Bad batches of Disney Gift cards from Target.com

[pillow]

Good Luck!
You might want to have a bottle of aspirin(or something stronger) on hand!

Resolved! And I didn't even have to break out the tequila! I did spend about an hour on hold, but once I reached someone on the specialty gift card team (Valerie - she was wonderful), they were able to activate the cards quickly. It seems like they've figured out how to deal with this now - thank goodness.

Jodie

 

[SUSIEQ]

Why anyone would order Disney gift cards through Target.com is beyond me. The tiny bit of savings is definitely not worth it.
Believe me, I've lived through it.

 

[robinb]

I'm glad everything worked out! Mine still say they have been transferred to the West Palm Beach post office on 12/03. I got a response on my FB post and had to forward my info with a case number. Not sure they will do much, but maybe if enough complaints get made they will rethink their process.

Did your cards ever show up Bree? My $400 of Disney cards bought with my Target cards are still in limbo. They show that they were sent to the USPS on 12/2 but USPS doesn't have a record of them.

 

[SUSIEQ]

Resolved! And I didn't even have to break out the tequila! I did spend about an hour on hold, but once I reached someone on the specialty gift card team (Valerie - she was wonderful), they were able to activate the cards quickly. It seems like they've figured out how to deal with this now - thank goodness.

Jodie

Great news!
Glad it only took an hour total to get your cards activated.

 

[pillow]

Not just for you, but for everybody seeking that extra $50 per $1K. Do not forget that you could use a generic credit card and get 1% back ($10 per $1K). Or, you could use the new Citibank card that gives 2% back if you pay off your balance or the Chase Sapphire Pref card that gives 2% back on travel including cruises. So, effectively, you might really only be saving $30 per $1K for all the headaches of keeping track of a huge pile of Disney gift cards.

I sometimes buy gift cards at Kroger when they have the 4X point promotion. My wife and I fill up our cars with around 35 gallons at the same time. So, if I buy $200 of Disney cards, use my credit card that gives me 3% rebate at grocery stores, I am saving $34 per $200 of Disney gift cards (17% off - much better deal than Target). Even if I only fill up one car with gas (20 gallons or so), my discount on the GC is around 11%.

DWF

DWF

But I do both, which adds up to 20% or so. I buy Target gift cards when Kroger runs their 4x promo (14% with a 35 gallon purchase + 1% general credit card rebate). Then I use the Target cards to purchase Dis GC online at Target.com. I get the 5% off there by having my Red Card set as the default. So, thats roughly 20%. Then I upload the Disney gift cards to the Disney Vacation Account (to consolidate) and pay for my cruise with that. That account also pays a small 2%ish bonus.

One other note: The Amex Blue Preferred card gives you 6% back on grocery purchases (up to $6K in purchases), so you can get cash back if you use that card when purchasing gift cards at Kroger. There is a fee for that card, but it more than pays for itself. Personally, I don't "count" this savings since I easily rack up $6K in grocery purchases throughout the year from food alone.

Once I hit my $6K limit on the Preferred card, I purchase "groceries" with the Blue Cash everyday card, which gives a 3% rebate in grocery purchases (up to $6K again). That card has no fee. I'm wondering if thats the one you're referring to above??

Also, I take gas cans for the extra gas so that my hubbie and I don't have to coordinate schedules at meet at the gas pump. Then he just fills his car with the cans after he gets home.

Jodie

 

[Bree]

Did your cards ever show up Bree? My $400 of Disney cards bought with my Target cards are still in limbo. They show that they were sent to the USPS on 12/2 but USPS doesn't have a record of them.

Yes, they came yesterday and were all active!!!!

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I received a bad batch today (Heather, I PM'd you). Waiting on hold now for Target's "gift card team" . . .

Jodie

Done So glad you were able to resolve yours and I'm sorry you had to hold so long but in the end, I guess it's not that bad, trust me, lol.

Heather

 

[robinb]

Yes, they came yesterday and were all active!!!!

I'm glad you got yours. That means there is hope for me. Target has asked me to wait until Thursday to contact them again. *sigh*

 

[SUSIEQ]

Resolved! And I didn't even have to break out the tequila! I did spend about an hour on hold, but once I reached someone on the specialty gift card team (Valerie - she was wonderful), they were able to activate the cards quickly. It seems like they've figured out how to deal with this now - thank goodness.

Jodie

Jodie,
Out of pure curiosity, did Valerie say why/how this is happening?
Thanks!

 

[pillow]

Jodie,
Out of pure curiosity, did Valerie say why/how this is happening?
Thanks!

Not really. The only thing she said was that due to high sales volume, things were being "missed." I really don't think she knew. I was just thrilled that she could help me. I have 2 more batches that should be arriving any day now. Crossing my fingers they are ok. If not, I will call back with the case # she gave me.

Jodie

 

[Toffeehe]

I bought several Disney gift cards online at Target.com and none of them were activated. The main online help phone was not helpful as the person told me to call Disney as it was their issue. The email reply told me to call the main online help number for Target.com.

I finally found a thread on the internet chat board that someone kindly posted and I wanted to post this again to help others with the same problem. Whomever is filling the online order is forgetting to scan the cards and activate them....I guess they just pulled the cards and dumped them in an envelope without scanning them in. My receipt had no information about the cards like when I buy them physically at the store. When you buy them at the store the cashier scans them and then activates them on the register and your receipt has each card listed as active in 3 hours time.

So, to get the Disney gift cards activated, I finally found this number: 1-800-544-3875. This is called the Corporate gift card department. Josh helped me get them all taken care of in a short amount of time. I also could understand his English, unlike the Target.com main helpline...very heavy accented English and a lot of pauses (overseas connection problems??). I am just going to buy them at the store from now on as the online purchase was so difficult and took up my time...just wish they had bigger denominations.

 

[jtba]

So, to get the Disney gift cards activated, I finally found this number: 1-800-544-3875. This is called the Corporate gift card department. Josh helped me get them all taken care of in a short amount of time. I also could understand his English, unlike the Target.com main helpline...very heavy accented English and a lot of pauses (overseas connection problems??). I am just going to buy them at the store from now on as the online purchase was so difficult and took up my time...just wish they had bigger denominations.

thank you!!! very helpful post.

 

[NeverSayNever]

Ok, having just ordered some cards I'm nervous!

Can someone tell me how you check to see if they are activated?

Thank you in advance!

 

[wcw57]

Ok, having just ordered some cards I'm nervous!

Can someone tell me how you check to see if they are activated?

Thank you in advance!

i'm interested, too

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

Ok, having just ordered some cards I'm nervous!

Can someone tell me how you check to see if they are activated?

Thank you in advance!

I just check them online. I believe the web address is on the back of the card, but you can also google it. There is a phone number on the card too. Scratch off the silver on the back, then enter the numbers. Easy!

 

[NeverSayNever]

Thank you DisneyFAN - I will be certain to check as soon as they arrive.

I was going to order more, but perhaps I will just wait till I can get to the store.

Thanks again.