How do you share an iTunes gift card among two differnet iOS devices?

Adair Bordon

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Feb 23, 2015, 5:55:08 PM2/23/15

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The group here convinced me to buy my first iTunes gift card
because they convinced me that a $2 app is worth the price:
http://i61.tinypic.com/2zq8nsg.jpg

But, the smallest iTunes card Walgreens will sell was $15:
http://i60.tinypic.com/xdxwdh.jpg

So, that $2 app now cost me 7.5 times what it should cost.
I have never bought anything for any mobile device in my life
(after years of ownership), so, there's no way I can use the
rest of the money.

However ... I can give it to my wife for her to figure out
how to spend it (she's better at that than I am).

My question is how to set it up to use only the first $2 for my
iPad, and the rest for the wife's iPad (since I never buy anything
and she might if I give her the $13 to play with):

I registered my iPad with wholly bogus information, so it's a
made up icloud email address, with absolutely no valid name or
credit card information whatsoever, so, I can change things on
my iPad if that's what it takes to share the card.

The wife registered her iPad with her real email address, but
she too doesn't have any credit card information or any real
name information.

Can I easily just use the first $2 for my one and only iPad app
purchase on the App Store, and then give her the card to use the
rest of the $15?

Rod Speed

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Feb 23, 2015, 6:30:31 PM2/23/15

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Adair Bordon <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote

> The group here convinced me to buy my first iTunes gift card
> because they convinced me that a $2 app is worth the price:
> http://i61.tinypic.com/2zq8nsg.jpg

Makes more sense to open a new bank account with a debit
card which pays you to open the account and use that.

> But, the smallest iTunes card Walgreens will sell was $15:
> http://i60.tinypic.com/xdxwdh.jpg

> So, that $2 app now cost me 7.5 times what it should cost.

And you get it for free with the account that pays you to open it.

> I have never bought anything for any mobile
> device in my life (after years of ownership), so,
> there's no way I can use the rest of the money.

So open a new account instead.

Or get one of the disposable prepaid cards.

> However ... I can give it to my wife for her to figure
> out how to spend it (she's better at that than I am).

> My question is how to set it up to use only the first $2 for
> my iPad, and the rest for the wife's iPad (since I never buy
> anything and she might if I give her the $13 to play with):

> I registered my iPad with wholly bogus information, so it's a
> made up icloud email address, with absolutely no valid name
> or credit card information whatsoever, so, I can change things
> on my iPad if that's what it takes to share the card.

You don’t need to change anything, just take a photo
of the card in the usual way and let it put the value of
the card into your Apple ID account.

> The wife registered her iPad with her real email address,
> but she too doesn't have any credit card information or
> any real name information.

You don’t need any of that to get the value
of the card into your Apple ID account.

> Can I easily just use the first $2 for my one and
> only iPad app purchase on the App Store, and
> then give her the card to use the rest of the $15?

Best to redeem the card on her ipad and
then get her to send you $2 to yours.

Adair Bordon

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Feb 23, 2015, 7:02:41 PM2/23/15

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Rod Speed wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:30:24 +1100:

> Best to redeem the card on her ipad and
> then get her to send you $2 to yours.

OK. I didn't even know that capability to "send" money to
another iOS device even existed.

Googling for "send ipad money", is this the procedure to gift
most of the gift card money to another iPad?

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201783
Gift an amount on an iOS device

1. Scroll to the bottom of the main page of the App Store.
2. Tap Send Gift.
3. Sign in to the iTunes Store with your Apple ID.
4. Type the email address for the person that you're sending the Gift to.
5. Tap an amount you’d like to gift or type another amount.
6. Tap Buy, then tap Buy to confirm.

Will that procedure work for me, given that I don't have any
credit card information on either iPad, and neither has ever
bought anything (and likely will never buy anything other than
trying to get rid of this unused $13)?

Or, does Apple make that impossible?

Rod Speed

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Feb 23, 2015, 7:17:19 PM2/23/15

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"Adair Bordon" <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote in message
news:mcgf30$3qv$2...@news.albasani.net...

> Rod Speed wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:30:24 +1100:
>
>> Best to redeem the card on her ipad and
>> then get her to send you $2 to yours.
>
> OK. I didn't even know that capability to "send" money to
> another iOS device even existed.
>
> Googling for "send ipad money", is this the procedure to gift
> most of the gift card money to another iPad?
>
> http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201783
> Gift an amount on an iOS device
>
> 1. Scroll to the bottom of the main page of the App Store.
> 2. Tap Send Gift.
> 3. Sign in to the iTunes Store with your Apple ID.
> 4. Type the email address for the person that you're sending the Gift to.
> 5. Tap an amount you’d like to gift or type another amount.
> 6. Tap Buy, then tap Buy to confirm.

> Will that procedure work for me,

Yep.

> given that I don't have any credit
> card information on either iPad,

You don’t need that, all you need is the credit
on her Apple ID account that you put there when
you redeem the $15 iTunes card on her ipad.

> and neither has ever bought anything

Doesn’t matter, there is a first time for everything.

> (and likely will never buy anything other
> than trying to get rid of this unused $13)?

Bet you do buy some other app eventually
when you discover that you can get a better
app by paying peanuts than the best of the
free ones can do.

> Or, does Apple make that impossible?

Nope. Makes it very easy indeed in fact.

Rod Speed

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Feb 23, 2015, 7:23:53 PM2/23/15

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"Adair Bordon" <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote in message
news:mcgf30$3qv$2...@news.albasani.net...

> Rod Speed wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:30:24 +1100:
>
>> Best to redeem the card on her ipad and
>> then get her to send you $2 to yours.
>
> OK. I didn't even know that capability to "send" money to
> another iOS device even existed.
>
> Googling for "send ipad money", is this the procedure to gift
> most of the gift card money to another iPad?
>
> http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201783
> Gift an amount on an iOS device
>
> 1. Scroll to the bottom of the main page of the App Store.
> 2. Tap Send Gift.
> 3. Sign in to the iTunes Store with your Apple ID.
> 4. Type the email address for the person that you're sending the Gift to.
> 5. Tap an amount you’d like to gift or type another amount.
> 6. Tap Buy, then tap Buy to confirm.

> Will that procedure work for me,

The other approach is buy the $2 app on her ipad and send that to yours as a
gift.

David Empson

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Feb 23, 2015, 7:56:31 PM2/23/15

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Rod Speed <rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote:

> "Adair Bordon" <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote in message
> news:mcgf30$3qv$2...@news.albasani.net...
> > Rod Speed wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:30:24 +1100:
> >
> >> Best to redeem the card on her ipad and
> >> then get her to send you $2 to yours.
> >
> > OK. I didn't even know that capability to "send" money to
> > another iOS device even existed.
> >
> > Googling for "send ipad money", is this the procedure to gift
> > most of the gift card money to another iPad?
> >
> > http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201783
> > Gift an amount on an iOS device
> >
> > 1. Scroll to the bottom of the main page of the App Store.
> > 2. Tap Send Gift.
> > 3. Sign in to the iTunes Store with your Apple ID.
> > 4. Type the email address for the person that you're sending the Gift to.
> > 5. Tap an amount you'd like to gift or type another amount.
> > 6. Tap Buy, then tap Buy to confirm.
>
> > Will that procedure work for me,
>
> Yep.

Nope. You can't use an existing credit balance on your account to send
gifts to someone else. Gifts must be purchased with a credit/debit card
linked to your account.

