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Guitar Center oddness
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RichL
Oct 29, 2011, 9:48:04 PM10/29/11
to
I usually don't patronize Guitar Center, but one of my kids got me a GC gift
certificate for my birthday.
So I went onto their web site checking out some stuff. I went to "check
out", entered the info on the gift certificate, and it was rejected.
I went to the area on the site where you can check the gift certificate's
current balance, and it said "ZERO".
So finally I called the phone number listed on the back of the card to check
the balance. Response: NOT zero, it was the expected amount.
So what's up here? The one thing I was uncertain about at the web site, it
prompts for both the card number and a "PIN number". I assumed the PIN
number is the number that appears when you scratch off the covering in a
small area at the back of the card, but I suppose I could be wrong.
Anyone else have experience with GC gift cards? Have you encountered issues
like this before?
Thanks!
certificate for my birthday.
So I went onto their web site checking out some stuff. I went to "check
out", entered the info on the gift certificate, and it was rejected.
I went to the area on the site where you can check the gift certificate's
current balance, and it said "ZERO".
So finally I called the phone number listed on the back of the card to check
the balance. Response: NOT zero, it was the expected amount.
So what's up here? The one thing I was uncertain about at the web site, it
prompts for both the card number and a "PIN number". I assumed the PIN
number is the number that appears when you scratch off the covering in a
small area at the back of the card, but I suppose I could be wrong.
Anyone else have experience with GC gift cards? Have you encountered issues
like this before?
Thanks!
Carl
Oct 30, 2011, 10:02:07 AM10/30/11
to
assigned by the purchaser. Perhaps you should ask your kids what PIN they
assigned when they purchased it. Seems wrong though, since you shouldn't
have to ask someone who gives you a gift anything about it in order to use
it.
http://www.ehow.com/how_7767834_check-guitar-center-gift-cards.html
Good luck. They are known for their snafus, aren't they... ?
RichL
Oct 30, 2011, 10:22:20 AM10/30/11
to
"Carl" <crot...@NOSPAMoptonline.net> wrote in message
news:4ead5885$0$1991$607e...@cv.net...
Thanks, Carl! I see now that my assumption that the number on the back of
the card is the PIN number is erroneous (the number on the back has more
than four digits). I was afraid of that.
I'll check with my son; he does an awful lot of business with the GC from
which the card was purchased. I suspect the idiots at GC failed to create
the PIN when they sold the card, but he ought to have sufficient clout with
the store to be able to straighten it out.
news:4ead5885$0$1991$607e...@cv.net...
the card is the PIN number is erroneous (the number on the back has more
than four digits). I was afraid of that.
I'll check with my son; he does an awful lot of business with the GC from
which the card was purchased. I suspect the idiots at GC failed to create
the PIN when they sold the card, but he ought to have sufficient clout with
the store to be able to straighten it out.
Mikey
Oct 30, 2011, 12:09:21 PM10/30/11
to
On Sun, 30 Oct 2011 10:22:20 -0400, "RichL" <rple...@yahoo.com>
wrote:
____________________________________________
I would guess that the "PIN" is assigned after the card is "swiped" at
the time of purchase. I know my "pay as you go" Tracphone (Cell) card
is that way. Just a guess.
>>
>> Good luck. They are known for their snafus, aren't they... ?
>
Yes...they are. Back in 1999 i purchased a few grand from them when
they first opened their store in Springfield, NJ. The store rep was
great. He even demoed the equipment i purchased before i walked out
the door. When i returned to purchase an Maudio 1010lt PCI card a 1/2
year later...the place was packed with shoppers and the store rep i
was told got a job in a proffesional studio. The counter "kid" sold me
an opened box Maudio card (at full price) and when i got it home....
the channels 1 and 2 XLR connectors had something wrong with them and
there was no Cubase SX software as the pamphlets implied in the opened
box. No wonder the box was open. I took it back and he gave me a "song
and dance" about how i would now have to return it to Maudio. I called
Maudio and they basically told me i was screwed. I bad mouthed them in
a forum and received an instant email from them with a # to call for
tech support. I never called and settled for just using channels 3-8
(RCA).
Then there was a more recent visit where i wanted to purchase a case
for my new Luthier made electric. The guitar tech was great and quoted
me a reduced price of $89 for a nice case. He got side tracked as i
was trying out another piece of equipment and i couldn't locate him.
