Archived pre-paid REDCARDS.

[pellinore]

Our store is one of the hundred stores to try out this pilot program.
With this program you buy a "prepaid" American Express card that is decorated with the Target RedCard logo. Once you buy a card, you go online and "unlock" the features of this prepaid card....the features are the same as a regular RedCard...the 5% off, free shipping, 120 days to return......yada yada yada.

One real big plus to the prepaid card is that, since it has "American Express" on it the card can be used at any store.....like the old VISA RedCard.

Another plus is that guests can get their card without having to have a check.....just their drivers' license.

As long as guests keep loading the card then all is good.
This really seems to be a great idea.....except for the fact that when a guest buys the prepaid card, it doesn't count towards getting the RedCard conversion rate.....and the 5% only comes AFTER the guest goes to "unlock" the card.

So far it seems like this is a great idea.
My question....for other stores trying out this pilot program......how has this been working out for you?

 

[Deli Ninja]

We have them at the lanes, but no one has mentioned it to me. I didn't realize that they didn't count toward conversion... and that could be why no one is talking about them.

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

http://www.thebreakroom.org/index.php?threads/prepaid-redcards.9382/

 

[SallyHoover]

Other problem is they still have to give their SS# which guests who don't want to sign up for other cards still don't want to do. It is almost impossible to explain the program completely in the 30 seconds or less that most guests will listen to without shutting you down. So far the only guests that seem receptive to listing are team members with bad credit and don't want to bother with a debit but might be willing to preload a card to get the 10% plus 5% because they currently use a non target cc and get nothing or use gift cards or cash for the 10% only.

 

[looseseal]

We've been getting a few sign-ups per day at my store, so it seems like it's been going fairly well. We've had a few glitches here and there, mostly with getting the card to activate at times, but I think they've been straightened out.

Our STL told us that you do NOT save the 5% when you use it at stores outside of Target. Also the only regular RedCard perk it doesn't currently have is the Take Charge of Education program, but that's the only thing you don't currently get with it. I think it would have been neat to incorporate some kind of rewards program into the pre-paid card for purchases made outside of Target though. It seems like a good option to drive with guests who are going to be travelling, have kids in school or away at college, etc.

 

[mrknownothing]

Our STL told us that you do NOT save the 5% when you use it at stores outside of Target.

Didn't the Target Visa work the same way? You could use it anywhere that accepted Visa, but you'd only save the 5% at Target.

 

[pellinore]

Yes, the Target VISA works as 5% at Target and nothing extra at other stores. I think though that the TCOE takes 1/2% off of ALL purchases.

With the pre-paid cards I don't think that the first purchase (after it is bought, but before unlocked) has any savings. I think the savings start after they go online and "unlock" the features.

My guess is that if these PPcards are successful then they may figure out how to do the TCOE. (PPcards.....sounds like a great name for the "bullseye" on the target.

 

[defang]

Of course it doesn't count for conversion. That would be too reasonable.

 

[seewhatididthere]

So spot has been very innovative lately, first the portable register, now, edible redcards!

 

[mrknownothing]

So spot has been very innovative lately, first the portable register, now, edible redcards!

What is this? I don't even........

 

[redeye58]

Chocolate liquor?
I'm in.

 

[Guest]

That candy bar looks like something that would be on Supernatural. Looks very fake.

 

[RedMan]

It's not fake. We have them. They're quite good. Chocolate liquor is not what you think it is.

 

[sher]

https://amex.serve.com/prepaidredcard/

so.. It's basically amex's serve card with bulls eyes and 5%. I want one, now. I hate the redcard check card.

 

[Retail Girl]

So spot has been very innovative lately, first the portable register, now, edible redcards!

What is this? I don't even........

If it's anything like my store, you had to be standing in the TSC when the box was opened, or you were out of luck. A lot of TMs/TLs were grabbing multiples, so I'm sure the box was gone pretty quickly. I know I never saw it again as soon as the LOD left the TSC with the box.

 

[BadWolf4531]

If it's anything like my store, you had to be standing in the TSC when the box was opened, or you were out of luck. A lot of TMs/TLs were grabbing multiples, so I'm sure the box was gone pretty quickly. I know I never saw it again as soon as the LOD left the TSC with the box.

Ours is still there, over one week later. It's sitting in the GSTL office...I don't think most TMs even know about. I agree, I thought they'd be terrible, but the bars are quite good. Tastes like a Dove chocolate bar.

 

[sher]

I thought they were kit Kats at first. I was disappointed, then surprised that they tasted pretty good. We joked in the break room that the chocolate bar was our raise

 

[loser girl]

We got one today when we picked up our check. The chocolate wasn't bad.