Gift card balances can only be used to purchase items for the Apple ID
for which they were redeemed. Here is the relevant part of the iTunes
terms & conditions (US edition):

"Gift Certificates, iTunes Cards and Codes, Content Codes, and
Allowances, in addition to unused balances, are not redeemable for cash
and cannot be returned for a cash refund (except as required by law);
exchanged; resold; used to purchase Gifts, Gift Certificates, or iTunes
Cards or Codes; used to provide Allowances; used for purchases on the
Apple Online Store; or used in Apple Retail Stores. Unused balances are
not transferable."

I just tried, using one of my Apple IDs which has a balance due to gift
cards, but no payment method (credit/debit card). I wasn't able to use
"Send iTunes Gifts" or gift individual items, because it required
payment information to be entered.

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

David Empson

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Feb 23, 2015, 7:56:32 PM2/23/15

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Adair Bordon <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> The group here convinced me to buy my first iTunes gift card
> because they convinced me that a $2 app is worth the price:
> http://i61.tinypic.com/2zq8nsg.jpg
>
> But, the smallest iTunes card Walgreens will sell was $15:
> http://i60.tinypic.com/xdxwdh.jpg
>
> So, that $2 app now cost me 7.5 times what it should cost.
> I have never bought anything for any mobile device in my life
> (after years of ownership), so, there's no way I can use the
> rest of the money.
>
> However ... I can give it to my wife for her to figure out
> how to spend it (she's better at that than I am).
>
> My question is how to set it up to use only the first $2 for my
> iPad, and the rest for the wife's iPad (since I never buy anything
> and she might if I give her the $13 to play with):

You can't gift the balance on your account to someone else (see my other
post further down thread). Once you've redeemed an iTunes gift card, it
can only be used to purchase items for your Apple ID.

> I registered my iPad with wholly bogus information, so it's a
> made up icloud email address, with absolutely no valid name or
> credit card information whatsoever, so, I can change things on
> my iPad if that's what it takes to share the card.
>
> The wife registered her iPad with her real email address, but
> she too doesn't have any credit card information or any real
> name information.
>

The only ways around this which occur to me would be signing into your
account on your wife's iPad and then buying the items your wife wants,
or using Family Sharing, which links Apple IDs together and allows
purchases under any Apple ID to be used by other family members.

I doubt you will want to use either method as it will mean you are no
longer anonymous (there will be a link between your Apple ID with a fake
identity and your wife's device, which has some real identity associated
with it).

> Can I easily just use the first $2 for my one and only iPad app
> purchase on the App Store, and then give her the card to use the
> rest of the $15?

No. Once the card is redeemed, you can throw it out. The entire balance
is now associated with your Apple ID. It can't be redeemed twice.

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

Rod Speed

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Feb 23, 2015, 8:46:12 PM2/23/15

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"David Empson" <dem...@actrix.gen.nz> wrote in message
news:1m0codm.ynr94ew37foyN%dem...@actrix.gen.nz...

The other way should work, just buy the $2 app on her ipad and gift that to
his.

David Empson

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Feb 23, 2015, 9:31:06 PM2/23/15

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That would have worked, IF his wife had a credit/debit card linked to
her Apple ID, but from an earlier post that was not the case (she only
had a valid email address, not her real name or any payment settings).

He's also need to be able to receive email, which sounds like it would
work, because he created a throwaway icloud.com address for the Apple ID
and can presumably access that email account.

In any case, it is too late now. From earlier posts, it sounds like he
already redeemed the card on his iTunes account, and already bought the
app in question.

The remaining $13 can only be used to buy stuff for his Apple ID.

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

Adair Bordon

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:03:54 PM2/23/15

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Rod Speed wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:17:10 +1100:

> Nope. Makes it very easy indeed in fact.

My main worry is the fine print at the bottom of this page:

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201783
Gift an amount on an iOS device

It says (verbatim):
"When you purchase an iTunes Gift, you must have a valid credit card on file".

Since I will *never* have a valid credit card on file, I hope
I'm misinterpreting what it says, and I hope they "meant" to
say something like:

"When you purchase an iTunes Gift, you must have paid for it first".

Or, something like that.

Adair Bordon

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:16:18 PM2/23/15

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David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 13:56:31 +1300:

> I just tried, using one of my Apple IDs which has a balance due to gift
> cards, but no payment method (credit/debit card). I wasn't able to use
> "Send iTunes Gifts" or gift individual items, because it required
> payment information to be entered.

I was afraid of that.

Almost every time I try something on the iPad, there's a gotcha
that makes it far harder than it would appear to be.

So, if I want to put the current $15 on my wife's iPad, then I can't
gift the $2 to my iPad unless what?

Do I need to temporarily link a credit card to her iPad and *then*
gift the $2, and then immediately remove the credit card information?

Adair Bordon

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:20:58 PM2/23/15

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Rod Speed wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 12:46:04 +1100:

> The other way should work, just buy the $2 app on her ipad
> and gift that to his.

Interesting. I had not realized you can gift the *app*, and not
just the money.

Looking for the gotcha, it may have the same credit card gotcha
That David Empson discussed, because a search takes us to exactly
the same page which says you need a valid credit card on file for
the process to work.

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201783

Adair Bordon

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:28:09 PM2/23/15

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David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:31:04 +1300:

> That would have worked, IF his wife had a credit/debit card linked to
> her Apple ID, but from an earlier post that was not the case (she only
> had a valid email address, not her real name or any payment settings).

You are correct that my wife uses her "real" email on her iPad, but
there is absolutely no identifying information, and certainly no credit
card information.

> He's also need to be able to receive email, which sounds like it would
> work, because he created a throwaway icloud.com address for the Apple ID
> and can presumably access that email account.

You are correct again, in that my iPad setup is almost the same as hers,
with the only exception being I have a bogus iCloud email account, which
makes the Apple Mail application useless (which is why I use Gmail).

But, if Apple were to send me a message to that bogus iCloud email
address that the iPad is registered to, I would get it in Apple Mail.

> In any case, it is too late now. From earlier posts, it sounds like he
> already redeemed the card on his iTunes account, and already bought the
> app in question.

I haven't touched the card yet. I simply bought it, and the fine print
that says I need a credit card on file is NOT on the card itself.

> The remaining $13 can only be used to buy stuff for his Apple ID.

I'll never use it in a million years, so I may as well give it away.
I only wanted to spend the $2, and will give the wife the rest (she
is good at spending money, but she too has never bought anything on
Android or iOS).

It seems most suggest I redeem the $15 on the wife's iPad, and then,
I either gift the $2 to me, or the app itself. However, do I understand
this correctly in that I will have to put my own personal credit card
temporarily on her iPad for about five minutes, in order for that
process to work?

If so, why on earth does it need a credit card, since the gift card
is already "money", and since I can (presumably) remove the credit
card the moment the transaction goes through?

NOTE: I'd rather *not* have to give away the farm to apple by putting
a credit card in, but, the catches and gotchas are astoundingly just
like iOS here, in that the simplest things they make impossible.

Adair Bordon

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:29:17 PM2/23/15

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Rod Speed wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:23:46 +1100:

> The other approach is buy the $2 app on her ipad and send that to yours as a
> gift.

Dempson said even that requires a credit card.

I might stop down at the Apple store tomorrow and ask the people
there since they make such a simple thing nearly impossible.

Adair Bordon

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:30:35 PM2/23/15

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David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 13:56:32 +1300:

> You can't gift the balance on your account to someone else (see my other
> post further down thread). Once you've redeemed an iTunes gift card, it
> can only be used to purchase items for your Apple ID.

But, haven't people said I can redeem the gift card on her iPad,
and then have her iPad gift me the app (or the $2)?