So when i went to check out they charged me the full price of $138 and
said....that's what it is.....dude.
I like Guitar Center so i blame the high turnover of transient,
"musician" employees they have been hiring lately. Smart alecks.
Well, as an Irene flood victim...... Allstate has elected to settle my
claim and i will need to replace a few expensive items. There is a SAM
ASH right across the hwy there and my friend Dave Phillips Music and
sound in Phillipsburg will be my 1st choices... if for no other reason
than the same employees will still be there the next time i return...
It really is a shame that you would have to go through that with a
gift card. Guitar Center is going down hill. But their prices aren't.
wrote:
I would guess that the "PIN" is assigned after the card is "swiped" at
the time of purchase. I know my "pay as you go" Tracphone (Cell) card
is that way. Just a guess.
>>
>> Good luck. They are known for their snafus, aren't they... ?
>
they first opened their store in Springfield, NJ. The store rep was
great. He even demoed the equipment i purchased before i walked out
the door. When i returned to purchase an Maudio 1010lt PCI card a 1/2
year later...the place was packed with shoppers and the store rep i
was told got a job in a proffesional studio. The counter "kid" sold me
an opened box Maudio card (at full price) and when i got it home....
the channels 1 and 2 XLR connectors had something wrong with them and
there was no Cubase SX software as the pamphlets implied in the opened
box. No wonder the box was open. I took it back and he gave me a "song
and dance" about how i would now have to return it to Maudio. I called
Maudio and they basically told me i was screwed. I bad mouthed them in
a forum and received an instant email from them with a # to call for
tech support. I never called and settled for just using channels 3-8
(RCA).
Then there was a more recent visit where i wanted to purchase a case
for my new Luthier made electric. The guitar tech was great and quoted
me a reduced price of $89 for a nice case. He got side tracked as i
was trying out another piece of equipment and i couldn't locate him.
So when i went to check out they charged me the full price of $138 and
said....that's what it is.....dude.
I like Guitar Center so i blame the high turnover of transient,
"musician" employees they have been hiring lately. Smart alecks.
Well, as an Irene flood victim...... Allstate has elected to settle my
claim and i will need to replace a few expensive items. There is a SAM
ASH right across the hwy there and my friend Dave Phillips Music and
sound in Phillipsburg will be my 1st choices... if for no other reason
than the same employees will still be there the next time i return...
It really is a shame that you would have to go through that with a
gift card. Guitar Center is going down hill. But their prices aren't.
Flasherly
Oct 30, 2011, 12:25:30 PM10/30/11
to
On Oct 29, 9:48 pm, "RichL" <rpleav...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Anyone else have experience with GC gift cards? Have you encountered issues
> like this before?
I heard some of what concerned laws passed for consumer protection
>
> Anyone else have experience with GC gift cards? Have you encountered issues
> like this before?
recently, last couple years, and gift cards were up right in there
with banking shenanigans. Shouldn't be too difficult to find the
right contacts, merchant customer service and information regarding
pertaining laws -- last thing any merchant wants to get into, a circle
jerk over valid gift redemption issues with someone who knows their
rights.
Carl
Oct 30, 2011, 6:51:35 PM10/30/11
to
seem like a poor system though regarding the PIN.
Carl
Oct 30, 2011, 6:53:21 PM10/30/11
to
recourse in this matter. Usually, GC is pretty good at giving refunds.
Anyway, a lesson learned is to never take an open-box item. Believe me, I've
learned that lesson the same hard way as you.
Mikey
Oct 30, 2011, 10:28:19 PM10/30/11
to
On Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:53:21 -0400, "Carl"
<crot...@NOSPAMoptonline.net> wrote:
>>
>Sorry to hear that tale Mikey. I'm surprised that you didn't have more
>recourse in this matter. Usually, GC is pretty good at giving refunds.
>
>Anyway, a lesson learned is to never take an open-box item. Believe me, I've
>learned that lesson the same hard way as you.
>
...the problem is they think i'm Donald Trump. Bad hair is where the
<crot...@NOSPAMoptonline.net> wrote:
>>
>Sorry to hear that tale Mikey. I'm surprised that you didn't have more
>recourse in this matter. Usually, GC is pretty good at giving refunds.
>
>Anyway, a lesson learned is to never take an open-box item. Believe me, I've
>learned that lesson the same hard way as you.
>
resemblance ends....
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