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Gift and Loyalty Card Programs
Gift Card Sales
Merchants use in-store displays to merchandise Gift Cards much like they would any
small impulse-buy product by the register with counter signs and colorful card hangers.
A customer purchases a Gift Card with cash, check or credit card for any dollar amount
desired. The amount purchased is recorded as "stored value" or "prepaid" in the host
database.
Redemptions
The Cardholder presents the gift card for full or partial payment of a purchase. The
merchant swipes the card through their POS terminal for authorization and transmission
of transaction data on the host platform. The card's magnetic stripe identifies the
card number and merchant location for which the card has been issued.
Loyalty Cards
Several points-based loyalty card programs can be implemented using stored value
technology. One of the simplest and most powerful applications is what we call Auto
Rewards. Under this program, the system automatically adds a specified Reward Value
to your customer's card when that customer has accumulated a designated number of
points..... For example: when 50 points are accumulated, $10 of spendable value is
loaded on the card and the 50 points are removed. This cycle simply repeats,
continually motivating the customer to return to earn more points and more reward
dollars. It's also easy for the customer to understand and for sales clerks to
administer.
Reload Incentives
The cardholder can purchase additional value or "reload" the card for any
amount by phone. The merchant can offer an incentive to customers to encourage
card reloading. For example: increase the customer's stored-value amount by 20%
(i.e. a $50 reload is recorded as $60 in stored value for the cardholder).
Data Processing
The stored value card system operates in real time as a closed loop debit network.
Transactions, such as card activation, sales, voids and balance inquiries from the
point of sale, are transmitted to the Data Center. The transaction request is
fulfilled or authorized, data is captured in the merchant / client database and an
approval or requested information is transmitted via the POS terminal. The POS printer
produces a paper receipt of each transaction, including the card balance for the
merchant and the customer.
Reporting
A monthly summary report of all transaction activity is provided via mail, email or
fax. In addition, a variety of program management reports are available 24/7 via the
Valutec website. You can generate Transaction Detail reports that list every
transaction for specified periods of time, or a Pooling report that reconciles the
imbalances created when cards are purchased at one merchant location and redeemed at
another in a multi-store, multi-owner environment such as a franchise company.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns at 1-877-493-EPAY (3729).
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Retail Merchant Accounts