Adair Bordon

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:31:36 PM2/23/15

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David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 13:56:32 +1300:

> I doubt you will want to use either method as it will mean you are no
> longer anonymous (there will be a link between your Apple ID with a fake
> identity and your wife's device, which has some real identity associated
> with it).

You are correct. It's amazing how hard this is, to just buy something
anonymously for $2.

nospam

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:35:53 PM2/23/15

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In article <mcguko$gp0$5...@news.albasani.net>, Adair Bordon

<Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> If so, why on earth does it need a credit card, since the gift card
> is already "money", and since I can (presumably) remove the credit
> card the moment the transaction goes through?

it doesn't need a credit card. that's the *point* of the gift cards.

tap the redeem button in the app store app and use the camera to scan
the number on the card. the value is added.

it can be used only on one itunes account, so if you don't plan on
spending more than $2, give it to her and either gift the app, use
family sharing or just use her itunes account credentials. you can have
more than one apple id associated with a device.

> NOTE: I'd rather *not* have to give away the farm to apple by putting
> a credit card in, but, the catches and gotchas are astoundingly just
> like iOS here, in that the simplest things they make impossible.

it's you who is making this far more complex than it needs to be, just
like you always do.

nospam

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:35:54 PM2/23/15

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In article <mcgur7$gp0$8...@news.albasani.net>, Adair Bordon

<Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> You are correct. It's amazing how hard this is, to just buy something
> anonymously for $2.

it's not hard at all.

in fact, it's so ridiculously simple that apple has been chastised for
kids buying stuff that they shouldn't.

Adair Bordon

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:41:46 PM2/23/15

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nospam wrote, on Mon, 23 Feb 2015 23:35:52 -0500:

> it doesn't need a credit card. that's the *point* of the gift cards.

Ok. I didn't think so, at first.
But, didn't David Empson say I need to have a credit card on file?

I'm rather confused.
I agree with you that the gift card should be "as good" as cash,
so, it shouldn't need anything else.

It *should* work this way:

1. I put the $15 on the wife's ipad.
2. I gift the app (or the $2) from the wife's iPad to my iPad.

It should be that simple.
I don't understand why a credit card would be needed.

Adair Bordon

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:46:01 PM2/23/15

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nospam wrote, on Mon, 23 Feb 2015 23:35:52 -0500:

> it can be used only on one itunes account, so if you don't plan on
> spending more than $2, give it to her and either gift the app, use
> family sharing or just use her itunes account credentials. you can have
> more than one apple id associated with a device.

I'll never spend the other $13 since I have no need to buy apps
(and I use Android most of the time anyway).

She won't spend it on apps, and we don't ever buy music or videos,
but, maybe she can buy clothes or something with it on the iPad
(she can figure out better than I how to spend money).

I will have to look up what family sharing is, but I know her iTunes
password and lock screen so I can do anything on her iPad that I need
to do, but I still would simply want to be anonymous to Apple as they
have no business knowing who I am.

Adair Bordon

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:48:33 PM2/23/15

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nospam wrote, on Mon, 23 Feb 2015 23:35:53 -0500:

> in fact, it's so ridiculously simple that apple has been chastised for
> kids buying stuff that they shouldn't.

Well, hopefully tomorrow, I will have the process figured out such
that I can do the following simple task:

1. Redeem the card on the wife's iPad.
2. From the wife's iPad, gift the $2 app to my iPad.
3. Leave the $13 for her to figure out how to spend on her iPad.

Hopefully that simple stuff can be done without the need for a
credit card (which shouldn't be needed, as you noted, because the
gift card was already paid for in cash).

David Empson

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:50:50 PM2/23/15

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It means what it says. To purchase a gift within iTunes or App Store to
give to someone else, you need a valid credit card on file with Apple.

The gift purchase is always charged to the linked credit card. If you
also have a credit balance from gift cards you've redeemed, that balance
is ignored.

If you don't have a credit card linked to the account, you cannot
purchase a gift, even if you have a credit balance from gift cards.

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

David Empson

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:50:50 PM2/23/15

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Adair Bordon <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 13:56:31 +1300:
>
> > I just tried, using one of my Apple IDs which has a balance due to gift
> > cards, but no payment method (credit/debit card). I wasn't able to use
> > "Send iTunes Gifts" or gift individual items, because it required
> > payment information to be entered.
>
> I was afraid of that.
>
> Almost every time I try something on the iPad, there's a gotcha
> that makes it far harder than it would appear to be.
>
> So, if I want to put the current $15 on my wife's iPad, then I can't
> gift the $2 to my iPad unless what?

Have you redeemed the $15 gift card on your account yet? I thought you
said you had done that. If so, you can't use the gift card any more and
that $15 is permanently allocated to your Apple ID.

If you have bought the $15 card but not yet redeemed it, then your wife
could redeem that card and use it for purchases on her Apple ID.

In that case, she can't gift you the $2 app (or a gift balance which
would let you buy it yourself) unless there is a credit card linked to
her account.

> Do I need to temporarily link a credit card to her iPad and *then*
> gift the $2, and then immediately remove the credit card information?

Yes.

The gift will be emailed to you. You need to get that email and follow
the link in it, which will redeem the gift in App Store for your Apple
ID. Assuming she gifted you the app, you could then download it.

This will of course create a permanent record in your wife's purchase
history (at least on Apple's servers, even if not visible in her account
details) that her Apple ID purchased a gift which was sent to your Apple
ID, which implies a connection between those accounts, which could lead
to a way of identifying you. Given your efforts so far to hide your
identity, you probably don't want to do this.

The best way to remain as anonymous as possible is to redeem the gift
card on your own Apple ID, buy the $2 app, and over time use the
remaining $13 for other apps which may be useful to you. The credit
balance will not expire, as long as the Apple ID is active from time to
time.

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

David Empson

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Feb 23, 2015, 11:55:42 PM2/23/15

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If your wife redeems the $15 gift card on her account, she can use that
$15 to buy apps for her Apple ID.

She can't use it to gift an app to your Apple ID, because that balance
can only be used for purchases under her own Apple ID.

To buy a gift in iTunes or App Store, there must be a credit card linked
to the account.

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

Adair Bordon

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:02:50 AM2/24/15

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David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 17:50:48 +1300:

> If you don't have a credit card linked to the account, you cannot
> purchase a gift, even if you have a credit balance from gift cards.

What you wrote is pretty clear, so, I will repeat it bluntly, and
specific to my situation, just in case I got it wrong.

A. If I put the $15 gift card on my wife's iPad, it's *impossible*
to gift $2 of that $15 (or the $2 app itself) because she has no
credit card linked to her iPad account.

B. That means that the gift card is stuck to a *single* iPad, no
matter what I do.

C. Even if I add a credit card for five minutes, and then remove it,
I *still* can't gift the app or the $2 from her iPad to mine.

Do I understand the fine print correctly?

PS: NONE of this was on the card itself!

nospam

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:04:31 AM2/24/15

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In article <mcgvea$gp0$1...@news.albasani.net>, Adair Bordon

<Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> > it doesn't need a credit card. that's the *point* of the gift cards.
>
> Ok. I didn't think so, at first.
> But, didn't David Empson say I need to have a credit card on file?

you do if you want to gift someone else an app.

you do not if you want to buy yourself an app.

another option is have her redeem the gift card and she buys the app
for herself (and deletes it if she wants). then you use her itunes
account on your ipad to download it. you can have more than one apple
id per device. it's a bit of a pain but you enjoy pain.

or just stop overcomplicating things and use the remaining $13 for
other apps. no rush. you have as long as you want to do it. live it up
a little and stop being such a cheapskate.

