Complain about a product or service

Home Depot Gift Cards

Home Depot • Customer Service • Credit Policies • Equipment Rentals • "Interest-Free" Promotions • HomeDepot.com • An Insider's View --- • Appliances • Bathrooms • Doors • Floors • Gift Cards • Generator • Home Heating • Kitchen Dept • Nursery & Gardening • Rebates • Roofing • Siding • Special Orders • Windows & Siding • Expo Design Center --- • Contractors' Advice --- News • Home Depot Sells Supply Unit As Home Construction Sags • CEO Nadelli Ousted with $210 Million Severance • Home Depot Buys a Bank • Home Depot, Monogram Credit Card Bank To Pay Connecticut $672,000 • Home Depot, Lowe's Settle Credit Card Suit • 6 Months "Interest-Free" Class Action

Kari of Somerville, MA January 5, 2010

I had a horrible experience when the card was lost. Customer service did not know the policy the store was mandated to use regarding gift cards after Home Depot lost a law suit due to their unfair policy regarding gift cards (not refunding customers for lost cards)

There is a big sign hanging up behind the CS desk that states "We will replace lost, stolen or damaged cards" This was probably placed there after the law suit without any explanation to the CS reps that their had been a change to policy. I say this because each time I addressed the issue with a CS rep. they told me in no uncertain terms that if the card was lost, I was out of luck as it was treated as cash by their store. I pointed to the sign behind them and they just shrugged and said they didn't know what to tell me.

Finally, they told me to contact bookkeeping so that they could get my proof of purchase, mail it to Atlanta HQ and if during that time someone did not happen to find the stolen card and use it, I may get a refund, but that they were making an exception to their normal policy and I should be so grateful for their trouble. I am done with Home Depot. Spent several hours trying to get the issue sorted out.

Steve of Little Rock, AR December 27, 2009

I purchased an Echo Leaf Blower from homedepot.com with a 500 giftcard and the remaining 54.75 on a debit card. Three days later on Christmas Eve (yeah this was my Xmas present) I received a box weighing about a pound it was an Echo Mulch Vacuum Bag and the invoice inside said 1ea. Echo 755T leaf blower.

I call homedepot.com immediately and spoke with a lady who for whatever reason conveniently hungup 5 mins. before the top of the hour. when I called back the automated attendant said they were closed. Well spending my Christmas watching everyone else and nothing to do I decided to get my paperwork together to call them in the morning.

December 26th I spoke with homedepot.com and they have repeatly told me the best they can do is email me a shipping label and call UPS for a pickup, once they receive it then they issue a credit to my debit for 54.75 but the gift card will have to come by mail as a new gift card. once I receive it I can start all over. I tried the retail store, they were even worse than the online reps.

It's obvious to me Home Depot's accounting skirt the line of law and of GAAP. The gift cards are considered income though no goods have been sold until the gift cards are redeemed. The untold truth about gift cards is that only .50 for every 1.00 every get redeemed, furthermore they have the ability to restrict your purchases (i.e. no discounts, no sale pricing, no cash value) and this is true the street value of a gift card is around half it's purchase price.

All in all I'm getting comfortable about washing my hands of Home Depot and of Echo. I decided to stick with my Poulan from Walmart, since I've never been treated like this at Wally World and Poulan/Husqavuarna has their products EVERYWHERE if my poulan breaks tomorrow I could buy 2 replacements and still not spend the 554.75 for the Echo...

Oh I almost forgot, you know that Home Depot gift card I had? well, on the of the card was a bag of charcoal brickettes and a BBQ Grill with a caption that said, "A Bag of Coal..." That's just not right. I'm out the cash and well I guess I didn't get a christmas present this year... but that's not my reason for my complaint. It's purpose is to inform the public of my experience. Knowledge is power.

Kerry of Basom , NY August 25, 2009

I moved into the house and began fixing it up, about 2 months into the project I got a nice bonus at work and purchased 1500.00 of gift cards online just to insure that I had the money tied up and it didnt go somewhere else , shortly after the purchase I heard from the lawer handling the estate and it seems that there were 3 years back taxes owed, I managed to scrape together enough to keep the State away but need much much more

in a hurry I had made some purchases on the gift cards but there is still 885 left on them, I tried to call the local branch and the told me that they dont return cash in gift cards, the local manager was very courtious and helpful but explained that he couldnt help me and gave me a phone number to customer service for online gift cards,

this morning I called that number and talked to a rep she told me that home depot dosent return cash on gift cards and that she was sorry I may lose the house, we continued the conversation and she explained that if I wouldnt have used any of the gift cards that they could have made some kind of exception but I had " tied her hands by makeing a purchase "

