Chase Mobile® review: Reward points for the purchase of gift cards

Two times in a row I have had issues with receiving physical gift cards purchased through Chase with their reward points program. The first one occurred about a year ago.

On that occasion I ordered a physical card and waited the required 7 business days. I was concerned as I had not received the shipping e-mail that I normally received. I called Chase and have never deal with a rep who wasn't even hiding her disinterest in my issue. When she said it had been sent and I needed to wait at least three more days, I asked if she was certain it was sent. Hatefully she responded "yes I see the shipping information". Obviously hesitant because of my experience, I asked for a supervisor who really wasn't any helpful other then to contradict what the first girl told me. He said he could not find any shipping or tracking information on that order and in his opinion it probably never left their vendors distribution center. Most likely lost there. All he could offer was to reorder another card (didn't offer expedited shipping) to which I told him to just cancel the order. He then added insult to injury by saying that they had to give their gift card vendor at least two weeks to investigate before they could determine if I would get my reward points back.

Last week I gave it another try and ordered one by standard mail and a second one by priority mail which I paid $10 more for the service. Neither have shown up as of yet. The one with priority shipping was guaranteed in 4 business days. Today is the 4th day. The UPS website just saying there was a delay and does not give any estimated delivery day. I called UPS and they said if it doesn't show up in two more business days then its considered lost. They said it most likely never left the gift card venders distribution center. So once again I have one expedited card that is lost and I have no idea about the other one that I didn't opt for expedited shipment. Chase will probably put me through the 2-3 vender investigation to get my reward points refunded.

The UPS rep said I'd just have to take it up with Chase for reimbursement. No one seems to care about the inconvenience this is to the cardholder.
All you hear is that it's the gift card vendors fault and you just have to wait.

I would not encourage any Chase cardholder to use the reward points for a physical gift card purchase.