> I'm rather confused.
> I agree with you that the gift card should be "as good" as cash,
> so, it shouldn't need anything else.

it does't. that's the whole point.

nospam

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:04:32 AM2/24/15

to

In article <mch0lp$gp0$1...@news.albasani.net>, Adair Bordon

<Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> B. That means that the gift card is stuck to a *single* iPad, no
> matter what I do.

nope. it's linked to an apple id (aka itunes account), which can be for
as many ipads, iphones and ipod touches as you own.

Adair Bordon

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:08:25 AM2/24/15

to

David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 17:50:49 +1300:

> Have you redeemed the $15 gift card on your account yet?

Nope. It's sitting right here, on my bedroom dresser.

> I thought you said you had done that.

Nope. I didn't want to do it until I had my ducks lined up.
Most of the time, the simplest things turn out to be harder,
because of the fine print. I read ALL the fine print on the
card itself, and there was no mention of this credit-card
requirement.

> If so, you can't use the gift card any more and
> that $15 is permanently allocated to your Apple ID.

The gift card is unused at the moment.

> If you have bought the $15 card but not yet redeemed it, then your wife
> could redeem that card and use it for purchases on her Apple ID.

Since you can't buy anything smaller than $15, I bought the $15 card.
Since I'll never be able to spend the remaining $13, the plan would
be to give it to the wife (although she never bought anything either,
and she has been on Android and iOS for more than a year).

But, at least she'll feel like I gave her something if I tell her
she can buy $13 worth of stuff (clothes maybe?).

> In that case, she can't gift you the $2 app (or a gift balance which
> would let you buy it yourself) unless there is a credit card linked to
> her account.

You seem to be the only one who realizes this, as everyone else
suggested otherwise, but I saw that cryptically confusing line at
the bottom of the gift support page that mentioned credit cards.

So, after all this, I realize that the gift card is locked to a single
iPad, which may as well be hers, which means I don't even get the $2
app that caused me to buy the gift card in the first place.

That's kind'a funny, in a sadistically ironic way. :)

nospam

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:11:42 AM2/24/15

to

In article <mch109$gp0$1...@news.albasani.net>, Adair Bordon

<Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> Nope. I didn't want to do it until I had my ducks lined up.
> Most of the time, the simplest things turn out to be harder,
> because of the fine print. I read ALL the fine print on the
> card itself, and there was no mention of this credit-card
> requirement.

that's because there is no credit card requirement to use a gift card.

you are wanting to use a gift card to gift an app to someone else.
that's not supported.

normally (i.e., not you), a person would just give the gift card as the
gift, not redeem it themselves and then gift an app.

Adair Bordon

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:14:52 AM2/24/15

to

David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 17:55:41 +1300:

> To buy a gift in iTunes or App Store, there must be a credit card linked
> to the account.

You're the only one who understands this, and I agree that you're
being very clear with me.

Here's how I summarize what I understand from you, but put in my
situation.
0. The goal was to buy a $2 app anonymously.
1. The whole point of buying the gift card was to stay anonymous.
2. Therefore, with a gift card, the need for a credit card should be negated.
3. Unfortunately, you can't buy a $2 gift card; you have to buy $15.
4. So, now that $2 app costs 7.5 times more, at $15.
5. (I've had iOS for more than a year and Android for far longer and
never felt the need to spend a penny before).
6. So, in a million years, I would never spend the remaining $13.
7. Some suggested I could give the wife the $13, but, that turns out
to be impossible without giving away our anonymity (which was the
whole point of the gift card in the first place).
8. So, my only available option that solves the problem set is to
basically pay $15 for a $2 app.

Given that the gift card turned out to be useless ... I think I'm gonna
just waltz back to Walgreens tomorrow and return the rather useless gift
card and get my money back!

David Empson

unread,

Feb 24, 2015, 12:18:32 AM2/24/15

to

Adair Bordon <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 17:50:49 +1300:
>

[...]

> > In that case, she can't gift you the $2 app (or a gift balance which
> > would let you buy it yourself) unless there is a credit card linked to
> > her account.
>
> You seem to be the only one who realizes this, as everyone else
> suggested otherwise, but I saw that cryptically confusing line at
> the bottom of the gift support page that mentioned credit cards.
>
> So, after all this, I realize that the gift card is locked to a single
> iPad, which may as well be hers, which means I don't even get the $2
> app that caused me to buy the gift card in the first place.

The gift card balance is not locked to a single iPad. It is locked to a
single Apple ID.

For apps, an Apple ID can be used on any number of iOS devices you own
or control.

You can also have apps belonging to mulitple Apple IDs on the same iPad,
but managing this is a little cumbersome.

As I've already said, your best course is to redeem the gift card
yourself, get the $2 app, then when your wife spots an app she wants to
buy, sign in to App Store on your wife's iPad using your Apple ID, buy
the app, and then sign back into App Store using her own Apple ID.

The purchased app will belong to your Apple ID, and can also be
downloaded on your iPad, but if you aren't interested in it, then you
can ignore it (you'd probably want to turn off the automatic download
option for apps purchased on other devices).

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

Adair Bordon

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:22:42 AM2/24/15

to

nospam wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 00:04:31 -0500:

>> B. That means that the gift card is stuck to a *single* iPad, no
>> matter what I do.
>
> nope. it's linked to an apple id (aka itunes account), which can be for
> as many ipads, iphones and ipod touches as you own.

You generally know your stuff, and, the gift card was paid for
in cash because the whole point of the gift card was anonymity,
and, since it's paid for, Apple shouldn't restrict what I do with it,
but, Dempson says that the gift card is stuck to a single iPad
under the circumstances.

So, what you said, and what Dempson said, don't agree, and, it's the
whole point of the thread, so, it's important to figure out what's
the correct answer.

Adair Bordon

unread,

Feb 24, 2015, 12:27:30 AM2/24/15

to

nospam wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 00:04:30 -0500:

> stop being such a cheapskate.

You have to realize it's not about the money; it's about the waste.

I'm willing to give the money away, in fact, to someone else.

I'll never spend the money, since I've never needed to buy anything
in the two or three years I've owned Android and iOS devices, so,
I'm pretty sure the money will be wasted, so, I may as well give
away the money, if Apple will let me without destroying my anonymity.

The only other option is to waste $15 on a $2 app.

Given that, I think I'll return the essentially useless gift card
to Walgreens, and ask for my money back.

David Empson

unread,

Feb 24, 2015, 12:27:49 AM2/24/15

to

Adair Bordon <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 17:55:41 +1300:
>
> > To buy a gift in iTunes or App Store, there must be a credit card linked
> > to the account.
>
> You're the only one who understands this, and I agree that you're
> being very clear with me.
>
> Here's how I summarize what I understand from you, but put in my
> situation.
> 0. The goal was to buy a $2 app anonymously.
> 1. The whole point of buying the gift card was to stay anonymous.

It does. Redeem it yourself and there is nothing to identify you when
you buy the app, beyond your fake identity associated with the Apple ID.

> 2. Therefore, with a gift card, the need for a credit card should be negated.
> 3. Unfortunately, you can't buy a $2 gift card; you have to buy $15.
> 4. So, now that $2 app costs 7.5 times more, at $15.
> 5. (I've had iOS for more than a year and Android for far longer and
> never felt the need to spend a penny before).
> 6. So, in a million years, I would never spend the remaining $13.

I find that hard to believe. There are a huge number of low priced apps
in the store, some of which might be useful to you if you just went
looking.

For example, several of the low priced apps I've bought are paid
versions of free apps, which often have extra features and disable the
annoying ads displayed in the free version.

> 7. Some suggested I could give the wife the $13, but, that turns out
> to be impossible without giving away our anonymity (which was the
> whole point of the gift card in the first place).