I explained to her that I was unaware at the time of purchase that there were taxes owed and that returning my money would greatly help me , she however refused to help stateing "policy" I also explained that I was a loyal customer of home depot and spend thousands of dollars in there stores every year , her answer was " perhaps you should have saved some of that money"

thats when I got angry and told her that I would never come back to the home depot again and that i was going to blog all day long to let people know how home depot is with their non refund policy, It is very clear that I wont get satisfaction from home depot and that they will not return my money, as of now I have to wait it out to see if I can keep the property and if I do Ill have to spend that money at their store (feels like a form extortion to me)

Kim of Talladega, AL August 12, 2009

I went to home depot to pick up a chrome hoodrange that had came in, and to get my refund on a product that was order and not received, and the representative told me that I might have to take a gift card. I said, why do I have to take a gift card and I paid cash for the item. The other representative told asked me why I did not want a gift card, and I told them I should not have to have one. Then another repr. told me if I put it on my card, and it was a zero balance, I would still get a gift card.

My point is why are they getting all on me like that and putting my business out in front of other customers. I am a paying customer and I should not get that type of treatment. To make the situation bad. I had to wait, as I was first in line, so that she could help other customers. This was not good customer service. The guy told me he was sorry, and I simply told him, I have never felt so insulted like this from any customer representative.

Last Monday, I had bought a double stainless steel dishwasher and chrome hoodrange and paid cash for this item. I have talked to people and told them about the situation. I am honestly thinking about returning all my items that was purchased and getting a refund. I am in the middle of remodeling and these items is over 8000.00. I purchase (3) toilets, (2) vessel sinks, over 900 sq. ft of mouldings, (3) storm doors, (14) light fixtures, closet storages, dishwasher, sink, accessories for my bath, locks, handles for my kitchen cabinets, and other miscellenous items.

Toby of Elkhorn, WI August 3, 2009

Home Depot has one of the worst customer service departments and management staff I've ever dealt with, heard about and read about. Their gift card "policy" is one of the worst. The eager to hand them out, but god forbid you try using them. Can't use them to pay off credit card limits. Can't use them online, expect they sell them on line, and every other store that uses gift cards allows usage on line.

Went to buy a deck (1300.00). Well I forgot my money and gift cards at home, and instead of making the 2hour trip back home to get them, I decided sign up for the credit card and pay it off when I get back home. Sounds good right. Spend my hard earned (1300). A week later went to home depot to pay off, but can't use the gift cards. No empathy, no care, just some highschool kid basically tell me I should have read the fine, small print on the card. Same response from the manager. Ok, my fault.

Now I have 400 to spend at a store I have nothing or want nothing from. I go online seeing that they sell different items on line then they do at the stores. Only to find out, you can't use your gift cards on line. You can definitely buy them online, but can't use them. Once again many complaints, but not 1 response showing an explanation or empathy towards the paying customer.

Diane of Nutley, NJ June 29, 2009

I purchased a 100 Home Depot gift card on 12/20/08 which is lost. I provided copy of receipt, credit card info, contact info and called no less than 20 times in the past 2 months. On the rare occasion I do speak with Josette, she tells me that someone is looking into the matter and she will call me the next day.

Steve of Lawai, HI January 27, 2009

Steve of Lawai HI (01/27/09)
On March 28, 2008 we purchased several new appliances totaling 3,635.73 during gift card promotion which entitled us to 300 in gift cards. I sent in the required information to redeem them on 4/14/08 but to date we have never received the gift cards. I kept checking back with the store clerk and was told to wait a few months but we still have not received anything. Enclosed [for Home Depot]: Gift card redemption form which the store clerk starred the cards we qualified for from our purchases totaling 300 A copy of our sales receipt A copy of the invoices showing the appliances we purchased.

The gift cards were a big incentive for us to go ahead and purchase all the new appliances when we did so. I hate to lose out on them since I did all that was required. Please follow up on this and let is know the status of the missing cards. We appreciate any help on resolving this situation.

no response [from Home Depot]

Dan of Williamston, MI January 7, 2009

Dan of Williamston MI (01/07/09)
Why does home depot sell gift cards online if you cant use them on homedepot.com I just got royally screwed for Christmas. I asked for home depot gift cards to buy a new set of fire place doors. The store said I had to purchase my door online because they stocked the product just not my size it can only be purchased at homedepot.com.

Well after two different phone calls to depot.com and store I only see one way around my problem. Sell the cards and count my loss. I just think if you sell the gift card online you should be able to use them online.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Follow us on Twitter.

Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2010 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.    The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission.