Target Deactivating Some Gift Cards Bought on the 10%-Off Sale

Déjà vu.

Target is again deactivating some gift cards purchased on Sunday’s 10% off sale. Similar things happened in 2017 and 2016.

In the past, it was only when multiple cards were purchased with the same credit card that they deactivated them, I assume this time is the same. Not sure if they track across stores or only when the same card was used at the same store more multiple times. If you ordered more than one gift card online, it’s possible they’ll deactivate those duplicates as well.

All cards got activated at 10 am this morning, and some got subsequently deactivated. I don’t think everyone who bought more than one gift card on the same credit card is getting deactivated, probably only the heavy hitters.

Check your Target gift card balance here. And contribute your experiences in the comments.

Hat tip to @Zfink85

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Jun
Jun (@guest_687381)
December 7, 2018 20:56

Has anyone received their Target refunds yet?

Jon
Jon (@guest_687660)
December 8, 2018 15:31

No refund yet.

Jun
Jun (@guest_690512)
December 13, 2018 15:31

Target is starting to refund today, I received my first batch

joe
joe (@guest_685200)
December 5, 2018 04:46

Do you mean multiple cards of $300 or any amounts? Hope it is not the later.

Mary
Mary (@guest_684724)
December 4, 2018 13:50

Anyone knows how to get the money back from the deactivated card?

K
K (@guest_684596)
December 4, 2018 11:10

I bought two $50 cards with the same credit card. Will check tonight if they get deactivated.

Mike
Mike (@guest_684479)
December 4, 2018 05:53

What would you need with hundreds or thousands in Target gift cards? Can’t buy other gift cards…

EatsPizza
EatsPizza (@guest_684974)
December 4, 2018 19:40

I bought $1,500 last year and that only got me 6 months of my regular Target spend. For an extra savings of 5% plus the points or cash back earned for buying those cards, I had zero problem tying up a little cash in those cards.

BX
BX (@guest_684457)
December 4, 2018 03:10

I’m confused. I bought multiple cards but totalling $300 only. Will mines be deactivated?

Matt
Matt (@guest_684429)
December 4, 2018 01:46

10 of 38 I purchased in store with two different cards were activated, I’ll get AMEX to refund the 28 others if Target won’t – no big deal.

JV
JV (@guest_684420)
December 4, 2018 01:07

4×300 bought, none deactivated. 2 online 2 instore all different cards used for payment and 1 per each me and my wife.

El Guapo
El Guapo (@guest_684384)
December 3, 2018 23:45

Why didn’t they just give a maximum on the purchases?

Ann
Ann (@guest_684401)
December 4, 2018 00:18

They did, $300 per person, but people try to get more and sometimes Target catches them.

Charlie
Charlie (@guest_684351)
December 3, 2018 23:08

Sounds like some customers got greedy. I guess they found out that what goes around comes around.

This hobby would be so much more pleasant if people would stop engaging in manufactured spending and similar activities.

Gadget
Gadget (@guest_684450)
December 4, 2018 02:46

+1. This happens every year. Gaming the system ruins it for everyone, because eventually Target will get tired of policing this program and stop doing the annual deal. e.g. See Matt’s comment below – with 38 gift cards.

Really doesn’t matter to me, as I rarely shop Target and purchased 0 Target cards ever. But I imagine the 10% off is helpful to some non-MS’ers out there.

Anonymous
Anonymous (@guest_684478)
December 4, 2018 05:47

What do you even consider to be “this hobby”, then? Most people would say that it is specifically about gaming the system, as you say. It’s about getting the most reward for the least effort. So what even is the hobby to you if not that? Your acting like it’s something beyond that when it very clearly isn’t.