Gift Cards at Supermarkets

[andye]

Can the CCMC bonus points (to 13 Feb) be combined with the 10% off?

Different types of cards from what I can see

 

[get me outta here]

Yes, thanks, now I am up to date.

Different types of cards from what I can see

 

[Dr Ralph]

Can the CGMC bonus points (to 13 Feb) be combined with the 10% off?

Coles catalogue says 'selected gift cards' for the 10% off. The Coles Prepaid Gift Card MasterCard is not one of the items pictured as 'selected'.

 

[Camz]

Hi,

Just in the process of running through my $88 eftpos cards. Just thought I would share some experiences for those unsure about how accepted these cards are. This is what I have been doing and it has worked successfully so far.

First thing to remember is, it is an Eftpos card and accepted at places that accept eftpos, so your not doing anything wrong by using it as a form of payment where you might normally use your debit card (anyone buying the cards now would be paying $5.95 for the privileged, so merchant fees are already covered) . I am not suggesting places don't have the right to refuse it as a form of payment, I am just saying their is no need to feel like you are doing something dodgy by asking to use it at a place where eftpos is an acceptable form of payment. With that said, these cards look a little strange when you first see them, so I have been taking steps to avoid any awkward moments or concerns by the sales assistant.

* They don't need to know it is a GC if the purchase is less than $88. No need to say "can I use my eftpos GC", if the person is unsure, you are just asking to get the answer no. "Do you accept eftpos", "I want to pay by eftpos" is all you need to say. Let the person process it through the terminal then grab your card and swipe your own card, I just don't see the point in waving around or giving them a card with a big rooster on it (when someone sees the card is usually when I get the weird look).

* Remove the tape over the pin before you go into the store, and if you think you may have a problem with it being questioned, remember the pin number (people don't usually look at the back of their debit card as they enter their pin). Unfortunately people associate GC's with purchases and not payments, this is true for a store GC, but IMO what sets this card apart from others is the ability to use it at eftpos terminals as long as it is not cash out, and this is the reason that you normally pay a $5.95 charge to purchase the card.

* If you need to use more than 1 card, but less than 2, again you don't have to use the word Gift card, just ask "Can I do split payment". From my experience this is not an uncommon question, and most places do, although some places you think would, do not (one place with a big letter M comes to mind). Again if you think they might get confused, you can always say please put $80 on the first card, rather than $88.

Anyway, as some have had issues using these cards, I thought I would put up my experience. I have used over $4000 in cards not just on purchases, but making payments (including a large H&C insurance bill), and at worst I have had, "I am not sure if it will work", followed by "we can give it a try" after I explained how the card works, that it is exactly like eftpos and how many places I have already used it.

I was hesitant to post as I didn't want to derail the thread, but I think these common sense suggestions probably equally apply to the current MC offer and perhaps may help some people who are having issues with being refused.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Hi,

Just in the process of running through my $88 eftpos cards. Just thought I would share some experiences for those unsure about how accepted these cards are. This is what I have been doing and it has worked successfully so far....

I was hesitant to post as I didn't want to derail the thread, but I think these common sense suggestions probably equally apply to the current MC offer and perhaps may help some people who are having issues with being refused.

Excellent advice Camz.

I only ever say 'do you accept EFTPOS'. There is never a need to ostentatiously display the card.

 

[d00dz]

Those are the exact steps I followed this morning to pay for my padded bag of which cost $1.10.

The human saw I had some weird card as I got it out of my wallet upon the EFTPOS machine saying present card.

:|

 

[Camz]

Those are the exact steps I followed this morning to pay for my padded bag of which cost $1.10.

The human saw I had some weird card as I got it out of my wallet upon the EFTPOS machine saying present card.

:|

d00dz,

Unless you fumbled around getting the card out, I would probably chalk that up to a 1 in 100 experience then (given the fact that the card is mostly covered by the hand as you bring it up to present it to the machine). The only recommendation I could have that probably wont help would be just chalk it up to a one off experience, out of your circle of control & not worth the effort getting frustrated over, plenty more fish in the sea and all that.

Cheers

edit: Just went back and read your original post on the subject to refresh my memory. I have had the occasional "it won't work", when I don't have a choice but to reveal they are GC's, generally I just ask if we can try, and of cause when it works we are both happy and I have converted a new service attendant to accepting eftpos GC's.

 

[gizzard]

Auspost have indicated to me that there is nothing online.

Got a link for self service aus post offices..... I went to the AU post website but could not find them?

 

[drross]

Latest offer is from Woolies get 2000 points ($10 worth) for buying a Myer Gift Card or 4000 points for $200 Gift Card.

Page 5 - https://www.woolworths.com.au/Shop/...w=catalogue2&saleId=15890&areaName=NSW&page=5

limit of 10 per customer. not sure if that means 10 per shop, 10 per denomination, 10 over the promo period.....

 

[whatmeworry]

Yeah fair enough. Technically they are not legally allowed to refuse cash (although that's outside of what we're talking about here).

What theyr'e allowed to do, and what's *reasonable* by most people's minds are two different things.

As far as I know, businesses can accept whatever payment they like.

