Buying a e-card for my friend in Italy

[guiwald]

Hello,

I live in Ireland, have an Irish bank account, and I would like to buy a subscription for my friend in Italy.

How can I do that? 

In the conditions to buy a e-card, I can read that the card has to be bought by a CC issued in the country where I live (Ireland), and that a code cannot be used in another country.

Does that mean that it's impossible for me to buy a subscription for any of my friends out of Ireland? That's hard to believe, but please tell me if there is a solution 🙂

Thank you.

[Peter__]

Hey @guiwald 🙂 

Unfortunately you are correct, there is no way you can purchase a subscription for your friend in Italy. The restriction on countries and redeeming premium codes is needed to prevent people buying codes from countries where they are cheaper due to currency conversions. 

[guiwald]

I understand your last sentence, and it actually makes sense when you live in different countries with different currencies, but...

Italy, Ireland, and all other countries using Euro use the same money, there is no conversion rate, so it should be another explanation about this restriction, I believe?

I see it like not allowing someone purchasing a code from NY state to someone in Florida. Wouldn't make a lot of sense, no?

Thank you anyway for your answer, I just hope this issue will be fixed, I don't think that I am the only one in Europe in this situation (I am French, living now in Ireland, but used to live in Germany, many of my friends did Erasmus, etc.). 

[Sam]

@guiwald There is this restriction in place for E-Cards, I'm afraid. However, there isn't a restriction for Gift Cards. Simply pick one up in store and send it over. 

Erasmus is amazing, by the way. I did mine in Spain. Ridiculously incredible year 🙂

[guiwald]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for the link.

Is it possible to buy this card outside of the USA?

And yes, Erasmus is amazing indeed 🙂

[Peter__ · Accepted solution]

Yes those gift cards are available in a large majority of markets. I am pretty sure the only place you can buy them in ROI is Tesco. Full details of retailors in Ireland on this page:

https://www.spotify.com/ie/gift-card/

[guiwald]

Alright, thanks a lot! 

A last question then: If I buy one of this gift card in Ireland, can it be used in Italy?

Thank you guys again for the time you spent to answer my questions!

[Peter__]

@Sam said above it should work to buy one in Ireland and send it over to her! 

Until this I didn't know that was possible!

[Sam]

Guys, I was wrong about this. I was under the impression you'd be able to, but you can't.

If you have any questions about this, please message me here.

[guiwald]

I would have bought a gift card in Italy then, when I am visiting my friend, but apparently it's not possible there: https://www.spotify.com/it/gift-card/

Is there a possibility to change that? The only possibility I have would be to ask my friend to buy herself the subscription, and I give her the money back. That's not the best way to make a surprise...

I really don't understand the point of blocking that inside Europe, I hope that will change in the future.

Thank you for your help anyway!

[Sam]

We haven't launched them over there yet, I'm afraid.

I'm sorry for the mix-up, but there really isn't a way round it at the moment.

[mammapazza]

Hey guiwald,

I'am in the very same position here...I wanted to surprise a friend in Italy, but apparently Spotify doesn't allow it...I still can't believe it but there's nothing we can do...

Please let me know if you find out a way or you receive any update and I'll do the same 🙂

Un saludo, 

[Sam]

@mammapazza I'm sorry, but there isn't a way round it right now. If there are any changes, we'll let you know here.

[Beatnickz]

Thanks for starting this thread as I have similar problem, that I want to buy a gift card for a friend living in France while I am in Sweden.

Is there no way to get a gift card, code or any thing to make it possible? She really wants this and it feels bad not to be able to give it to her. https://www.spotify.com/fr/get-spotify/e-card/

[guiwald]

Hi Beatnickz,

If you travel to France, you can buy in Carrefour or Casino a gift card for your friend: https://www.spotify.com/fr/gift-card/

[Peter__]

Unfortunately not @Beatnickz - all Spotify e/gift cards are country specific (matching the country you buy them in).

[user-removed]

@Sam

i've bought 6 months card for my brother who lives in Italy (i live in France)

When i bought it, there was NOT ANY restriction mentioned about the purchase and the use of gift card.

Now i discover that he can't use my present.

It's not so funny to trash your christmas card (and relative money) this way.

Spotify has a solution ?

Thanks.

[Peter__]

Hey @user-removed ! Welcome to the community 🙂

How long ago did you purchase that eCard? 

Unfortunately, you will get in touch with the customer services team directly using the online contact form as they are the only ones who can deal with these kinds of issues.

If you get an automated email reply back directing you to the community or help pages, you need to reply directly to that email (even if its from no-reply) and one of the customer services agents will get back to you as soon as possible.

Alternatively, if you prefer support via Twitter, please tweet @SpotifyCares.

[brandon_d]

Wow.  I'm really surprised that a web-based, media company like this won't allow for international gift purchases.  I appreciate that different countries and regions have different licensing agreements/issues so not all music is available everywhere, but surely that's something that can be set within the Spotify website or dektop/device apps reading IP addresses or whatever?  At the end of the day, a code is a code and a fee is a fee, right?  

Anyway, I can't articulate just how disappointed I am that I'm unable to purchase a good friend in the USA a Spotify Premium subscritption for 3/6/12 months from here in the United Kingdom.  In this day and age, it's really unacceptable, guys and from the looks of this thread, I'm not the only one that thinks so.  

I am a real advocate of Spotify and its services - I'm so happy to pay my £9.99 per month.  This is why I want to share it.  I'm trying to give you guys my money and expand your user base and you're just not allowing me to.  

I genuinely hope this is something getting real focus within your organisation and that you'll shout about it as soon as a solution is in place.   

[Peter__]

"At the end of the day, a code is a code and a fee is a fee, right?"

That is true, but if international gifts where possible, what is to stop me getting someone in say the philippines to buy my premium for me at $3 a month? 😛