Giving Up On Net 10 Soon Disappointed

I just bought a net 10 samsung proclaim as a gift for buddy serving over seas and it didn't come with air time card so was upset and I've been trying to check balance to see if maybe comes with free minutes just for choosing net 10 and I can't even find out how. Every one says some dollar sign inside the phone I can't see it and your forums don't answer it at all and honestly I can't get airtime and there's no free first time promo code to get buyer more interested and hey that's cool free minutes just in case they forgot to pick them up kinda sad don't think of that of make people buy them should come with free 20 minutes or something just as a gift or show appreciate the customer and hence why I stay with at & t they are customer oriented and take very good care of me and all my lines I have with them. I'll never again buy net 10 or trace phone waste of money and time considering I've been up 2 hours looking for how to check it and if any free new first time promo codes or even how to use promo codes cause net 10 website is confusing