Like many eager VR enthusiasts, I recently attempted to purchase a Meta Quest Gift Card to fund my foray into desktop VR gaming. Hoping to bypass persistent issues with adding a direct payment method to my account, a gift card seemed like a straightforward solution. Unfortunately, the process has been anything but smooth, leading to frustration and financial deductions for a product I never received.
The initial purchase appeared successful. I promptly received an “Order Confirmed” email, and the tracking link even indicated the gift card as “delivered.” However, the crucial follow-up email containing the actual gift card code never materialized. After an extensive chat session with Meta customer support, they re-sent the “Order Confirmed” email, but again, the gift card itself remained elusive, even when using an alternate email address.
Adding insult to injury, unlike a previous pre-order cancellation where no funds were taken, this time Meta did deduct the $25 gift card amount directly from my bank account. Despite the charge, the promised digital gift card is nowhere to be found. Customer support has proven unhelpful in resolving this issue, leaving me with the unwelcome task of disputing the charge directly with my bank.
This gift card debacle is the latest in a series of hurdles encountered while trying to engage with the Meta Quest ecosystem. Days have been spent attempting to rectify payment method issues, and now, this phantom gift card purchase has only compounded the frustration. The time invested in resolving these issues has become disproportionate, ironically costing more than the value of the headset itself in lost productivity.
Therefore, my immediate course of action is to pursue a refund for the Meta Quest gift card that was purchased but never delivered. Should this situation be resolved, and I regain the ability to purchase apps and games, then the matter can be considered closed. However, if I remain unable to make purchases, including gift cards, the prospect of returning the Quest 3 and exploring alternatives like the Valve headset becomes increasingly appealing.