Anonymity has nothing to do with it. Nobody can give away the unspent
balance from a redeemed iTunes gift card.

> 8. So, my only available option that solves the problem set is to
> basically pay $15 for a $2 app.

Or use the remaining balance to buy apps which your wife wants, to
install on her iPad using your Apple ID.

> Given that the gift card turned out to be useless ... I think I'm gonna
> just waltz back to Walgreens tomorrow and return the rather useless gift
> card and get my money back!

I expect gift card purchases are not refundable. You could give the card
to someone else.

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

David Empson

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:29:41 AM2/24/15

to

Adair Bordon <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> nospam wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 00:04:31 -0500:
>
> >> B. That means that the gift card is stuck to a *single* iPad, no
> >> matter what I do.
> >
> > nope. it's linked to an apple id (aka itunes account), which can be for
> > as many ipads, iphones and ipod touches as you own.
>
> You generally know your stuff, and, the gift card was paid for
> in cash because the whole point of the gift card was anonymity,
> and, since it's paid for, Apple shouldn't restrict what I do with it,
> but, Dempson says that the gift card is stuck to a single iPad
> under the circumstances.

No I didn't. Once redeemed, the gift card balance is locked to a single
Apple ID (iTunes account), not to a single iPad.

> So, what you said, and what Dempson said, don't agree, and, it's the
> whole point of the thread, so, it's important to figure out what's
> the correct answer.

Nospam's comment above is correct.

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

Adair Bordon

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:31:40 AM2/24/15

to

nospam wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 00:11:41 -0500:

> normally (i.e., not you), a person would just give the gift card as the
> gift, not redeem it themselves and then gift an app.

Yes, but, while I am not complaining about the (free) advice
given here, I was merely following the advice given here which
said I could remain anonymous by buying the gift card and then
I could give away the remaining $13.

Anyway, it's not your fault; it's mine for following the advice,
which turns out to mean that a $2 app is, in reality, $15, if I
wish to preserve my anonymity.

I think it's kind of funny how Apple makes it so hard to remain
anonymous, and how the gift card makes an app 7.5 times as expensive
as it would have been without the gift card.

I should have expected this result, but I didn't.

nospam

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:33:31 AM2/24/15

to

In article <mch1cb$gp0$1...@news.albasani.net>, Adair Bordon

<Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> Given that the gift card turned out to be useless ... I think I'm gonna
> just waltz back to Walgreens tomorrow and return the rather useless gift
> card and get my money back!

good luck on that. walgreens won't give refunds on gift cards. same for
pretty much every store.

give the card as a gift to someone for a birthday or whatever.

nospam

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:33:31 AM2/24/15

to

In article <mch1r1$gp0$1...@news.albasani.net>, Adair Bordon

<Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> >> B. That means that the gift card is stuck to a *single* iPad, no
> >> matter what I do.
> >
> > nope. it's linked to an apple id (aka itunes account), which can be for
> > as many ipads, iphones and ipod touches as you own.
>
> You generally know your stuff, and, the gift card was paid for
> in cash because the whole point of the gift card was anonymity,
> and, since it's paid for, Apple shouldn't restrict what I do with it,

they don't restrict anything. you can buy whatever you want on the app
store.

> but, Dempson says that the gift card is stuck to a single iPad
> under the circumstances.

he didn't say that.

nospam

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:37:00 AM2/24/15

to

In article <mch2br$mdt$2...@news.albasani.net>, Adair Bordon

<Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> > normally (i.e., not you), a person would just give the gift card as the
> > gift, not redeem it themselves and then gift an app.
>
> Yes, but, while I am not complaining about the (free) advice
> given here, I was merely following the advice given here which
> said I could remain anonymous by buying the gift card and then
> I could give away the remaining $13.

nobody said that.

> Anyway, it's not your fault; it's mine for following the advice,
> which turns out to mean that a $2 app is, in reality, $15, if I
> wish to preserve my anonymity.

nope. a $2 is a $2 app.

after buying a $2 app, you will have a $13 balance which can be used
for future purchases. stop being a cheapskate and buy something cool.

> I think it's kind of funny how Apple makes it so hard to remain
> anonymous,

actually it's quite easy.

> and how the gift card makes an app 7.5 times as expensive
> as it would have been without the gift card.

it doesn't do any such thing.

> I should have expected this result, but I didn't.

you have that backwards.

readers of this newsgroup should have expected this result.

Adair Bordon

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:39:23 AM2/24/15

to

David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 18:29:40 +1300:

> No I didn't. Once redeemed, the gift card balance is locked to a single
> Apple ID (iTunes account), not to a single iPad.

ooooooh. My mistake.
I was erroneously equating "account" with "ipad".

So, using the word "account", is this the suggested process?

1. I redeem the gift card on her "account" (probably using her iPad).
2. Then, I (figure out how to) set up her "account" on my "iPad".
3. That would mean I would have TWO accounts on my iPad, at least temporarily.
4. Then, I (somehow) log into her account on my iPad (I know her password).
5. From there, I download the $2 app onto my iPad using her "account".
6. Then I remove her account from my iPad.
7. And the result is that I have the $2 app on my iPad.
8. And she has $13 to figure out how to spend on her iPad.

nospam

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:45:13 AM2/24/15

to

In article <mch2qb$mdt$3...@news.albasani.net>, Adair Bordon

<Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> > No I didn't. Once redeemed, the gift card balance is locked to a single
> > Apple ID (iTunes account), not to a single iPad.
>
> ooooooh. My mistake.
> I was erroneously equating "account" with "ipad".
>
> So, using the word "account", is this the suggested process?
>
> 1. I redeem the gift card on her "account" (probably using her iPad).
> 2. Then, I (figure out how to) set up her "account" on my "iPad".
> 3. That would mean I would have TWO accounts on my iPad, at least temporarily.
> 4. Then, I (somehow) log into her account on my iPad (I know her password).
> 5. From there, I download the $2 app onto my iPad using her "account".

ok so far

> 6. Then I remove her account from my iPad.

no, but you can log out if you want. her account is now linked to your
ipad. it has to, or the app won't work, since it's codesigned with her
account info.

you will need to be logged into her account for any app updates for
that app and logged into your account for app updates on your account.
switching back and forth is a pain but you like pain so this should be
ideal for you.

however, to avoid pain, you could switch to her account entirely and
re-download all your apps under her account, which won't cost a thing
since they're all free. that way you eliminate needing to fuss with two
accounts.

> 7. And the result is that I have the $2 app on my iPad.
> 8. And she has $13 to figure out how to spend on her iPad.

yes.

Adair Bordon

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Feb 24, 2015, 12:49:26 AM2/24/15

to

David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 18:18:30 +1300:

> The gift card balance is not locked to a single iPad.
> It is locked to a single Apple ID.

I had not previously understood the distinction, but I do
understand that you're saying that the gift card balance is
locked to an "account", and, since I have all the wife's
credentials, I can (presumably) access that account on *any*
iPad (i.e., either from her iPad, or from mine).

> For apps, an Apple ID can be used on any number of iOS devices you own
> or control.
>
> You can also have apps belonging to mulitple Apple IDs on the same iPad,
> but managing this is a little cumbersome.

Is that the same thing as the "best course" below?

> As I've already said, your best course is to redeem the gift card
> yourself, get the $2 app, then when your wife spots an app she wants to
> buy, sign in to App Store on your wife's iPad using your Apple ID, buy
> the app, and then sign back into App Store using her own Apple ID.

I think, since I'll never use the remaining $13, I'd reverse the
iPads, since she might somehow figure out a way to spend the money
(she's good at that).

Does this then sound viable?
1. I'd redeem the entire gift card on her iPad on her account.
2. From my iPad, I'd log into her "account" (however that's done).
3. On my iPad, logged into her account, I'd buy the $2 app.
4. Then, on my iPad, I'd log out of her account.
5. I'd probably then delete the linkage between her account and
my iPad (if it lets me) since I won't need it anymore.

David Empson

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Feb 24, 2015, 1:14:53 AM2/24/15

to

Adair Bordon <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote:

> David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 18:18:30 +1300:
>
> > The gift card balance is not locked to a single iPad.
> > It is locked to a single Apple ID.
>
> I had not previously understood the distinction, but I do
> understand that you're saying that the gift card balance is
> locked to an "account", and, since I have all the wife's
> credentials, I can (presumably) access that account on *any*
> iPad (i.e., either from her iPad, or from mine).
>
> > For apps, an Apple ID can be used on any number of iOS devices you own
> > or control.
> >
> > You can also have apps belonging to mulitple Apple IDs on the same iPad,
> > but managing this is a little cumbersome.
>
> Is that the same thing as the "best course" below?
>
> > As I've already said, your best course is to redeem the gift card
> > yourself, get the $2 app, then when your wife spots an app she wants to
> > buy, sign in to App Store on your wife's iPad using your Apple ID, buy
> > the app, and then sign back into App Store using her own Apple ID.
>
> I think, since I'll never use the remaining $13, I'd reverse the
> iPads, since she might somehow figure out a way to spend the money
> (she's good at that).
>
> Does this then sound viable?

Yes.

> 1. I'd redeem the entire gift card on her iPad on her account.
> 2. From my iPad, I'd log into her "account" (however that's done).

App Store: scroll to the bottom of the Featured tab, tap the "Sign Out"
button to sign out of your account. Then you can sign in again using the
same button, this time entering your wife's Apple ID and password.

There will be a verification step here, because your wife's Apple ID has
not been used before on your iPad. As she has no credit card linked to
the account, I'm not sure what it does to verify this is a legitmate use
of the Apple ID.

If you have a credit card linked to the account, the verification asks
for the CCV2 number to be entered again, in principle proving you have
the card. With no payment details, I seem to recall a similar screen
which may require reselecting no payment method, so it doesn't really
verify anything.

> 3. On my iPad, logged into her account, I'd buy the $2 app.
> 4. Then, on my iPad, I'd log out of her account.

Same as above. No verification will be required because your iPad has
already been used with that Apple ID.

> 5. I'd probably then delete the linkage between her account and
> my iPad (if it lets me) since I won't need it anymore.

The only link is the app itself, which is branded with data linking it
to the Apple ID with which it was purchased. (This association is not
visible anywhere in the user interface.)

A minor annoyance is that in future, to install an update for that app,
you will need to enter the password for your wife's Apple ID.

One of my family members has an iPad with a similar arrangement: they
normally use their own Apple ID, but I've installed some apps on that
iPad which were purchased using my Apple ID. They don't know my
password, so I need to enter it on their iPad to install updates for
those apps.

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

Adair Bordon

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Feb 24, 2015, 1:17:33 AM2/24/15

to

David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 18:27:49 +1300:

> There are a huge number of low priced apps
> in the store, some of which might be useful to you if you just went
> looking.

Everything I've ever needed to do on the iPad either doesn't exist
(e.g., WiFi graphs such as InSSIDer & WiGLE) or is available for free.

Here is a screenshot of the 100 free apps on my iPad, for example:
http://i61.tinypic.com/v33a1l.png

The folders are listed in order of importance.
1. Number one are maps, where Google Maps works fine when there
is cellular signal, and CoPilot and Be-on-road work fine
when there is no cellular signal. It would be nice if
Mapfactor Navigator existed for iOS, but it's only on Android.

For exit services, iExit and GasBuddy work just fine, without
any need for a login, but they do require cellular signal.

2. Number two are browsers, where, again, everything works just
fine, from Safari, to Dolphin and Mercury.

3. Number 3 is communication, such as Gmail. I can't delete
the useless Apple Mail or Messages or FaceTime, so, they're
in the folder for lack of a better spot; and Contacts I never
use because it doesn't seem to tie in with the Gmail app,
but it's in this folder also for lack of a better place.

4. The VOIP folder contains some legacy stuff such as Skype
and Viber, but, really, all you need is Hangouts and Google
Voice to make unlimited free voice calls and SMS messages
in the USA for the iPad (this iPad is has the free T-Mobile
cellular service).

5. Calendar has your basic calendar, clock, and memo stuff that
you can't get rid of anyway.

6. Photo has your basic photo stuff, which I never use from this
folder because you can access photos from the various email
and camera apps already.

7. Audio contains your basic music stuff, which I never use.

8. Video contains VLC, which is all that matters, but also
contains things like iMovie and Videos, which I never use.

9. Office contains all the office programs, from Keynote to
Powerpoint.

10. Game is filled with stuff that the kids play with, so, it's
wholly for them.

11. Books is simply for library ebooks.

12. Store has calculators, QR scanners, and a grocery app, but
I wish I could add a link to an excel spreadsheet, but you
can't.

13. WiFi is woefully deficient, but only because the apps that
are on every other platform don't exist for iOS; so all that
is there are the generally useless Net Analyzer & Fing.

14. The Art folder was for the wife, who wanted a way to draw
pictures, so, it's just a test. I should probably delete
them all because she lost interest in the endeavor.

15. Likewise with the DashCam apps. On Android the dashcam
apps are pretty good, but, they pretty much suck on iOS,
so, I should probably delete them all.

16. The Math apps were for a neighbor I was trying to help
out months ago; so, I should probably delete them.

17. The Hiking apps are the ones we have recently been talking
about, where on iOS you have to buy them to get anything
that does the bare minimum, which is he whole point of
this thread.

18. Install simply contains the App Store, and stuff you can't
delete which is otherwise useless such as "Game Center"
and "Newsstand".

Bearing in mind that my phone is Android, there's really nothing
I need to pay for on the iPad.

I guess, if I had to spend money on *something*, I could pay for
Copilot to talk to me again, like it did in the first week, but,
Google Maps and Apple Maps talk to me already, so, that would
only be to spend the money, and not for the functionality.

What else would I want that costs money?

Rod Speed

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Feb 24, 2015, 2:37:33 AM2/24/15

to

"David Empson" <dem...@actrix.gen.nz> wrote in message
news:1m0cswc.17azpgi1nspfidN%dem...@actrix.gen.nz...
> Rod Speed <rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> "David Empson" <dem...@actrix.gen.nz> wrote in message
>> news:1m0codm.ynr94ew37foyN%dem...@actrix.gen.nz...
>> > Rod Speed <rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> "Adair Bordon" <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:mcgf30$3qv$2...@news.albasani.net...
>> >> > Rod Speed wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:30:24 +1100:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Best to redeem the card on her ipad and
>> >> >> then get her to send you $2 to yours.
>> >> >
>> >> > OK. I didn't even know that capability to "send" money to
>> >> > another iOS device even existed.
>> >> >
>> >> > Googling for "send ipad money", is this the procedure to gift
>> >> > most of the gift card money to another iPad?

