Shell Gift Card

I received a $25 Shell gift card as a thank you from my friendly credit card company. Unsure if it was a gimick I read the back very carefully. It didn’t provide much information. But things were looking ok.

Your use of this card constitutes acceptance of the following terms: This Card can be used only for purchases of goods and services at Shell locations in the U.S. This Card cannot be redeemed for cash and no change will be given, exceptin those states that require redemption for cash. Except in certain circumstances, the value on this Card will not be replaced if the Card is lost, stolen, or destroyed. Replacement fees may apply. An inactivity fee of $1.75 per month will be applied to any balance on the Card if 12 months elapse during which the Card is not used to make a purchase (except for Cards sold in CA, CT, DE, HI, IA, LA, MA, MD, ME, MT, ND, NH, NV, OK, RI, WA, WV, and as otherwise prohibited by law). For questions regarding your Shell Gift Card, please see your local Shell Dealer, visit www.shellgiftcard.com, or call the Helpdesk at 1-800-300-8113.

How to use your Shell Gift Card:
Pay at the Pump: Insert Card and follow instructions on pump.
To pay inside: Fuel vehicle and present Card to attendant inside.
Card balance: For remaining Card value, check your receipt, see an attendant, or call 1-800-300-8113.

Since it did not give much information I proceeded to their website, www.shellgiftcard.com (make sure to include the www.). Again though, I did not find much information.

I decided to try it. I went to my local Shell gas station and inserted the card. The pump said “see cashier”, so I did. The cashier told me the card was not activated. This befuddled me, as there were no instructions for how to activate my card either on the card or on the website. He then told me that it would cost me $25 to activate my Shell Gift Card. Let me state it in plain and simple words.

My $25 Shell Gift Card was going to cost $25 to activate.

Let me know your experience.