DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’m hoping you can help me. I was given a $40 gift card for my birthday, redeemable at any VIP location.

The logo on the gift card says VIP. I went to spend it on May 23 and was told they cannot honor it, even though the VIP sign is still on the exterior of the building.

I was told O’Reilly’s bought all front-end items except the tires, since the tires will remain VIP. All items, like waxes, oil, polishing cloths, etc., are under the O’Reilly’s name, and they do not honor VIP gift cards.

I asked where I would be able to redeem the VIP gift card and they said toward VIP tires only. I don’t want to buy tires from VIP. I want to use it towards detailing supplies for my car.

Is there any way I can redeem that gift card toward car detailing supplies or am I forced to use it toward tires I don’t need? — No Name via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots talked to Mary in the corporate office of VIP, who said that what you were told in the store is correct. VIP sold off the retail part of the store to O’Reilly, so the gift card is only good for tires and service.

The good news is that you can get your money back. She said you should go to the service desk and ask them to cut you a check, which you will have to wait for, as it will have to come from the corporate office. This is due to the amount; some smaller gift cards can be refunded at the store.

Mary said the deal to split the VIP stores with O’Reilly is new; it happened early this year. 

SUN SPOTS’ READERS COME THROUGH: The following is an excerpt from a letter that appeared in the letters to the editor earlier this week. The writer did not mention that the original request came to Sun Spots, but it did — on May 10. For those who didn’t see the thank-you on the editorial page, here is an edited version:

Our family would like to thank all the people who took time out of their schedule to help our 10-year-old son, David, with his state report. 

David was the only student in his class to ask residents to help him collect information for his report. He received a total of 63 letters and packages. Every day, the school secretary would call him to the office to collect his mail and all his classmates were excited to see what arrived each day.

He received 104 brochures, 103 postcards, 41 Maine magazines, 23 travel guides, 12 books, 11 Maine maps, eight bookmarks, six pencils, three pine cones, numerous snapshot photos, a balsam fir pillow, one Embden bicentennial coin, two state flags, two calendars, a whoopie pie, a Moxie soda (which he loved), a can of blueberries, a can of herring fillets, a box of saltwater taffy, a CD from Zippy the Decent Docent, and one Maine T-shirt.

He received many pages of interesting facts that people researched for him, and we are so grateful for all the effort people took to help him be successful.

Due to your generosity, he received an A grade in social studies. We plan to pass on this wealth of information to empower the student who chooses Maine next year.

We hope to take a vacation soon to visit Maine and see in person all the towns we have learned so much about. — David Gothrow and family, Arboga, Calif.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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