The Gift Card

Attempt #1

I am waiting in a very long line at Wal-Mart on Sunday after church. Bruce has the groceries and I am trying to buy a $100 Visa Gift Card for a retiree and good friend at work.

We arrive at the counter and I try to pay for the gift card (now $105.44) with $81 in cash donations and a check card for the rest. Although the swiper says my charge for $24.44 is approved, the register spits out a tiny piece of paper stating that it didn't go through.

The cashier says try it again. She re-rings everything and I swipe again. $24.44 approved. The small slip of paper prints again. Now the other customers are getting annoyed. I can see it on their faces.

Our cashier calls for help. I am reassured that the charge did not happen. The helper says I can't pay for gift cards with two different mediums. We decide to go ahead and check the groceries while I call the bank. The charges went through, but both were canceled. Whew!

We decide to get $20 cash back on the groceries to pay for the gift card. I'm ready to try again but realize the mathematical error too late. (We need another $4.44.) Neither of us has any more cash. The customers in line are beyond annoyed at this point. Violence appears eminent. We vacate the line quickly.

Now the option is to get cash from the ATM and wait in the lines again or to go home. I have one more day to get the gift card, so we opt to leave.

Attempt #2

After work today I return to the Wal-Mart. I pick out a nice retirement card, a Diet Dr. Pepper and another $100 Visa gift card. I am prepared today. I will swipe the check card for the whole purchase and deposit the now $102 on the way home.

I wait in the "speedy" line. It's not as bad as yesterday, but it's about 10 minutes. I set my 3 items down and pull out my check card. The cashier says, "You know you have to pay cash for those, right?"

This is a revelation. Now I understand why it didn't work yesterday. I briefly tell my saga to the nice lady. I realize that I am $3.44 short for the transaction. That plus the other items. I look at her and say, "I guess I'll have to get more cash." She recommends the ATM. Somewhat defeated, I gather my items and head off for the cash.

"This is going to cost me a hefty fee," I think. I swipe my card. I punch my digits. Three dollars? I give a dirty look to the bank tellers and announce, "Three dollars? Are you kidding me?" They give me a crazy lady look. I sigh and reluctantly agree to the fee.

Attempt #3

Now I have $122. I go back to the speedy lanes and get in the nice lady's line again. It is the shortest by far. There are 2 men ahead of me. The first is telling the cashier, "I need $20 cash back." I have a very Homer Simpson moment here. I am very vocal about it. I announce to both men, "I could've paid for the coke and the card and got $20 cash back for free!! Argh!" The first man is now hurrying to finish his transaction. The second is willing to listen. I tell him what happened and about the $3. He laughs and agrees that it would've paid to be smart.

It's my turn. I lay my 3 items and my $122 down on the counter. "Third try," I say to the nice lady. She rings up the coke and the card and asks for $4.32. "I need the gift card, too!" I inform her. She tells me it won't ring up with other items and proceeds to prove this to me by trying.

At this point I get the full education on buying Visa Gift Cards. Apparently it has to be the only item in the transaction, there is a $5.44 fee and you have to pay cash.

Attempt #4

Success! The nice lady and I are now in this together. I have $105.44 counted out and ready to pay. She rings up the card. I hand her the cash. I ask if it's activated. She lets me watch her screen as it announces the activation process... It's done! I give a "Woo hoo!" The nice lady gives me a double fist pump as I leave with my items.

I sure hope my friend likes her present.