>> >> >
>> >> > http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201783
>> >> > Gift an amount on an iOS device
>> >> >

>> >> > 1. Scroll to the bottom of the main page of the App Store.
>> >> > 2. Tap Send Gift.
>> >> > 3. Sign in to the iTunes Store with your Apple ID.
>> >> > 4. Type the email address for the person that you're sending the
>> >> > Gift
>> >> > to.
>> >> > 5. Tap an amount you'd like to gift or type another amount.
>> >> > 6. Tap Buy, then tap Buy to confirm.
>> >>
>> >> > Will that procedure work for me,
>> >>
>> >> Yep.
>> >
>> > Nope. You can't use an existing credit balance on your account to send
>> > gifts to someone else. Gifts must be purchased with a credit/debit card
>> > linked to your account.
>> >
>> > Gift card balances can only be used to purchase items for the Apple ID
>> > for which they were redeemed. Here is the relevant part of the iTunes
>> > terms & conditions (US edition):
>> >
>> > "Gift Certificates, iTunes Cards and Codes, Content Codes, and
>> > Allowances, in addition to unused balances, are not redeemable for cash
>> > and cannot be returned for a cash refund (except as required by law);
>> > exchanged; resold; used to purchase Gifts, Gift Certificates, or iTunes
>> > Cards or Codes; used to provide Allowances; used for purchases on the
>> > Apple Online Store; or used in Apple Retail Stores. Unused balances are
>> > not transferable."

>> >
>> > I just tried, using one of my Apple IDs which has a balance due to gift
>> > cards, but no payment method (credit/debit card). I wasn't able to use
>> > "Send iTunes Gifts" or gift individual items, because it required
>> > payment information to be entered.
>>

>> The other way should work, just buy the $2 app on her ipad and gift that
>> to
>> his.

> That would have worked, IF his wife had a credit/debit card linked to her
> Apple ID,

She doesn’t need that to buy it.

> but from an earlier post that was not the case (she only had a
> valid email address, not her real name or any payment settings).

She doesn’t need that to buy that app.

> He's also need to be able to receive email, which sounds like it
> would work, because he created a throwaway icloud.com address
> for the Apple ID and can presumably access that email account.

And even if he can't its easy enough to add a new one now.

> In any case, it is too late now.

Nope.

> From earlier posts, it sounds like he already
> redeemed the card on his iTunes account,
> and already bought the app in question.

I don’t see that.

> The remaining $13 can only be used to buy stuff for his Apple ID.

We'll see...

Rod Speed

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Feb 24, 2015, 2:41:35 AM2/24/15

to

Adair Bordon <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote
> David Empson wrote

>> I just tried, using one of my Apple IDs which has a balance
>> due to gift cards, but no payment method (credit/debit card).
>> I wasn't able to use "Send iTunes Gifts" or gift individual items,
>> because it required payment information to be entered.

> I was afraid of that.

> Almost every time I try something on the iPad, there's a
> gotcha that makes it far harder than it would appear to be.

Not if you'd got a prepaid card instead of an iTunes card.

> So, if I want to put the current $15 on my wife's iPad,
> then I can't gift the $2 to my iPad unless what?

You can gift the app that is bought using your wife's ipad.

> Do I need to temporarily link a credit card to her iPad and *then* gift
> the $2, and then immediately remove the credit card information?

Better to buy the app using her ipad and gift it to your ipad.

Or use family sharing. That doesn’t require a card to be registered.

Rod Speed

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Feb 24, 2015, 2:44:04 AM2/24/15

to

"Adair Bordon" <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote in message

news:mcguko$gp0$5...@news.albasani.net...

> David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:31:04 +1300:
>
>> That would have worked, IF his wife had a credit/debit card linked to

>> her Apple ID, but from an earlier post that was not the case (she only

>> had a valid email address, not her real name or any payment settings).
>

> You are correct that my wife uses her "real" email on her iPad, but
> there is absolutely no identifying information, and certainly no credit
> card information.

>
>> He's also need to be able to receive email, which sounds like it would
>> work, because he created a throwaway icloud.com address for the Apple ID
>> and can presumably access that email account.
>

> You are correct again, in that my iPad setup is almost the same as hers,
> with the only exception being I have a bogus iCloud email account, which
> makes the Apple Mail application useless (which is why I use Gmail).
>
> But, if Apple were to send me a message to that bogus iCloud email
> address that the iPad is registered to, I would get it in Apple Mail.
>
>> In any case, it is too late now. From earlier posts, it sounds like he

>> already redeemed the card on his iTunes account, and already bought the
>> app in question.
>

> I haven't touched the card yet. I simply bought it, and the fine print
> that says I need a credit card on file is NOT on the card itself.

>
>> The remaining $13 can only be used to buy stuff for his Apple ID.
>

> I'll never use it in a million years, so I may as well give it away.
> I only wanted to spend the $2, and will give the wife the rest (she
> is good at spending money, but she too has never bought anything on
> Android or iOS).
>
> It seems most suggest I redeem the $15 on the wife's iPad, and then,
> I either gift the $2 to me, or the app itself. However, do I understand
> this correctly in that I will have to put my own personal credit card
> temporarily on her iPad for about five minutes, in order for that
> process to work?
>
> If so, why on earth does it need a credit card, since the gift card
> is already "money", and since I can (presumably) remove the credit
> card the moment the transaction goes through?
>
> NOTE: I'd rather *not* have to give away the farm to apple by putting
> a credit card in, but, the catches and gotchas are astoundingly just
> like iOS here, in that the simplest things they make impossible.

Its not impossible to use a prepaid card.

Rod Speed

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Feb 24, 2015, 2:44:58 AM2/24/15

to

"Adair Bordon" <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote in message

news:mcgumt$gp0$6...@news.albasani.net...
> Rod Speed wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:23:46 +1100:
>
>> The other approach is buy the $2 app on her ipad and send that to yours
>> as a
>> gift.
>
> Dempson said even that requires a credit card.
>
> I might stop down at the Apple store tomorrow and ask the people there

Makes more sense to ring them now.

> since they make such a simple thing nearly impossible.

They don’t with a prepaid card.

Rod Speed

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Feb 24, 2015, 2:45:48 AM2/24/15

to

"Adair Bordon" <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote in message

news:mcgur7$gp0$8...@news.albasani.net...
> David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 13:56:32 +1300:
>
>> I doubt you will want to use either method as it will mean you are no
>> longer anonymous (there will be a link between your Apple ID with a fake
>> identity and your wife's device, which has some real identity associated
>> with it).
>
> You are correct. It's amazing how hard this is, to just buy something
> anonymously for $2.

It isn't with a prepaid card.

Rod Speed

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Feb 24, 2015, 2:57:10 AM2/24/15

to

Adair Bordon <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote
> David Empson wrote

>> If you don't have a credit card linked to the account, you cannot
>> purchase a gift, even if you have a credit balance from gift cards.

> What you wrote is pretty clear, so, I will repeat it bluntly,
> and specific to my situation, just in case I got it wrong.

You did.

> A. If I put the $15 gift card on my wife's iPad, it's *impossible*
> to gift $2 of that $15 (or the $2 app itself) because she has
> no credit card linked to her iPad account.

Yes, and I agree that that is stupid.

> B. That means that the gift card is stuck
> to a *single* iPad, no matter what I do.

Yes.

> C. Even if I add a credit card for five minutes, and then remove
> it, I *still* can't gift the app or the $2 from her iPad to mine.

You should be able to gift the app if you do that.

> Do I understand the fine print correctly?

Nope.

And you can certainly use family sharing to use the
app on your ipad after its been bought using hers.

> PS: NONE of this was on the card itself!

Then you should be able to get a full refund for it
and get a prepaid card instead and do it that way.
That may take while to get Apple to do that but
you appear to be prepared to put that sort of effort
into fucking corps over like you did with Microsoft.

But it’s a lot simpler to just use family sharing.

Rod Speed

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Feb 24, 2015, 3:00:33 AM2/24/15

to

"Adair Bordon" <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote in message

news:mch109$gp0$1...@news.albasani.net...

That's not right, family sharing will get the app on your ipad.

