Victoria's Secret being unreasonable?

[MagicKingdomDizzy]

Not a massive issue of course in the scheme of things, but a little irritating.....

DH bought me a Victoria's Secret gift card before the Coronavirus situation happened.

I have tried to use it online, and it turns out that gift cards can only be redeemed in a physical shop. Of course, they are all closed!

Their UK customer service is non existent and it appears that any issues are dealt with by their staff in America.

They are saying that there is nothing they can do to allow me to redeem this gift card online. It has to be a shop.

AIBU to think that in the current situation, they could make an exception?

I would like to spend this card so that the value isn't lost if their shops never open again.

I know there are more important things going on right now, so I'm not looking for a flaming about how minor this is, just some advice regarding what I can do.

Thanks!

[Freddiefox]

I think Yabu and should just wait. The shops will again.. however if he bought the voucher online I think it’s a bit unfair that you can’t spend it online

[AngeloMysterioso]

Boots have the same rule.

[Rainb0w]

I've had dealings with their so called customer service never again will I order from them also if you order online and its not right returns get sent to somewhere in Europe Paris if I remember rightly which means it takes an age.
I hate gift vouchers for these very reasons. I find the universal vouchers of cash the best option.
Ynbu imo.

[MagicKingdomDizzy]

Purchased online. He thought it could be redeemed online.

I had no idea that boots had the same rule. It really puts me off vouchers and gift cards, as it makes them quite restricted in their useage.

[MagicKingdomDizzy]

Rainb0w

I completely agree. The only thing I could do was an online chat with someone in America. Their stance was that because it was purchased in the UK that they couldn't help. I asked for their UK customer services..... There isn't one!

[Happynow001]

How odd. I had some gift cards for M&S I recently used to buy stuff online but only in case the company suddenly went bust (hopefully very unlikely but who knows). It was for over £100 and I didn't want to lose the value so got online and spent them. (Martin Lewis has often said to spend vouchers/gift cards quickly and I'd already dithered several months).

[opticaldelusion]

If your gift card expires before the shops reopen you'll be able to claim for a 'frustrated contract'. The service bought will have been unavailable so you should have some redress. I'd wait and see but not give up if I found myself with a useless voucher.

[MagicKingdomDizzy]

opticaldelusion

Thanks, it's helpful to know the value won't be lost.

So frustrating, and very short sighted of them, given that all their shops are shut. My order was going to exceed the gift card amount so they are losing additional business.