Trying to purchase itunes gift

[Double Trouble]

I've never personally been a fan of the i-stuff from apple, but people seem to like it. Obviously the ipod and iphone etc are popular.

My nephew has an iphone and an ipod, I wanted to buy him an itunes gift certificate for his b-day. That should be very simple and painless right? Apparently not. Apple does not let you order gift certificates unless you first download and install itunes software, and create an account on itunes. WTF? I have no apple products, I have no need or want for itunes software or an account on itunes. Why the hell would I need to jump through those hoops just to get a gift certificate?

I talked to an "apple expert", their answer was "but itunes is free!". I don't want the stupid i-garbage software on my machine, nor do I want to sign up for anything, I just want to buy a gift for someone else. Geez.

I guess he's getting a present from somewhere else this year. What a stupid business practice.

The other thing I don't understand is why gift cards and certificates go for more than face value on ebay. Huh?

</blog rant>

Edit: to clarify, my nephew is overseas, I don't want an actual card that I'd have to mail or have mailed, just an electronic certificate.

 

[I Saw OJ]

You can buy itunes gift cards from bestbuy without signing up for itunes.

 

[skulkingghost]

Buy one from the store? The supermarket here has them next to the checkout registers. It is a Giant Supermarket if that helps.

 

[Double Trouble]

Originally posted by: I Saw OJ
You can buy itunes gift cards from bestbuy without signing up for itunes.

Yes, but he's a continent away, I don't need the actual card, just a certificate. Apparently from what I read today you can buy keygen generated codes that work easier than buying the legit certificates. That's messed up.

Edit: my first time warp.

 

[Newbian]

Originally posted by: Double Trouble
The other thing I don't understand is why gift cards and certificates go for more than face value on ebay. Huh?

Usually money laundering.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Then just dont buy music then, I stopped buying music around 1999

 

[Double Trouble]

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
Then just dont buy music then, I stopped buying music around 1999

Oh trust me, there hasn't been much worth buying since then anyway. I wanted to get him a gift so he could buy apps or shows etc. Guess not...... Apple idiots...

 

[lxskllr]

How about a prepaid Visa, then he can buy what he wants, music or other. I agree with you about Itunes. Apple can go screw themselves if they they think I'm going to install their garbage to buy someone a gift.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
How about a prepaid Visa, then he can buy what he wants, music or other. I agree with you about Itunes. Apple can go screw themselves if they they think I'm going to install their garbage to buy someone a gift.

Don't those prepaid visa cards cost you like $1.50-$3.00 to activate the card?

 

[Terabyte]

Can't you buy the physical gift card and give him the number on the gift card?

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Schfifty Five

Originally posted by: lxskllr
How about a prepaid Visa, then he can buy what he wants, music or other. I agree with you about Itunes. Apple can go screw themselves if they they think I'm going to install their garbage to buy someone a gift.

Don't those prepaid visa cards cost you like $1.50-$3.00 to activate the card?

I don't know, I've never used one. I assumed you may any fees required at the register. I like the idea of them due to being more universally useful. I'd get her a Visa card, and a link to Emusic where she can get free downloads as part of a trial, and open her up to some new better music ;^)

 

[Kyle]

I ran in to the same problem.
Here's the kicker. I sucked it up, installed Itunes, created a new account- when I *finally* went to purchase an email gift cert- "Your account is not authorized for this type of purchase" or something along those lines. :| Not sure if you have to have an open account for a while before they allow you to purchase them or what, but yeah, big 'fuck you' to Apple for that one.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Double Trouble
Apple does not let you order gift certificates unless you first download and install itunes software, and create an account on itunes. WTF? I have no apple products, I have no need or want for itunes software or an account on itunes. Why the hell would I need to jump through those hoops just to get a gift certificate?

I'm going to take a wild guess here and say that it's a limitation of their software and that implementing changes to address this specific issue would cost them significantly more than it would be worth due to the fact that your situation represents a very tiny minority of use cases.

ZV

 

[Double Trouble]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Double Trouble
Apple does not let you order gift certificates unless you first download and install itunes software, and create an account on itunes. WTF? I have no apple products, I have no need or want for itunes software or an account on itunes. Why the hell would I need to jump through those hoops just to get a gift certificate?

I'm going to take a wild guess here and say that it's a limitation of their software and that implementing changes to address this specific issue would cost them significantly more than it would be worth due to the fact that your situation represents a very tiny minority of use cases.

ZV

Apparently this is not a limitation, it's an intentional strategy to gain more itunes users and marketing targets. This "policy" went into effect in 2007 (at least that's what I just read on some blog).

I find it hard to understand why a company so focused on simplicity and ease of use would make it so difficult to purchase a gift card.

Either way, they lost the sale. I'm giving him something else.

 

[CKent]

You need to get your Apple terminology right, this type of thing is called "innovation".

Viva la iRevolution!

 

[Double Trouble]

Originally posted by: CKent
You need to get your Apple terminology right, this type of thing is called "innovation".

Viva la iRevolution!

:laugh:

I guess I'm not quite ready for that kind of "innovation" yet

 

[QueBert]

You can go to most B&M stores and buy iTunes gift cards, Target, Walmart, most grocery stores, Best Buy and dozens of others. I see iTunes cards more often than I see Visa gift cards. I assure you there's no need to sign up for an iTunes account just to buy one.

 

[KeithP]

Originally posted by: Terabyte
Can't you buy the physical gift card and give him the number on the gift card?

Yes, that would work.

-KeithP