ComplaintsforThe Auto Salon LLC

• Initial Complaint

  05/04/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  A gift card was purchased in Dec 2020 in the amount of $220. The gift card was through the company websitethere is only one way to purchase a gift card online from them. First issue: In MD aren't gift cards required to have a 4-year validity period? But at the time of purchase, the gift card had a 1 year validity period. Second issue: Due to the pandemic and other factors, the gift card was not redeemed in 2021. Understanding that prices may have increased since the time of purchase, but hoping that the $220 would cover some of the cost of service, the business was contacted. The manager informed me that since the purchase was made through a "third party vendor" it was not valid after expiration for any amount. Had it been purchased in store, he said, he would have honored it. Bottom line: Feels like a bait and switch. If you sell a gift card through your company website, a consumer expects that the same company policies apply to it as to a gift card purchased in person. It was certainly not made clear to the purchaser that the terms would be different.

  Business response

  06/12/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/05/06) */ I'm am sorry you're having this issue. Unfortunately our hands are tied when it comes to gift cards. When you click onto our gift card page on our website it takes you to a third party site to take payment and in this case that company is "Clover". Once that gift card is issued there are 2 emails that goes out from there, one to the purchaser and the other to whoever you put in for the gift card to be sent to in email form. Both from Clover. We don't collect your info whatsoever or do we have the ability to cancel said gift card. We have been through this before with previous customers and when we speak with clover there is no way to track the gift card issued. I'd suggest to check your email boxes and try to track down where you had the gift card sent. Again there is 2 emails sent out, purchaser and whoever you purchased it for. You are welcome to call Clover as well to verify the info I'm giving you. Their number is (XXX) XXX-XXXX. I do agree, you would think there is a way to track but the way I was explained is to treat gift cards like cash. If they are lost it's like losing cash, no way to track. That's why all the scams out there are wanting gift card for payments. They can't track them. I hope this cleared up. Take care, good luck tracking down the emails! Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/05/06) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) The gift card is NOT lost. I have a physical copy of it showing the value and the card #. The only reason a refund has been requested is because The Auto Salon has refused to accept ANY of its value. Clover may have processed the transaction, but that does not qualify as a third party vendor since it is the service The Auto Salon uses to process gift card transactions. I understand that $220 may not cover the cost of service for 2022 and I will pay the difference. The Auto Salon has $220 worth of my money as this purchase was a gift from my husband. Additionally, per Maryland LAW a gift card must retain its value for 4 years. Therefore, the physical copy I have which again, is NOT LOST is still valid per your response. Consumer Response /* (2000, 19, 2022/06/07) */ The business ultimately honored the gift certificate.

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