Doesn’t Have The Gift(card) Of Foresight

(I have previously worked for a large bookstore chain that went out of business. I now work at their competitor.)

Me: “Thank you for calling [Current Bookstore] in South Miami. How may I help you?”

Caller: “Yeah, do you guys accept [Previous Bookstore]’s gift cards?”

Me: “I’m sorry, but we don’t. They were a different company, so they’re not valid here.”

Caller: “But when I go to their website it redirects me to yours!”

Me: “Yes. When the company closed, [Current Bookstore] bought their domain, and I believe their mailing lists, but they were never actually affiliated with them.”

Caller: “So you don’t accept their gift cards?”

Me: “I’m sorry, but no. They were a different company. ”

Caller: “So what am I supposed to do with this gift card?”

Me: “I’m afraid there’s nothing you can do. The company went out of business. It’s closed. The cards are worthless now.”

Caller: “But someone paid good money for these cards!”

Me: “I understand that. But I worked for [Previous Bookstore] when they went under. When they announced their bankruptcy, they also made it very clear that as they liquidated they would only accept gift cards through a certain date. There were signs all over the stores. You had two months to come and use the card. After that, even the stores stopped accepting them. [Previous Bookstore] didn’t exist. They were owned by a liquidation company at that point.”

Caller: “But someone paid for this. And you’re telling me that money is gone?! That’s unacceptable! I want my money!!”

Me: “Ma’am, with all due respect, the store closed three years ago. How important could the value of that card be to you if you’ve waited three years?”

(Click.)