OP, you have to trace the card because we're all in suspense and we simply must learn the outcome...

This happened to me before. My sister gave it to me and she wouldn't steal it.

There's nothing you can do about it even if you have the receipt. Stores couldn't care less. I no longer give gift cards.

Does the gift card say $0 balance (so, it was activated at some point, but no money is on it)?

Or was the gift card never activated to begin with?

Can't you look up the gift card transactions online? I do this all time with cards like Starbucks, Kohls, etc.
Maybe your DH used the card.

most gift cards have a website you can go to to check the balance. try doing that. you'll at least know if the money was used, stolen, the card was regifted etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would mention it, but politely. If I had purchased the card and they didn't activate it correctly, I'd want to know.

I received a gift card as a holiday gift from my boss that didn't work and didn't say anything. Then years later I found out that everyone in our department had received cards that didn't work. I wish I had said something.

I would want to know, too. I give gift cards to my daughter's teachers and now wonder if any of them didn't work.

I give gift cards every year to my kid's teaching staff too, and I make sure I slip the little gift receipts in with each card, just in case the card is compromised in any way.

Say nothing OP. It is not worth it. Just know she thought of you, even if you can't use the cards. Unless you are talking about hundreds of dollars or something, not worth it.

Remember is it important to be right, or to be happy

No!! Don't ruin her fun. She tried. Let her think it worked out.

Anonymous wrote:I'd want to know if gift cards I bought didn't work.

+1

OP here. I would want to know, also. In fact, when my immediate family had an issue, they let me know, and I was grateful, and did not purchase from that vendor (or seller) again.

MIL is pretty defensive, unfortunately. She likes to say "white" when I say "black" - she is kind of hung up on doing that. (I can't explain it, she takes anything from me personally, and gets irrational, no matter how nice I am; as if she is looking for an excuse to be nasty, or just can't help herself...). I don't have much contact with her, but I sincerely appreciate the thought.

I suppose I could tell DH to mention it to her? I don't know if he will, but it is worth a try. MIL is extremely frugal, and I would hate for her to be throwing money away.

I'd want to know if gift cards I bought didn't work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think so. Not to get new ones, but just as an "FYI Nancy, these didn't work - I think when buying them, we have to get them made live at the register or something (or whatever the case may be)."

This is literally the most condescending thing I could ever imagine someone saying.

Really, you live in tiny, tiny bubble, then.

Happened to me -- my mother bought a gift card to a store where I planned to make a large purchase, and when I tried to redeem it, it didn't work.

I told her, and she had me send it back so she could take it back for a refund. Unfortunately, she bought it at a grocery store and they literally couldn't have cared less. We eventually got the store the card was meant to be used at to give us credit. But it took some time.

Best part: When my mother was trying get the grocery clerk to refund her money, the woman behind her in line said LOUDLY, "Oh for goodness sake, it's ONLY $100."

Depends. If she is generally reliable, yes. I would be super upset if I spent money on a card and it didn't work for the recipient! If you think she is lying and is a flaky person let it go.

This actually happened to me- I gave a giftcard to someone and they called me a few weeks later and told me it didn't work. I guess the cashier who sold it to me was new and didn't slide it correctly or something.

Now, if you know your MIL will get defensive or angry or whatever, then maybe tread carefully, but if not I'd let her know. I consider myself a reasonable, normal person and was really happy the person let me know. No fun getting a gift card if you can't use it.

Anonymous wrote:I would mention it, but politely. If I had purchased the card and they didn't activate it correctly, I'd want to know.

I received a gift card as a holiday gift from my boss that didn't work and didn't say anything. Then years later I found out that everyone in our department had received cards that didn't work. I wish I had said something.

I would want to know, too. I give gift cards to my daughter's teachers and now wonder if any of them didn't work.