Post virus expired store gift cards

BlueBelle1001

Now that Sports Direct has reopened post lockdown I attempted to help my son buy trainers with his gift card and discovered it had expired and would not be extended. Stores can argue that customers can go online but there must be many people for different reasons who cannot use that facility, (my son has learning difficulties).  Stores are making a fortune from people giving them free money, the least they can do is pay back the original investment and keep their profits.  Over the years I have come across many unused cards in kids' cupboards that highlights clearly, why stores continue to bank of this cynical, unfair moneymaker. 

Manxman_in_exile

This is the problem* with gift cards.

I had a M&S gift card which expired* in March and I couldn't use during lockdown.  (I wouldn't have used it to buy food from M&S and I wouldn't have bought anything online from them during lockdown either).  A couple of years previously I'd had a different* expired card extended instore and I emailed M&S customer services to see if I could get this one extended too.  They refused.  But I went instore again and got it extended with no problem.

So all you can do is try again and maybe ask a different sales assistant.  (The first card I had extended in M&S was done by the first person I asked.  On the second occasion the first person I asked said they could not extend it, but the second person did.  I doubt Sports Direct will be as accommodating but it doesn't cost you anything to keep asking).

*I have no idea why people give gift cards to other people rather than just giving them cash or a cheque if they feel they have to give some recognition to a birthday or other celebration.  It's completely pointless and often - as above - a complete waste of money.  My MSE advice is "DON'T BUY GIFT CARDS!"