West United States being denied fair opportunity to redeem points for Walmart and Amazon gift cards

[ValerieM730779]

About 2 months now, Walmart and Amazon gift cards already sold out before we in West are awake.  The cards are not being added to Rewards during normal waking hours for all parts of US.  It is unreasonable for someone in their 80's to have to set an alarm to get up at maybe 3am to have a fair opportunity to redeem points for these cards.  AARP, please rectify this unfair issue.

[RichardB815971]

I am in ET zone and missed them, too.

There are just not enough.

This is a common complaint.

But PT does have the advantage every single month on the extra credit deals.  They used to be very valuable $20 cards.  I'd stay up until midnight to get three of one kind and be done for the month.

I agree the extra credits are not that great but don't think the grass is always greener because you missed out on these two.  A lot of us in ET did, too.  There were not that many of them, apparently.

[EstB397359]

 It works out because west coast get to see the new month extra credit rewards begin at 9PM when the east coast is sleeping. AARP can't change the time zones.

[RenateW69623]

I don't think it's comparable, because it's not quite as bad for the new month extra credit rewards.  Agree that it is a bit easier for pacific coast (9pm) than east coast (12am), but it only happens one day of the month, and you know exactly when it happens.  But the monthly GC offerings can happen on any of the other days, and you don't know when they will happen.

[JoLo49]

I agree, the extra credit rewards are not comparable to the point redemption rewards.  To earn the extra credit rewards, there have been errors and difficulties completing the activities when they appear at 9 pm PT/12 am ET on the first of each month.  I no longer complete the extra credit activities when they first appear to avoid  wasting time having to repeat the activities because of error/glitches.

[AARPConsumerCare]

ValerieM730779 We understand it can be frustrating to miss out on redeeming a Reward you're looking forward to. Due to high demand and limited inventory, some Rewards offers may sell out quickly. I have taken note of your feedback and appreciate your communication. - Christy C. 

[JoLo49]

In the past several months, most of the Rewards for redemption are being released in the "early" hours or middle of the night when West coast members are sleeping and not normally online.  This favors members on the East coast with a  big disadvantage for West coast members and members in Hawaii.  In past years, there was more excitement when the gift cards for point redemption were released throughout the day.  The excitement for redemption is waning, especially since most of the gifts cards for redemption have been reduced to $5.  It's not worth losing sleep.

[KristBelt]

Ha, that happens to me on the west coast...lilke when I try to redeem points for a gift certificate, and site replies something about inventory being gone and they are working on more inventory of those cards.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

📎@JoLo49 , I wonder WHY they stopped this? It was a very fair way to do this.

➡️[*** YOU WROTE: In past years, there was more excitement when the gift cards for point redemption were released throughout the day. The excitement for redemption is waning, especially since most of the gifts cards for redemption have been reduced to $5. It's not worth losing sleep.

Take care,

Nicole  👵

[JoLo49]

Hi @SummerOnTheWay1  I agree, it was more fair when the gift cards were released throughout the day, and it gave us something to "hunt" and being lucky to find a reward for redemption.    

[shamit]

It is just as fair for everyone.  I saw this card at 3:30am.  I am on the Central Time zone.  For those on the west coast that would be 1:30am.  Doesn't seem that it is a good time for anyone.   I would prefer 1:30 to 3:30.

If you wait until 3am Pacific Coast time you would probably be too late to get it anyway since the East coast time would be 6am and many might be awake and purchasing.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

📎@shamit , as folks have "suggested" over the years, offer them for EVERY TIME ZONE. But as usual AARP continues to "ignore" this suggestion!!! Take care, Nicole  👵

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➡️[*** shamit wrote on Monday 4/28/25: It is just as fair for everyone.  I saw this card at 3:30am.  I am on the Central Time zone.  For those on the west coast that would be 1:30am.  Doesn't seem that it is a good time for anyone.   I would prefer 1:30 to 3:30.

If you wait until 3am Pacific Coast time you would probably be too late to get it anyway since the East coast time would be 6am and many might be awake and purchasing. ***]

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[SeveD962004]

sorry to hear, but some of us aren't able to use our points  on anything, I would be happy for the opportunity to get any gift card at this point, I wish AARP would rectify this unfair issue, with many of us sitting around waiting for a response from the escalation team on why we can't use our points, which may not come.

[KristBelt]

Remember when we used to be able to redeem points for gift certificates but didn't have to do an extra 4 activities? Those were the days...