Apple Removes Option to Purchase Gift Cards by Email [Update: Added Back]

[MacRumors]

Apple recently removed the option to purchase Apple Store or iTunes gift cards by email from its U.S. website, eliminating the ability to buy e-gift cards.

The option to purchase physical Apple Store or iTunes gift cards by mail remains on Apple's website, while both physical and e-gift cards remain available from third-party resellers such as Walmart and Staples.

Apple previously allowed customers to purchase digital gift cards and send them by email. The purchaser selected a card design and value, and composed a birthday wish or similar message for the recipient.

The change appears limited to the U.S. for now, as Apple continues to sell Apple Store and iTunes gift cards by email in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Update (September 16): Apple has restored the page for purchasing gift cards by email in the United States.

Article Link: Apple Removes Option to Purchase Gift Cards by Email [Update: Added Back]

 

[Mlrollin91]

Well that's stupid. I purchase e-giftcards all the time. What purpose do they have in removing the convenience of this?

 

[arggg14]

What the? How does removing this convenience make any sense at all?

 

[YodasMaster]

Probably has to do with fraud.

 

[44267547]

That's a shocking move. I purchased E-Gift cards all the time. Unfortunate for you Apple.

 

[Futurix]

What the heck??

 

[PieTunes]

Is this for real? Maybe a temporary thing so they can resolve some sort of issue at the back end? Whatever the case it's bizarre.

 

[xTIMMYxCOREx]

Guaranteed it's because of fraud; I have heard numerous times that online credit card fraud has gone up exponentially since the chip reading launched.

 

[AZhappyjack]

I noticed a week or so back that the Fry's Food Store subsidy of Kroger stopped carrying the Apple Store gift cards, as well. No one that I spoke with had any idea, only that they were not available any longer.

It's a double whammy, because Fry's often offers as much as 4X "fuel point" rewards with gift card purchases... so I could spend $250 on a gift card and in addition to the $250 purchasing power at Apple, I could also get 1000 fuel points which equated to $1/gallon discount on gasoline purchases.

Ironically, when I discovered this situation, I went to apple.com and bought a gift card via email. Gah!!!

 

[nrose101]

The Barclays Apple card stop this about 2 months ago as well

 

[44267547]

I noticed a week or so back that the Fry's Food Store subsidy of Kroger stopped carrying the Apple Store gift cards, as well. No one that I spoke with had any idea, only that they were not available any longer.

It's a double whammy, because Fry's often offers as much as 4X "fuel point" rewards with gift card purchases... so I could spend $250 on a gift card and in addition to the $250 purchasing power at Apple, I could also get 1000 fuel points which equated to $1/gallon discount on gasoline purchases.

Ironically, when I discovered this situation, I went to apple.com and bought a gift card via email. Gah!!!

That is interesting. All of the Walgreens in my area also stopped carrying Apple Store Gift cards. I purchased those all the time from them. Now the E-Mail gift cards are gone. Options are severely limited, besides the postal mail.

 

[ZipZap]

What the? How does removing this convenience make any sense at all?

Cause Apple does not trust you.

 

[Bawstun]

What the? How does removing this convenience make any sense at all?

They saw the success of removing the headphone jack, they're moving on to e-gift cards now as well. Just something else you didn't know you wanted!

 

[sblemmy]

The Barclays Apple card stop this about 2 months ago as well

I had this grand fantasy to save up eight (max that can be used in a single purchase) $100 e-gift cards from Barclays Apple rewards card and spend it all at once to subsidize a new MBP. Instead, I am now stuck with a bunch of $25 gift cards that I need to use up on smaller purchases.

 

[TheLorax]

For what it's worth, you can still send gift cards via email from iTunes (v12.5.1).

I know this isn't exactly what this article is saying, but thought it was worth mentioning.

I'm still burned that you can't print out the gift certificates. I used to give them as gifts to the kids, print two copies, and a year later when they still weren't used (because they lost them), I'd use the code for myself and buy them another birthday gift.

EDIT: You can also send email gifts via the iTunes Store in iOS 10.

 

[countryside]

They want more people to drive to their nearest Apple Store (35 min for me) to get one (yes, I know Target and other places sell it).

 

[44267547]

They want more people to drive to their nearest Apple Store (35 min for me) to get one (yes, I know Target and other places sell it).

I am thinking your incorrect. I have three Targets in my area and they do not sell the Apple Store Gift cards, only iTunes.

 

[BSben]

is this the beginning of the end of gift cards? I hope not as discounted gift cards are the only reason I use Apple Music or buy items from the iTunes store. At full price they are nowhere near competitive, that would be a shame

 

[dsizomutt]

This is upsetting, I would buy them in $100 increments to save up for whatever the next release was.

 

[Futurix]

I e-mail gift cards to myself monthly as a budget thing. Worked pretty good so far!

 

[dannyyankou]

I used their renew and recycling program to mail my old phone in exchange for an e-gift card. Does this mean they'll now send me a physical gift card in the mail?

 

[44267547]

I e-mail gift cards to myself monthly as a budget thing. Worked pretty good so far!

That's exactly what I did. It was a means of settings aside funds for the next big release. I even put messages in the headline saying to myself "Just for you, because your worth it."

 

[entropys]

I get my SiL to buy me email gift cards and my iTunes account does not have a credit card attached. Does this mean Apple wants this to stop?

 

[macduke]

They saw the success of removing the headphone jack, they're moving on to e-gift cards now as well. Just something else you didn't know you wanted!

Macs are next. They've even got a team of highly trained burglars set to steal all of our existing Macs. That fateful night shall be known as the Rapture Macture. As a gesture of good will, Apple will offer 5% off all iPad Pros, excluding 256GB and Space Gray options. It has been prophesied! So say we all.

 

[69Mustang]

...I even put messages in the headline saying to myself "Just for you, because your worth it."

This immediately popped into my head when I read your quote: