A Kamloops man is angry after learning he can’t use his Bay gift card for purchases at the Olympic Superstore inside the downtown Vancouver department store.
Dustin McIntyre, a former Vancouver resident, said Tuesday he went to the store to purchase a Vancouver 2010 hat with the $75 Bay gift card he received for Christmas. When he tried paying with his gift card, however, the cashier and manager said they accept only cash or Visa credit cards.
“The manager said that because it’s the official Olympic Superstore and they’re just a kiosk in The Bay, they can’t accept The Bay’s gift cards,” McIntyre said. “They said that because there’s a fence around the kiosk, that’s considered a separate store.”
He says the situation is disappointing and calls it a case of “extreme capitalism.”
“I think it’s nonsense. I want to support the Olympics in the way that I can, and they’re turning me away for it. The ironic part is that it [the card] was probably bought with a Visa.”
Neesha Hothi, a spokeswoman for the Olympic Superstore, said the independent retail location is licensed by the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee and is considered an Olympic venue. Olympic venues accept only cash or Visa, which is a corporate sponsor of the Winter Games.
“You’ll notice that there are barriers built into the main floor [of The Bay],” Hothi said.
“There are two entrances into the Olympic Superstore from The Bay, which are manned by Olympic Superstore staff who are dressed differently. The rules and regulations for The Bay are separate. It’s essentially a store within a store.”
Hothi said McIntyre can use his gift card to purchase Olympic merchandise at other Bay locations, but he isn’t sure he will.
“It’s a huge disappointment,” he said. “I still have the gift card, but I don’t really want to go in there and use it any more.”
The 21,000-square-foot location opened in October. This is the first time an Olympic Superstore has been located inside another store.
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