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Using vouchers is getting risky

R

rogerthat

TF Legend
RML Group
Verified User
Buying things with vouchers and Gift Cards is getting risky with each passing day. There are so many rules and sub-rules (that change randomly) and there are a long list of acceptance issues (mainly technical) that make it easier to lose your money rather than making any gains using Vouchers. Here are some of my experiences the past few months:

Pizza Hut: Store informed that they do not accept Gift Vouchers for the time being. Had to pay by cash.
Amazon: I had stacked 20k APay vouchers for an insurance premium payment of 35k. Overnight they changed the rules that insurance payment above 25k is not allowed via GV.
PVR: SmartBuy Gyftr vouchers show an error "Discount has expired" or something while applying. Complained to Gyftr and they are still "working" on the issue.
PVR: Woohoo Gift Card (got it as an actual gift) does not go through. The transaction just fails and the GV amount gets credited back into the wallet.
Pharmeasy: Only a few actual products can be purcahsed using the voucher. Smartbuy 10x store is hugely overpriced.
MakeMyTrip: Same. The GV cannot be applied to a vast variety of properties and prices.
BigBasket: Same as above.

For the websites above there is no way to know what the exclusions are beforehand. In addition to this some websites make it hell confusing as to where to apply the voucher and how to redeem it. You need to be extremely careful before committing to buy the voucher.

Actually, the only voucher purchase and application that went through without a hitch in the past two months was for Decathalon.

Do you guys think the same or is it just me?
 
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I always first check if they accept gv n then only generate GV if it's offline purchase

For online like apay it's recommended to check limit first n then generate or use multiple accounts n split the bills n pay
 
iamdhamo said:
I always first check if they accept gv n then only generate GV if it's offline purchase

For online like apay it's recommended to check limit first n then generate or use multiple accounts n split the bills n pay
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Oh yes I always check too, but in all these cases it is something else that is not mentioned in the T&C that screws things up. The website mentions it is accepted but the store then refuses to accept it! So only way to confirm is to buy it after reaching the store and personally confirming it from the cashier that it is accepted. As for various technical problems there is nothing we can do beforehand.
 
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Yes using vouchers needs more expertise nowadays, but I will like beg to differ in some pointers you raised.

* Bigbasket gv issue? Same as the above means what.
* Pharmeasy 10x store is not at all overpriced, it’s the same mrp, if you know the proper coupon, you can apply for extra discounts.
* Amazon gvs are still very much useful for several billpay use cases. I always buy when I need. It’s their playground and they are free to change the rule, you shouldn’t think current benefits to stay the same in future.

I feel genuinely sorry about your PVR and pizzahut vouchers issues. AGV 20k won’t be a problem to be used. I hope you benefit a lot in the long run to forget such one-off issues.
 
So I recently discovered BPCL SmartDrive. I installed the app and recharged with Rs.2000 worth of vouchers that I bought from Axis Gyftr. Today morning went to the BPCL pump (COCO) and tried to pay via SmartDrive. The staff perfectly knew how it works. no problems there. They selected the options on the POS machine and entered my phone number. The OTP was delivered instantly.

However when the OTP was entered the POS machine gave a response saying the "Transaction is not Allowed"!

They tried three times making the payment, the third time by the manager, but still didn't work. They said it happens once in a while and I should contact BPCL. So finally I ended up paying by card.

See? Of course the thing didn't work. Funnily, I was expecting it not to because dealing with the systems and processes in our country has primed us to expect that things won't work and it would be a surprise if things actually do work!

Or is it just me with who these things always happen?
 
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