NEWS: Walmart Gift Cards Officially Worthless

GEEK: Walmart Gift Cards Officially Worthless

It seems Walmart has had a nasty little leak in their gift card scheme, shoppers are taking their cards to the cashier, only to discover they have already been redeemed.

It seems the card itself doesn't hold the information, but instead details are held on a central server, so once a cloned card is used in one store, the original is worthless as the money has already been claimed as far as the server is concerned. It appears somebody has hacked Walmart's gift card system, and is pilfering the details of the newly activated accounts, as the leaks don't all originate from the same store.

Walmart are aware of the problem, and memos are circulating internally, so anyone who falls foul of the scheme should be able to claim their money back easily, but only if you have the receipt for the card.

Hat-tip: /.

Hopefully whoever did it just cashes the cards out, I can't imagine wanting hundreds of dollars of shit from that store.

Really? I hear they sell lots of different kinds of things. You sure you're not thinking of a Hallmark store?

I'm sure there are alot of murderous words going back and forth in that store now! Especially considering how rude all of the cashiers are; something like this would almost certaintly turn into a shouting match between the cashiers and the customers.

I'm sorry, my dislike for that store extends to the point that I wouldn't even take free merchandise from it's chain.

And besides, if I ever wanted anything from there, I have a million dollar bill from a toystore that I could just pay with.

[Edited on Sep 06, 2004 by GoatsGoToHell]

Walmart=unsavory business practices like sweatshops. I am pretty sure he is thinking of Walmart.

I always thought they were worthless because they are WALMART GIFT CARDS...

This happens in other stores. It has little to do with WalMart specifically; it's got a lot more to do with the service provider that backs the gift cards.

Where I work, a large corporate bookstore, we use Givex, and we had no end of headaches during and following the holiday season last year. When the terminals worked, and they often didn't during peak business hours, the cards wouldn't always become loaded when they were put through the activation procedure, and when activation fails there is only a single line on the receipt that prints that informs the cashier of this: during the holiday rush something as subtle as that was often missed.

Telling a customer that their giftcard is a dud and that they need to produce the receipt if it's to be worth anything at all is no fun, let me tell you.

Back to your regularly scheduled Wal Mart bashing.

The whole gift card system sucks, really. Wal-Mart just got bit in the ass by this one, but as noted above, they're a hassle anywhere.

And the fact that their value disappears over time is just inexcusable.

i dont see why all of you are talking so much mess on good ole walmart...
in case you havent heard it is the best place in the world to meet women...
...assiuming, of coarse, you are into nascar, acne, cellullite, trailer parks, bad hair, and cheap clothes...

ok, fuck walmart and all their shit, i hate it, but i can not STAND all those who dog on the people who shop there--they often HAVE to, as they are poor and all the other businesses in the area have dried up due to the cutthroat practices of mr. walton's family. i'm sorry they have cheap clothes, and i'm sorry that you don't like their hair, or if they aren't your ideal weight, or don't share your tastes in entertainment, and aren't fucking goth, master. so sorry you have to be oppressed by the existence of people who don't meet your standards of beauty.
try living in a trailer park.
and while i'm at it, learn to spell.

The criminal behind it probably justifies the action as just "sticking it to Walmart", forgetting the people (likely poorer than he or she is) who rightfully own the cards.



[Edited on Sep 06, 2004 by ProdigalSaint]

Before I left LA WalMarts were becoming almost as popular as Target or K-Mart. It's no longer just some redneck chain that you only find in the middle of Utah. Yes, their tactics are cut throat and while they claim to do research and make sure they won't cause absolute chaos to neighboring businesses, lets faces facts, this is the modern 'civilized' world, and its cut throat. WalMart is able to offer better prices to everyone based on fucking over the little guy (eg, small business owner) but at the same time cater to the other little guy (the poor ass mofo who needs somewhere to shop).

WalMart is a chain, and they are about making money. If you're going to make fun of someone for shopping at a WalMart, consider making fun of everyone you know who goes to Target, K-Mart, the Mall, etc.

WORD.

WORD. Again.

Hehe, I'm gonna get a Walmart giftcard, give it to someone else to go use at another store and then take it back to the store I got it from and try to use it!

Why doesn't my giftcard work? I got it just the other day!

i work there an you are excatly right they fucking suck so much. anyone whos worked there will agree with your statement.

Someone in California has got a hell of a lot of stuff. Maybe it's time these electronic gift cards are rethought of. Especially considering how prevalent they've become. Myself, I don't give them for other reasons but this is going to happen again and again.

Seriously, e-gift cards are so dumb. Just give someone some cash you ass.

I disagree. I adored my job at Walmart, I was upset that I had to leave it when I moved for college. I was payed well, I got awesome hours, and most of the people I worked with were wonderful.

The Walmart in the town I moved too is all scary, though. :\

yeah, forget about sharks, why are customers such fucking assholes!

you sound like it's a small chain of stores, just getting it's footing. Walmart has been on the top of the world's biggest multinational list for several years now, I do believe.

Most likely passing the blame and not trying to fix the problem. That's what happens when people are promoted to their level of incompetence. Yes, I worked there. Yes, I hate them. Yes, I'm glad someone "stuck it to them". No, I don't think this is going to bring about any major change in their business ethics. Its one person stealing for personal gain, not a united front of hackers taking Wal*Mart down for the good of humanity.

And if you take gift cards and buy merchandise, all you have to do is return it to a different store for a full refund, no questions asked. You don't even need a receipt for most things. Just make a big stink and they'll pay you out to shut you up.

im actualy suprised its taken people this long... i have yet to see a secure card based system for anything... my old college had student ID's with little magnetic strips on them just like a gift card or credit card... the system was far from secure.. a few lines of code and a magnetic strip reader/writer (baught with computer science club money) and suddenly you could be anyone you wanted (bank account included).