The Zen of one loyalty card
Posted
Apr 24 2009, 11:13 AM
by
Joan Melcher
Rating:
How many times have you dug through your purse or fumbled through a wallet looking for a store loyalty or discount card?
This is one of the banes of our existence, so we were i intrigued when we read Tisha Tolar’s post about the KeyRingThing on Wise Bread.
Someone actually figured out how to put bar codes from several cards on one. And the good news is the card is free, or practically free, depending on the option you choose.
We went to KeyRingThing.com, grabbed our wallet and emptied our stash of loyalty cards onto the desk. We chose six stores we frequent (from a huge list) and entered the bar code number for each.
Next we had the option to print out the card for free or pay $1.97 to have a colorful plastic card sent to us. We decided to print out the card and give it a try.
There was a little drama at the grocery store. The cashier looked at the paper card with suspicion. We explained it to him and he did a swipe. Didn’t work. We pointed him to the area where the store’s code was printed. He swiped again and it worked.
Next step: We ordered a plastic KeyRingThing, what the company describes as “double-sided, full color, film varnished, water-resistant and credit card size.”
We’re not the only ones. The company reported a surge in traffic after KeyRingThing was featured on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
Here are a few things you should know:
- You’ll be asked to choose a sponsor company and that company will be given your data, but otherwise KeyRingThing assures your privacy is protected.
- The KeyRingThing site saves your information and you can log on to add, change or print a card.
- A store with a membership card that includes photo identification may not accept a card without photo ID, so check with the store to confirm before adding the card and destroying your original one.
- The site and operation are a work in progress. A few claims made in a video on the main page, including special sponsor coupons and the option to sign up for loyalty programs, are not yet available. Check the FAQs page to get the full scoop.
Eventually KeyRingThing will promise a gift from the sponsor retailer you choose in the form of an online coupon, another coupon from the sponsor if you order a card, and better coupons and discounts than you would normally get from a store mailer or newspaper.
Our main reason for getting the card: peace of mind.
Related reading:
Are grocery store loyalty cards worth the price?
5 ways for shoppers to track rewards
Credit cards that help you save
6 top-rated gas-rebate cards
