Filed under: iTS, iTunes, Apple, iPhone
iPhone $100 credit can be used for iTunes gift cards
Chris Tutor, from our sister blog Autoblog, emailed us a link to this Bloomberg article about the $100 iPhone credit (you have yours, right?). The first thing many people wanted to know about the credit was, 'Can I buy stuff from the iTunes store with it?' A quick look at the FAQ would make you think this is not possible, but Bloomberg spoke with an Apple rep who clarified the whole thing.Here's the lowdown: you can't apply the $100 credit directly to your iTunes account, but you can swagger into any Apple Store, or log onto the online store, and buy yourself a $100 (or less) iTunes Gift Card. The only question that remains is, what are you going to spend all that loot at iTunes?
Update: Several people in the comments, and on other blogs, wrote me to let me know that this post is just plain wrong. It is not incorrect, the iPhone credit can be used for iTunes Gifts Cards NOT iTunes electronic gift certificates. I just purchased a $25 gift card from the online Apple store using my credit.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
noah said 8:21AM on 9-15-2007
that's not my experience. i tried yesterday and today, and the "Apple Store Credit or Apple Gift Card" section of the select a payment method in the online store is greyed out. The message is "Because your order includes an Apple Gift Card or an iTunes Music Store Gift Certificate, you cannot pay using an Apple Gift Card."
Has anyone else figured this out?
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Stephen Macklin said 8:37AM on 9-15-2007
"The only question that remains is, what are you going to spend all that loot at iTunes?"
Ringtones?
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voe said 8:38AM on 9-15-2007
Noah-
You are correct, the article is wrong. You can not use the credit with Apple's online store or through phone irders for an iTunes card. You can ONLY accomplish this at an Apple retail store.
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Tim Kimberl said 8:54AM on 9-15-2007
Well, I will say buying music on the iPhone with the iTMs wireless is gonna be addicting... so using the 100$ credit on iTMs is a good idea if you buy your music from itunes.
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Rob H said 9:22AM on 9-15-2007
Umm, guys, the situation can be worse than we thought.
Look at this chat I had with an Apple rep just a few seconds ago.
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Hi, my name is Khalilah P. Welcome to Apple!
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Khalilah P: How may I help you today?
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You: Hi, I got the iPhone rebate credit and I am wondering what the easiest way is for me to be able to use it on itunes
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Khalilah P: I'm happy to assist with that.
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Khalilah P: Give me a moment to do some research. I am not sure that the credit is available to be used on iTunes.
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You: sure, no problem
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Khalilah P: Thanks for your patience.
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Khalilah P: Unfortunately, you are not able to use that credit at an iTunes store.
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Khalilah P: You may redeem their store credits only for qualified purchases directly from Apple at an Apple Retail Store, the Apple Online Store, or Apple Telesales (1-800-MY-APPLE) in the United States.
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You: Okay, so I would be able to purchase an iTunes gift card to essentially transfer the credit?
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Khalilah P: You can purchase just about anything sold by Apple, except another Apple Store Gift Card or an iTunes electronic Gift Certificate.
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Khalilah P: May I help with any other product or order questions before you proceed?
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You: So I would need to either purchase the gift card at an Apple store or have it shipped from the online store if I understand correctly.
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Khalilah P: No, you are not able to purchase any gift cards with your iPhone credit.
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You: Oh, okay, thank you.
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Khalilah P: You're welcome.
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Khalilah P: May I help with any other product or order questions before you proceed?
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You: No, thank you, that is all.
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Khalilah P: Thank you for visiting the Apple Store. We appreciate your business.
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Matt D said 9:47AM on 9-15-2007
Yeah? You think that's bad?
I wasted my ENTIRE day yesterday trying to redeem that damn thing. I took mine into my "local" Apple Store (We live an hour away) and they told me my balance was $0! Then I spent a few more hours on the phone, only to be told I had to send an email.
How's that for "It just works."
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cynyc said 10:07AM on 9-15-2007
Customers may redeem their store credits only for qualified purchases directly from Apple at an Apple Retail Store, the Apple Online Store, or Apple Telesales (1-800-MY-APPLE) in the United States. Customers may not redeem their store credits: (1) at any iTunes Store in the United States or elsewhere, (2) Apple Store locations outside the United States; (3) at Apple resellers; (4) for cash; (5) to purchase Apple Gift Cards, or,iTunes Store Gift Certificates, to give iTunes Store content as gifts, or to create iTunes Store allowances; or (6) as payments on Apple accounts.
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Chad said 10:19AM on 9-15-2007
You can buy gift CARDS but not gift CERTIFICATES with it. I had already purchased some things with my credit but I just got a $25 gift card with the remaining amount. Wonder if Apple sells anything for 20 cents?
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James Donevan said 10:35AM on 9-15-2007
Despite what Bloomberg or anyone else reports, the Apple $100 Credit page (as linked in TUAWs earlier posts) is crystal clear in stating that the credit cannot be used "to purchase Apple Gift Cards, or,iTunes Store Gift Certificates, to give iTunes Store content as gifts, or to create iTunes Store allowances".
Why pass along what is obviously contradictory information here - unless the blogger has actually confirmed the information with Apple. Did the TUAW crew learn nothing from yesterday's "you must have an iTunes account to use an iPod touch" debacle.
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Joe King said 10:53AM on 9-15-2007
50 ring tones and 50 songs, Survey here
http://appsafari.com/news/1036/100-credit/
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Mike said 11:01AM on 9-15-2007
Wow!....I redeemed my certificate yesterday and was told I could not get an iTunes card.....and today that option is open to me. You would have thought I would have learned the lesson of being an early adopter. You would have thought I would have learned that apple will change the rules of the game. Shame on me. Twice.
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Ben said 11:49AM on 9-15-2007
"You would have thought I would have learned the lesson of being an early adopter...Shame on me. Twice."
Yeah, I did the exact same thing here :(
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lilbyrdie said 12:38PM on 9-15-2007
Wow, this is confusing. The fine print from Apple's page says, "(1) at any iTunes Store in the United States or elsewhere, (2) Apple Store locations outside the United States; (3) at Apple resellers; (4) for cash; (5) to purchase Apple Gift Cards, or,iTunes Store Gift Certificates, to give iTunes Store content as gifts, or to create iTunes Store allowances;"
Number 1 is that it can't be used at the iTunes store. Ok, that's odd, but fine (they don't make any money on song sales, right?).
Number 4 is for cash, and a gift card or gift certificate is treated as cash in many states -- can't expire, can be redeemable sometimes for cash.
Number 5 no Apple Gift Cards and no iTunes Gift Certificates. Is an iTunes Gift Card not also an Apple Gift Card, by definition?
I guess I'll just have to go try and order one. Blah!
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Daniel said 1:09PM on 9-15-2007
#6 did you figure out why your credit balance was $0?
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Matt D said 1:24PM on 9-15-2007
@ #14 - Nope. I sent the requested email and have not heard back :(
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Jt Hollister said 2:31PM on 9-15-2007
I can't believe Apple is doing this. I love those guys, and they usually do everything right...I harbor no anger towards them for lowering the price, that's just how things work, but then to offer the $100 deal and be such big assholes over it...I'm afraid AT&T is having some influence! They have to get out of this partnership fast!!
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cpt said 3:29PM on 9-15-2007
Folks,
I was able to do this for a web order of 2 "iTunes Gift Cards" for $50 each (no card exists for 100). the email certificate option did not work (gift card was grayed out on the payment screen), but ordering the physical gift card seems to have. this may be a temporary glitch on apple's side or some other oddity, but if you follow the directions above, quite literally and precisely, it may work for you.
I think post 13 above has laid out the various categories of cards, certificates, etc, clearly. But i guess the answer to that final question is that "iTunes Gift Card [ARE] not also an Apple Gift Card, by definition" :-) at least at the moment.
Good luck
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Tony Bowman said 3:32PM on 9-15-2007
i went into an Apple retail store and bought a $100 iTunes gift card with my credit. No tax was charged. easy as pie.
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Travis said 4:54PM on 9-15-2007
thanks for the advice! dude, i was frustrated trying to buy a certificate, but switched over to card and worked fine.
if you're buying a card think about buying the product red cards --- no difference in price and gives back a little.
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CB said 8:29PM on 9-15-2007
I tried to convert my iPhone Store Credit to an Apple gift card today at my local Apple retail store. No go. I was told definitely that I could not do this.
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