WHSmiths, Boots, Argos etc.,) that sell store giftcards and also except one4all cards. These shops may let you buy a giftcard using a one4all card but it may depend on the person serving you.

John Lewis used to exchange one4all cards for their own store card but refused the last time I asked. The John Lewis storecard can also be used in Waitrose.

DCFC79

Bougainvillea said:

Buy a John Lewis giftcard with your credit card that covers the amount the one4all card won't pay (e.g. a £25 giftcard plus £50 one4all if the item is £75.)  Use the giftcard first and then the all4one. if you have a few pounds left over, then spend at Boots or M&S instore.

There are a few highstreet chain shops (WHSmiths, Boots, Argos etc.,) that sell store giftcards and also except one4all cards. These shops may let you buy a giftcard using a one4all card but it may depend on the person serving you.

John Lewis used to exchange one4all cards for their own store card but refused the last time I asked. The John Lewis storecard can also be used in Waitrose.

OP has it sorted