1. How does
the gift card program work?
A.
A customer enters the merchant's business and requests to purchase a gift card. The merchant collects the funds and takes
a card from inventory. The card is activated for the desired dollar amount by swiping the card through hardware. The
card is now active and ready to be redeemed at any participating store location(s).
2. Why should I switch
from paper certificates to plastic cards?
A. Electronic gift cards have become the medium of choice for retailers
across the country. Reasons for this shift include: (1) No cash back. (2) If card is only partly redeemed, the
remaining balance stays on the card and in the company's cash register. (3) Cards can be reloaded and reissued
again and again. (4) Plastic cards are harder to counterfeit than paper certificates
3. What reports are
available to a merchant?
A.
There are many helpful reports available to a merchant. Every merchant on our system has their own user name and password
to log in and retrieve their reports.
4. What is breakage?
A. Breakage is a term used to indicate
gift cards sold but never redeemed. Revenue from breakage is almost entirely profit since companies need not provide
any goods or services for unredeemed gift cards.
5. What is pooling?
A. Pooling is tracking and reporting card activations, added value and redemptions
that occur at different locations in a multi-store, multi-owner environment. If requested, GRI can initiate an ACH funds
transfer to move funds between the bank accounts of store locations to reconcile redemption imbalances according to the Pooling
Report.
6. What is a virtual terminal?
A. A Virtual Terminal is a web-based transaction
processing and customer data capture solution. It allows a merchant to process all of the same transaction types as
hardware with one additional feature. Demographic data can be entered for each cardholder so that customer purchase activity
can be stored, "mined" and used to target marketing offers to specific groups of customers. This is especially
useful for loyalty card programs.
7.
Is theft a problem if cards are displayed at the point of sale?
A. No, cards are produced without value on them. Merchants assign the card's value at the point of
sale when the card is purchased.
8. What if a customer loses their gift card?
A. Cards do not have to be
replaced by the merchant. However, if the cardholder has receipts and if merchant so desires, a new card may be issued
for the remaining balance of the lost card. Make sure to void the lost card after the balance is transferred.
9.
How will my employees know how to use the program?
A. Every Gift & Loyalty Card package contains a Quick Reference Guide that walks a user through every
transaction type in easy to follow steps.
10. Will your gift and loyalty card programs work with
our existing card
terminal?
A.
That depends on the type of terminal you have. Our program is certified on most major terminals in today's market.
All programs can also be run via our online Virtual Terminal at no extra charge. This setup requires only a computer
with an internet connection.
11. How soon can the card be used after value has been added?
A.
All transactions are processed instantaneously making funds available immediately.
12. When are monthly statement
mailed?
A.
Merchant accounts are debited around the 10th of the month for the previous month's activity. Statements are then mailed
on or around the 11th day of the month.
13. What kind of support does GRI provide?
A. GRI offers
support on many levels to its merchants:
Accounting
answers any questions merchants have about their statements, billing inquiries, bank charges and ownership/location changes.
Technical Support is a traditional 24/7 hotline for merchants
experiences a technical issue with hardware. Our staff is trained in the functions and features of all of today's
major hardware.
Artwork Help Desk assists merchants
that are in the process of submitting custom artwork for cards. These trained graphic designers field questions about the
technical and subjective qualify of the artwork.