Michael Eyd

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Feb 24, 2015, 4:00:01 AM2/24/15

to

Am 23.02.2015 um 23:55 schrieb Adair Bordon:

> Can I easily just use the first $2 for my one and only iPad app
> purchase on the App Store, and then give her the card to use the
> rest of the $15?

AFAIK: No. Once the card is redeem for one iTunes account, it is
completely booked there - no splits possible.

But you can enter the card in your wife's iPad (all the 15$) and then
have her buy you the app you want as a gift. This can be done on her
iPad in the App Store as follows:

- Open the App Store app on her iPad.
- Go to the page for the app you like to have.
- Now *don't* press the 'Buy' button, instead press the button with
upward arrow coming out of a square box (on my iPhone it's in the upper
right corner of the screen, the position on the iPad may vary though).
This is the 'action' or 'forwarding' button.
- In the upcoming popup in the second row of icons you should find an
icon/button 'as a gift' (or similar, I only see German texts here).
- Pressing this button will open a mail-like form where you have to
enter the email address of your iTunes account (has to be the address
you registered it with!), the sender's email adress (probably any
address is possible here) and some free text. You can even tell the
system to deliver the gift on a specific date in the future, but I think
for your case 'today' will be just fine... :-)
- Press the 'Continue' button on top and things should start
happening... (I won't try it further from here, so there might be
another confirmation or so).

Alternatively she could do the same stuff as well in iTunes on her
PC/Mac (resp. in her account in iTunes).

Best of luck,

Michael

Michael Eyd

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Feb 24, 2015, 4:10:01 AM2/24/15

to

Am 24.02.2015 um 05:46 schrieb Adair Bordon:

> She won't spend it on apps, and we don't ever buy music or videos,
> but, maybe she can buy clothes or something with it on the iPad

No, she can't.

> (she can figure out better than I how to spend money).

Apps or media (music (ringtones, audio books, podcasts as well), films
(as well TV shows/series), books, iTunes U online trainings), that's all
there is to buy. It's not exactly Amazon or ebay... ;-) If you're very
lucky it might be possible to use the same account balance as well for
buying in Apple's Online Store, but I rather doubt that. Leave alone the
fact, that there's not too many articles for 13$ or less... ;-)

Best regards,

Michael

Rod Speed

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Feb 24, 2015, 4:17:51 AM2/24/15

to

"Adair Bordon" <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote in message

news:mch1cb$gp0$1...@news.albasani.net...

> David Empson wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 17:55:41 +1300:
>
>> To buy a gift in iTunes or App Store, there must be a credit card linked
>> to the account.
>
> You're the only one who understands this, and I agree that you're
> being very clear with me.
>
> Here's how I summarize what I understand from you, but put in my
> situation.
> 0. The goal was to buy a $2 app anonymously.
> 1. The whole point of buying the gift card was to stay anonymous.
> 2. Therefore, with a gift card, the need for a credit card should be
> negated.
> 3. Unfortunately, you can't buy a $2 gift card; you have to buy $15.
> 4. So, now that $2 app costs 7.5 times more, at $15.
> 5. (I've had iOS for more than a year and Android for far longer and
> never felt the need to spend a penny before).
> 6. So, in a million years, I would never spend the remaining $13.
> 7. Some suggested I could give the wife the $13, but, that turns out
> to be impossible without giving away our anonymity (which was the
> whole point of the gift card in the first place).
> 8. So, my only available option that solves the problem set is to
> basically pay $15 for a $2 app.

Wrong. You are free to family share the app
and let her spend the $13 any way she likes.

> Given that the gift card turned out to be useless ...

That's a lie.

> I think I'm gonna just waltz back to Walgreens tomorrow and
> return the rather useless gift card and get my money back!

It will be interesting to see if they wear that.

Michael Eyd

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Feb 24, 2015, 4:20:01 AM2/24/15

to

Am 24.02.2015 um 06:27 schrieb Adair Bordon:

> nospam wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 00:04:30 -0500:
>
>> stop being such a cheapskate.
>
> You have to realize it's not about the money; it's about the waste.
>
> I'm willing to give the money away, in fact, to someone else.
>
> I'll never spend the money, since I've never needed to buy anything
> in the two or three years I've owned Android and iOS devices, so,
> I'm pretty sure the money will be wasted, so, I may as well give
> away the money, if Apple will let me without destroying my anonymity.

Anonymity? What anonymity? You made it (a bit) harder for Apple to
identify you, but most likely they would have all the data needed to get
a rather good short list of people who could be the owner of your
device. Not that they would have any reason to try that (wouldn't help
them a bit, but would destroy their name for a long, long time if that
became publicly known). :-)

Best regards,

Michael

Rod Speed

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Feb 24, 2015, 4:21:31 AM2/24/15

to

"Adair Bordon" <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote in message

news:mch241$mdt$1...@news.albasani.net...

> nospam wrote, on Tue, 24 Feb 2015 00:04:30 -0500:
>
>> stop being such a cheapskate.
>
> You have to realize it's not about the money; it's about the waste.
>
> I'm willing to give the money away, in fact, to someone else.
>
> I'll never spend the money, since I've never needed to buy anything
> in the two or three years I've owned Android and iOS devices, so,
> I'm pretty sure the money will be wasted, so, I may as well give
> away the money, if Apple will let me without destroying my anonymity.
>
> The only other option is to waste $15 on a $2 app.

Nope, the other option is to family share the $2 app and carry on
regardless.

> Given that, I think I'll return the essentially useless
> gift card to Walgreens, and ask for my money back.

Bet they make an obscene gesture in your general direction.

You likely will be able to force Apple to give you a full
refund, because that stupid condition on using the card
fully is not spelt out on the packet tho.

Rod Speed

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Feb 24, 2015, 4:45:02 AM2/24/15

to

Adair Bordon <Adair@not_my_real_email.com> wrote
> David Empson wrote

>> There are a huge number of low priced apps in the store,
>> some of which might be useful to you if you just went looking.

> Everything I've ever needed to do on the iPad either doesn't exist
> (e.g., WiFi graphs such as InSSIDer & WiGLE) or is available for free.

That doesn’t mean that that will be true forever.

> Here is a screenshot of the 100 free apps on my iPad, for example:
> http://i61.tinypic.com/v33a1l.png

Irrelevant to what is being discussed.

> The folders are listed in order of importance.
> 1. Number one are maps, where Google Maps works fine when
> there is cellular signal, and CoPilot and Be-on-road work fine
> when there is no cellular signal. It would be nice if Mapfactor
> Navigator existed for iOS, but it's only on Android.

> For exit services, iExit and GasBuddy work just fine, without
> any need for a login, but they do require cellular signal.

And it remains to be seen if something useful shows up that isn't free.

> 2. Number two are browsers, where, again, everything
> works just fine, from Safari, to Dolphin and Mercury.

> 3. Number 3 is communication, such as Gmail. I can't delete
> the useless Apple Mail or Messages or FaceTime,

They aren't useless, you may sometime
find someone who uses a iDevice.

> so, they're in the folder for lack of a better spot; and Contacts
> I never use because it doesn't seem to tie in with the Gmail app,

More fool you. It’s a lot better done than the steaming turd on your
android.

> but it's in this folder also for lack of a better place.

> 4. The VOIP folder contains some legacy stuff such as Skype
> and Viber, but, really, all you need is Hangouts and Google
> Voice to make unlimited free voice calls and SMS messages
> in the USA for the iPad (this iPad is has the free T-Mobile
> cellular service).

Skype leaves it for dead outside the US.

> 5. Calendar has your basic calendar, clock, and
> memo stuff that you can't get rid of anyway.