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Re: Rewarding Moments: If your Rewards activities were a garden...

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
April 2, 2026
3 replies
1120 views

More training needs to be done with Home Depot accepting AARP Home Depot gift cards in person. April 1 I was in #6617 Glendora, CA store and when I gave cashier in Garden Department a printed copy of my Home Depot AARP $5 gift card I had just printed a few hours before, the cashier tried to scan the code but that wouldn't work. Then she said she could NOT enter the number code and pin on the print-out because "Management said we can't enter the numbers" (this made no sense to me). I proceeded to tell her I had been in THAT store in the past to use AARP Home Depot gift card with no problem. Then I had to wait about 10 minutes for her to call management to ask if she could type the numbers in while people piled up behind me. After all that she said the manager said it was ok THIS TIME. There needs to be CONSISTENCY in training. The cashiers need to be TRAINED in how to redeem an AARP Home Depot gift card. Otherwise, what is the point of Home Depot offering them through AARP when it is just going to be a hassle and a poor customer service experience? Now I'll try to avoid getting the Home Depot gift cards.

SereneSeagull

Community Champion ⭐

I don’t think @bmbcali , AARP can control how the training of an employee at Home Depot can be handled. What AARP can do is contact the partnership with them. Do I think they will do that because of one branch manager, no. If they get a bunch of complaints yes. If it’s a one-off, no.

Did you go up to the manager and speak with them afterwards? I would do that. The cashier is just doing what they were told, and can only do so much. Go to the top.

See if you can contact AARP and let them know at the phone number on the AARP contact Us page. Unfortunately, you may have a hold. If enough people have the problem nationwide, then maybe they will train their employees on the use of coupon codes differently…. But I doubt it. It’s really a Speak to the store manager directly kind of thing I would think.

OneDayMatisyahu

Community Champion ⭐

In agreement with most of sereneseagull's assessment - it's more of a 'one off' - where a "simple" cashier is not able to do more than the simple scan and total.

I had something similar happen to me in a CostPlus World Market store ( twice ) and after a while we found out that the cashier was using the 'promo coupon code/ store discount code' method instead of using the "gift card" process. 🤔

------> Super Tip: when your gift card should be accepted at a store and you have had your gift card accepted in prior purchases - then it's the cashier who may not be using the correct redemption method; ask them to use the 'gift card redemption' process - and if necessary ask for a supervisor or the more technically knowledgeably cashier or senior staff.

My Personal Note: I had made a purchase at HomeDepot 3-26-26 using the paper AARP gift cards I had accumulated here; she simply scanned the bar code and entered the 4 digit pin for each of 11 gift cards = $80.03 of free home goods ✔️ ( I did pay .03 cents coins - later realizing she had to "keep the paper" gift cards and that if I had used the .03 paper gift card payment she would have had to take the paper and I would be left out of that still valid balance but need to re-print that card again )

Tip - some stores will need to keep your paper gift card/ others will allow you to take them back if you want. Some stores/ on-lines' may have a 'limit' to the number of gift cards that can used ( thou kinda-ridiculous with the $5 gift cards we are getting 😡 )

I'll keep acquiring AARP gift cards. ✔️

😎

SereneSeagull

Community Champion ⭐

@OneDayMatisyahu Wanted to say congrats on that great reward use at your Home Depot! You leave there feeling pretty good too!

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