Convenience store owners should expect to embrace new technology and a fresh set of rules for communicating with today’s consumers as 2011 approaches. A year that witnessed a whirlwind of technological advancements proved that retail is all about change. The best retailers are embracing that change and diversifying their technology investments in order to stay [...]
The long and winding road to controlling credit card fees took yet another turn on Oct. 12, 2010, when TCF National Bank, a subsidiary of TCF Financial Corp., filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Durbin Amendment, which was included in the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, also known [...]
nFinanSe Inc. has launch its $3 Reloadable Prepaid Discover Cards at Memphis-Tenn.-based Fred’s Hometown Discount Stores, a regional chain of stores located in the Southeast and Midwest. The cards sell for just $3 and the reload fee and monthly maintenance fee are only $2.95, the ATM withdrawal fee is an industry low 99 cents, and [...]
Blackhawk Network, a provider of prepaid and financial payments products offers PayPower, a suite of prepaid products and services designed to help consumers stay in control of spending with simple and safe solutions that provide value, transparency and budgeting. The suite of products is targeted to consumers looking for alternatives to traditional financial credit, whether [...]
The thirsty teenager steps up to a bright red vending machine and takes out her mobile phone. She places the phone near a reader attached to the machine and a cold can of cola is immediately dispensed. This scene is repeated thousands of times each day for thirsty consumers—in Japan. For almost six years, Japanese [...]
Many retailers are breathing a sigh of relief in regard to PCI, after this summer’s deadline for software compliance was relaxed after a request by the major oil companies, giving scrambling retailers a little more time to comply. But retailers be warned: chains that face a breach could still get hit with huge fines. “Some [...]
Imagine a day when your customers pay for coffee by scanning a cell phone, and play their favorite music at the gas pump with a quick swipe of a loyalty card. Well, ready or not, such technology is already out there and it’s coming for c-stores—the only question is how soon. As the Millennial generation [...]
As the U.S. economic recession continues, it’s no secret that customers are altering their shopping habits to save a few dollars wherever they can. The silver lining for convenience store retailers could be the resulting affinity credit-crunched customers have developed for the prepaid segment. In a credit weary and increasingly online world, prepaid is helping [...]
Now that the Durbin Amendment, part of the Wall Street reform bill, has been signed into law by President Obama, the industry continues to address issues related to interchange reform. Texas Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association (TPCA) President Chris Newton noted the amendment was “an important first step” in dealing with the negative impacts [...]
Congress has passed the ECO-Gift CARD Act (H.R. 5502), which will avoid the destruction of more than 100 million plastic cards and ensure consumer access to these popular gifts during the busy holiday shopping season, The Network Branded Prepaid Card Association (NBPCA) reported. The act extends the Aug. 22, 2010 gift card implementation deadline, [...]
Cash Solutions is offering a free equipment promotion to retailers opening a merchant account that could attract more customers by allowing them to accept Visa and MasterCards. The new VeriFone Omni 3740 is shipped to a retailer programmed and ready to use, with all the processing capabilities needed for a compact point-of-sale terminal with [...]
As the House and Senate prepare to vote on the financial reform bill—containing the Durbin amendment on interchange fees—this week, NACS’ message to retailers is that the battle is far from won. Three hurdles remain: passing the House, passing the Senate and getting signed into law by President Obama. “Until all three happen, actually, until [...]
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc., which operates 200 stores in 30 states, now is accepting of TCH payment products at its locations effective June 16, 2010. “Love’s is pleased to make available our travel stop locations to TCH cardholders. Our growing network of facilities will offer these fleets and professional drivers another competitive [...]
A baker puts two muffins in an oven. The first muffin turns to the other and says, “Boy it’s hot in here.” The second muffin screams, “Yikes, a talking muffin.” Hopefully convenience store chains are not nearly this surprised when it comes to this month’s PCI deadlines. However, at the NACStech conference in April, several [...]
When he thinks of PCI compliance, Ed Freels, director of information systems for Honey Farms Inc. recalls an old t-shirt slogan from the 1970s, “It showed the AC130 gun ship from the Vietnam era and it said, ‘You can run, but you’ll just die tired,’ and PCI compliance is no different. The most dangerous merchant [...]