Retailers pull iTunes gift cards from sale

By Ella Morton on 21 July 2008

Prepaid iTunes gift cards are no longer available for purchase from stores including Coles, Myer, JB Hi-Fi and Target due to payment provider Bill Express going into administration.

As of approximately two weeks ago, customers wanting to purchase iTunes cards from these stores have encountered signs at the checkout advising that vouchers are unavailable.

An iTunes Store user contacted CNET.com.au after a fruitless search for iTunes gift cards at JB Hi-Fi, Coles and Sanity in Melbourne. "All of them said something about the iTunes provider going broke and [that] they could not sell them", she said.

"It is frustrating as I prefer to pay cash for iTunes rather than using my credit card."

It's a similar story in Sydney, where JB Hi-Fi employees are informing would-be customers that prepaid products cannot be sold because "the machines are broken".

Bill Express had been the provider for prepaid iTunes products since the launch of the Australian iTunes Store in October 2005. The company was placed in administration earlier this month.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment on the supply issue.

iTunes cards are still available from retailers whose prepaid products are provided by electronic supplier E-pay. These stores include Big W, Dick Smith Electronics and Woolworths.

Topics: itunes, prepaid, voucher, itune, cards, gift, provider

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Comments (12)

  • neet commented on 03/08/2008 20:18 Report abuse

    Coles and Coles Express now has epay on line, all mobile recharge and itunes cards are now availble at most sites. Some sites are still awaiting the new epay terminals. Citylink payments are still an issue awaiting resolution.. we are telling customers to pay over phone or internet. I believe you can pay for citylink at the post office though.

  • Shane commented on 27/07/2008 11:59 Report abuse

    ausisit, did you even bother to read the article? JB Hi-Fi and Sanity are not part of Coles Group (not Coles Myer), never have been. As the article clearly states, it is an issue with Bill Express going into administration. Nothing to do with GE Money/Finance.

  • ausisit commented on 27/07/2008 08:21 Report abuse

    The article reads to me that it is only the Coles Myer group having the problem. This is due to the fact that they are fighting with GE finance still more than likely. If you need any more help just let me know over at http://www.ausis.info/

  • SpaceFairy commented on 24/07/2008 17:17 Report abuse

    They are still selling them at NextByte stores across Australia (Apple resellers) as far as I'm aware. They definitely have them in the Brisbane store :) (the one on Adelaide street)

  • Perth commented on 24/07/2008 15:02 Report abuse

    @canberra_photographer, then why didnt you say that? Your first post makes you look ignorant, while the second makes you look like you are covering your own stupidity.

  • Richard commented on 22/07/2008 20:09 Report abuse

    I just bought an itunes music card at the post office just last week, no problems at all

  • iTunes Voucher User commented on 22/07/2008 19:42 Report abuse

    Most people don't know this, but Australia Post sells iTunes vouchers. Yes, they really do! Every Australia Post outlet should easily be able to sell them to you (hint.. if they're confused, tell them it's in 'NetPOS'). You can pay with Cash, EFTPOS Debit or Credit Card (including Amex and Diners).

  • rednickja commented on 22/07/2008 16:19 Report abuse

    does this mean vouchers are unavailable too? or just the gift cards? Because you can usually just ask them for a voucher and it goes through with your regular transaction, thus can put it on credit...

  • canberra_photographer commented on 22/07/2008 15:52 Report abuse

    I read the article. My point is why bother advertising when your now the only one selling them and the media is making that fact known. Posters aren't free.

  • jimmy commented on 21/07/2008 21:09 Report abuse

    Don't worry, he's the resident know-it-all

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