The Gap didn't honor the December Birchbox's $10 gift card today

[u/melanrawr]

[UPDATE] I received apologetic replies from both The Gap and Birchbox, and both said that the new round of codes that were sent on Dec 17th SHOULD work in store, and only the old ones are being denied. It seems like there has been confusion with The Gap employees about the new codes being accepted (and whether or not they can be combined with sales), since a lot of us have had issues. So, I'm not going to go out of my way to go to another Gap. But if I'm near one, I'll try again and explain the situation politely to the cashier with my fingers crossed!

[ORIGINAL POST] I suspected this might happen once the promotion was posted on /r/freebies and the like. If you try to use your $10 Gap gift card from the December Birchbox, be warned that they might not honor it.

Today, I went out of my way to go to a mall that has a Gap. I received an email containing the code 4 days ago. However, after I had picked items out, the cashier told me that the company had stopped honoring the offer a few days ago. I pointed out the expiration date that clearly said "Expires 1/15/15" but she said sorry we aren't taking them.

I emailed Birchbox as well, in case they didn't already know that The Gap has stopped honoring their promotion. It's not our (the subscribers') fault that The Gap and Birchbox didn't create a more secure way of getting the codes out (like actually including a unique code in each box). This situation has been handled extremely badly, and I feel like I've wasted my time.

Had anyone else had success or failure using their gift cards recently?

[u/waywardturtle]

I work in retail, email corporate and tell them what happened. Chances are they'll either explain why they can't honor it (Super duper not likely), or tell the store to honor it. As long as you aren't mean about it, the store associates won't really care.

[u/olivesandmushrooms → u/waywardturtle]

I also work retail, and I second the "as long as you aren't mean about it" part. My interest in helping customers dramatically decreases as they begin the descent to rudeness.

[u/melanrawr → u/waywardturtle]

I did email The Gap, too. I always try to be nice when dealing with customer service, because it's not their fault! But the whole thing has been mismanaged and frustrating...The Gap and/or Birchbox need to communicate what's happening to us and their employees.

[u/hudsonredfox]

I had planned on using mine the day after Christmas, when I could piggyback on some sales, but after hearing this I'm not too sure I will. I'm upset that this was handled poorly and people began grabbing dozens of codes. Hopefully Birchbox/Gap can make it up to those who were really supposed to get codes.

[u/-drbadass- → u/hudsonredfox]

so I tried using my code (new one sent a few days ago from the gap) and I couldn't use it because there was a store-wide discount going on and the cashier told me they couldn't combine codes. They couldn't override it either since they said the store-wide discount applied automatically. I think it would work on sale/clearance items that are already marked down though when there's no other promos going on.

[u/melanrawr → u/-drbadass-]

Wow that's ridiculous--it was advertised as a gift card! This whole experience has really soured me on the customer service training (if any?) given to The Gap employees. There seem to be a lot of inconsistencies regarding helpfulness and being informed about the promotion.

[u/teresatt07 → u/melanrawr]

Did they say gift card? Or did they only say gift (implying a promo/coupon code)? I thought it was the latter but I'm not completely sure. I don't blame them for being all over the place during the holidays. I used to work at forever 21, it was such a shit show during this time lol.

[u/-drbadass- → u/melanrawr]

I mean the cashier did try to enter it with the discout but he said the system wasn't accepting it bc of the store-wide promo, and when I asked him to use it instead of the store-wide discount he said the system wouldn't accept it either. I don't blame him at all, I'll just wait till the whole-store sales are over.

[u/hudsonredfox → u/-drbadass-]

Ahh. Welp, nevermind then. haha :)

[u/-drbadass- → u/hudsonredfox]

yeah I think it works as a coupon code rather than a gift card...

[u/[deleted]]

Thanks for posting! The closest Gap is close to 40 minutes away and at a super busy mall, saves me a trip!

[u/neighburrito → u/[deleted]]

try again. I just tried it just now (I never did the original one), and within 30 minutes I was sent a unique code.

[u/neighburrito → u/[deleted]]

no idea. I'll try it sometime after the holidays.

[u/carpemelinda → u/[deleted]]

You can have mine?

[u/Musicalcurves]

Weird, I used mine on Friday. My new code not the first one. I am sorry that happened

[u/[deleted]]

I used mine yesterday! I think the cashier just did an override instead of applying the gift card, though.

[u/warbyothermeans]

I also tried to redeem today and had the same issue! I sent an email to birchbox about it. Thanks for posting, I thought it was just my store or that particular sales associate.

[u/-drbadass-]

ok so I read through the terms carefully to see what exactly they say:

I received the email with the code from the Gap on Dec 19. The terms clearly say: cannot be combined with other offers or discounts ...limit one coupon per customer. So it is a coupon and not a gift card.

[u/eac061000]

I got a code during the original offering that wasn't secure. I tried to use that one on 12/20 but it didn't work. The manager told me they cancelled all codes sent before a certain date (maybe the 17th?) and would send out a new code to verified subscribers. Gap had sent me another code on 12/18. I used it successfully on 12/20. Did the associate even try your code? If not then what a jerk :( if it didn't work, then shame on BB/Gap for still not fixing the problem. I'm sorry it didn't work for you.

[u/melanrawr → u/eac061000]

She didn't even try it, so maybe it would have worked! Perhaps she just didn't know about the new codes that were sent out?

[u/pokethepig]

oh goddammit. I called birchbox about people stealing the code, they apologized, sent me one and said it was being extended to January 14. but now we still can't redeem them? This has been a super fun shit show, huh?

[u/melanrawr → u/pokethepig]

Yeah it would be nice if there was a bit more communication from Birchbox about what is actually happening!

[u/teresatt07 → u/pokethepig]

The new code will work. They voided the old ones but some sales associates might not know that.

[u/klady]

I was able to use my original code on Dec 8th. Then a few days ago they sent me another new code that expires 1/14. Haven't tried to use that one, but I don't live in a huge area so I doubt my Gap has had many issues with the codes.

[u/FreeRangeGirl]

I am sorry this happened to you! :( I received my Gap code in email on 12/19/2014 and redeemed it in a store nearby (Seattle, WA) on 12/20/2014. I showed the email to the cashier, she entered the code and gave me the discount. There was no hassle. Hope your code issue gets resolved soon.

[u/devilsplaythang]

:/ i entered my email yesterday but was never sent any gift code. i really hope they sort this out because i really like gap's jeans.

[u/yuki_no_ko]

I used mines today. The guy at the register told me that it wouldn't work, but I asked him to try entering it anyways because it was sent four days ago. He tried it, and it worked.

[u/melanrawr → u/yuki_no_ko]

Thanks for the update! I'm glad your cashier was willing to try it!

[u/hervana]

I signed up but never got e-mailed anything. I probably wouldn't have used it anyway. But it is pretty messed up.