Walmart review: Xbox live gold pass and xbox game pass

Dear Complaints Board,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the service I received at the Wal-mart store located at Queensborough, New Westminster, BC. On August 20, 2023, I tried to use a gift card to purchase an Xbox Live Gold pass, which is a pass for an online service, not a gift card. However, the manager of the store refused to accept my gift card and told me that their point-of-sale system does not allow such transactions.

I find this policy unreasonable and unfair. A gift card is a form of payment that should be accepted for any product or service that Wal-mart offers. An Xbox Live Gold card is not a gift card, but a subscription to access online gaming. The fact it comes on a card does not make it a gift card and is outdated thinking. Most video game manufacturers are moving away from physical copies of games. For example, Nintendo Switch games are now mostly just cards with a download code. Does that mean you will not be able to buy Nintendo games at Wal-Mart with a gift card anymore?

In the store right next to the Xbox Live Gold pass and Xbox Game Pass cards (which are not gift cards) are actual Microsoft Gift Cards which work by giving a traditional preassigned stored monetary value such as $50. Those are gift cards.

I spoke to the manager there and found it strange she did not have an override option to allow this transaction. She simply said your software does not allow the transaction. I request that you update your system or provide an override option to allow customers to use gift cards for this type of purchases or update your point-of-sales software. Increasingly, this is how video games will be purchased and Wal-Mart needs distinguish between gift cards and all of the other types of cards in its electronics department.

I hope that you will take this matter seriously and provide me with a resolution to allow me to use my gift card for the item and Wal-Mart I would most like to use it for.

Sincerely,

Cam

[protected]@gmail.com