Gift Card For Convenience Or More Hassles?

If you read my recent post in my domain Random Thoughts about To-Do-List, at the bottom of the list I wrote, "18. And other things that may come up unexpectedly that need to be dealt with first". Well here's a perfect example that got my time running just talking on the phone with my aunt and with the CVS manager to complain.

I recently sent a gift card to my aunt as a birthday gift. She's one person who doesn't like any hassles. She's very straight forward, she never maintained any credit cards. She only pays either by check or cash in any store she goes to. But in the past I introduced her to gift cards, well mainly for my convenience too. It's very hard to please her, so I thought it would save me time to think about what to give her and also give her more options as to what to get for herself, thus the gift card.

Anyway, yesterday she used it at Rite-Aid and it was declined at the counter. What a shame, the main thing that she's avoiding to happen happened! Today she called me to tell me about it and I immediately called CVS Pharmacy where I bought it from. I threw all my old receipts already, so I had to dig the garbage and luckily my garbage day is Wednesday yet. By the way, I had to pay $3.95 as activation fee for that card too, what a bummer! Anyway, I was on hold for like 30 minutes on the phone, I could have just drove and be right on the face of the manager in no time. The manager told me that the minute I paid for the card, it will then be between me and the bank already. I need to call the 1-800 number of the bank to complain. Either the bank fixes it over the phone or sends me another card to replace it.

My aunt doesn't like to use it anymore even if the bank can replace or fix it. She wants to return it to me. Next time I will just give her scratch ticket or lotto tickets, those she will appreciate more, LOL.