It is the Reserve Bank of Australia’s understanding that, although Australian currency has legal tender status, it does not necessarily have to be used in transactions and that refusal to accept payment in legal tender banknotes and coins is not unlawful.
​

[

It appears that a provider of goods or services is at liberty to set the commercial terms upon which payment will take place before the ‘contract’ for supply of the goods or services is entered into. For example, some vending machines, parking meters and road toll collection points indicate by signs that they will not accept low denomination coins. Some road toll collection points indicate that they will not accept any cash at all. If a provider of goods or services specifies other means of payment prior to the contract, then there is usually no obligation for legal tender to be accepted as payment.

RBA Banknotes: Legal Tender

 

[liamsal]

I was under the impression that there was a limit of 5 JB Hi Fi gift cards when using them in store. Checked with JB staff today who said there was no limit but any amount of 4 or more gift cards required ID. Just FYI in case anyone else was under the wrong impression like me

 

[N860CR]

I'm not sure how the employees' age in either of these scenarios is relevant.



Australia Post is entitled to refuse EFTPOS gift cards as a payment method. They've even told you not to use it. Yet you do so against their wishes - you can't complain when you get stopped.

From some of the things you've said on this thread, if the same attitude comes across when you're purchasing things in-store, I'm not surprised the staff are exasperated and unwilling to assist.

I have found that older Australians in low-end roles (Coles employees etc) do have a bizarre attitude problem. Unsure if it's tall poppy syndrome or an inferiority complex, however it's fairly pronounced. Younger people seem to simply so the job their paid for without the attitude or sense of authority.

 

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
Let's get back to the GC discussion, please.
[/mod hat]

 

[SOPOOR]

I went with a few thousand in Bills today to self serve aus post.

All my bills except the biggest ones that worked.

I had to pay 88 at a time. I couldn't do 176 for example and use two cards. So it took a while

The biggest council rate when I scanned I t. It came up with please go to service desk. Which I guess I could use the cards but I doubt they would accept 88 x X number or cards.

I guess I ran out of options on these bills

 

[Camz]

Electricity bill paid today at the PO, a few more cards used up. No self serve near my place, unfortunately, but the staff have been very accomodating (even on the big bills).

Sopoor,

I'm curious with the self service units, if you pay at $88 a time, do you get charged a fee for each $88 payment? Some bills seem to have a surcharge (which my mobile phone provider said will appear on my next bill, for my mobile provider it was about $2.90 from memory). Depending on what discount you made getting your cards, it's still a savings, but I'm hoping being able to do it over the register and pay with split payments means just one surcharge if one applies. For smaller bills like the mobile phone bill, I asked to pay 2 months worth at one time, hoping this will still only result in one fee.

Does it say anything on the automated machine about a surcharge being applied?

 

[annielee]

when i paid my bill via the self serve, it's definitely charge a fee per $88, so not really worth it.. unless pay over the counter and split payment, which will only be charged once..

Electricity bill paid today at the PO, a few more cards used up. No self serve near my place, unfortunately, but the staff have been very accomodating (even on the big bills).

Sopoor,

I'm curious with the self service units, if you pay at $88 a time, do you get charged a fee for each $88 payment? Some bills seem to have a surcharge (which my mobile phone provider said will appear on my next bill, for my mobile provider it was about $2.90 from memory). Depending on what discount you made getting your cards, it's still a savings, but I'm hoping being able to do it over the register and pay with split payments means just one surcharge if one applies. For smaller bills like the mobile phone bill, I asked to pay 2 months worth at one time, hoping this will still only result in one fee.

Does it say anything on the automated machine about a surcharge being applied?

 

[andye]

My AGL bill charged 50c a payment via AusPost selfserve. Go with paypal and Coles Gift MC (bought via targetted promo) now

 

[Happy Dude]

IIRC, Dan Murphy's gift cards be consolidated into one wish card? Is that right? If so, can it be done at self serve at Woolies?

 

[Dr Ralph]

IIRC, Dan Murphy's gift cards be consolidated into one wish card? Is that right? If so, can it be done at self serve at Woolies?

Self service requires interaction from staff. It's not automatic as the WISH cards have no value on them. Some staff might not care, others may be overzealous in their behaviour. Officially you can't do it. The realty is that it's common.

 

[SOPOOR]

Electricity bill paid today at the PO, a few more cards used up. No self serve near my place, unfortunately, but the staff have been very accomodating (even on the big bills).

Sopoor,

I'm curious with the self service units, if you pay at $88 a time, do you get charged a fee for each $88 payment? Some bills seem to have a surcharge (which my mobile phone provider said will appear on my next bill, for my mobile provider it was about $2.90 from memory). Depending on what discount you made getting your cards, it's still a savings, but I'm hoping being able to do it over the register and pay with split payments means just one surcharge if one applies. For smaller bills like the mobile phone bill, I asked to pay 2 months worth at one time, hoping this will still only result in one fee.

Does it say anything on the automated machine about a surcharge being applied?

ive beeing paying my council rates, I paid approx 7 last night at a self serve, I called up aust post and asked which PO have self serve as to be honest I ve never seen one

I hope there is nt a surchage because Id be in trouble, i might call the council up on monday and ask them,
however there was NO mention of a surcharge at all,

the one that didnt go through was $1200 council rate and no matter how many times I tried it said to take it to the non self serve one, I have no idea why

and unfortunately unless im doing it wrong it was $88 at a time, I tried putting in 176, and but it kept on trying to debit 176 from the one card

regardless, I wish I had purchased more!