Many of the large commercial establishments have opted to offer their customers a range of cards with which they can contain your shopping expenses. They are presented in formats very similar to that of conventional credit cards promoted by banks. Where is included credit lines permanent to finance consumption. And with a series of benefits and services that can make them very beneficial to their applicants.
It is basically about loyalty cards, in which the linking of customers with a commercial brand prevails. In any case, their models are similar, and where each plastic tries to differentiate itself through the implementation of offers and promotions. Without missing the usual delay in payments, without interest or commissions, as hallmarks of this means of payment.
Large surfaces (supermarkets, hypermarkets, shopping centers ...) have made a series of cards so that their customers' purchases are made in a more satisfactory way for their interests. And ensuring that filling the shopping basket does not involve an additional effort to balance your monthly budget.
With credit lines for purchases
To satisfy your applicants they carry lines of financing for their purchases, which range between approximately 3 and 12 months, and whose main contribution is that they do not include interest or commissions, although always based on a minimum consumption that must be met. The incentive to save is one of the purposes for which these special cards have been created. Although in exchange for making purchases at the issuers of these cards.
Their business strategy is based on the fact that they can pay a fixed amount per month, so that the expenses incurred do not affect the owners' household budgets as much. Some modalities, even choose to offer discounts directly In their purchases, discount vouchers, redeemable points and access to the products of these brands as a formula to encourage them to consume. And in this way, reach a greater number of customers.
They also provide other complementary services: discounts at gas stations, free parking for cars and direct access to the commercial establishment's catalogs. Either way, it is a favorable product for the interests of consumers. Its issuance is completely free, both in its management and in its maintenance, and from which the closest relatives can also benefit through the additional cards, without any special surcharge.
What cards can you carry in your wallet?
One of the proposals that consumers can take advantage of is the Eroski Red card, which presents a double channel of financing for purchases made through this means of payment that is completely free for its holders. On the one hand, the one destined to 6 months, for purchases over 149 euros and, on the other, extended to 12 months, for amounts that exceed 399 euros. In both cases, they are developed without interest or commissions, although these proposals are valid for some departments of this commercial brand (home, electronics, textiles, DIY, sports, etc.).
Another option provided by this card is to pay a fixed amount per month, so that the expenses of the shopping cart are made in a more orderly way. Complete your offer by obtaining 10% discounts on all purchases, except in supermarkets, hypermarkets and food stores, as well as the possibility of obtaining discount vouchers.
Carrefour, for its part, has designed the Pass Card, which contemplate 3 months without interest, for amounts greater than 90 euros, and up to 2.000, with an annual interest rate of 0%. As an additional benefit, it allows you to accumulate 1% of all purchases made. Another contribution generated by the card of this shopping center is the financing of purchases in 10 months without interest. This proposal is also valid for the same amounts (between 200 and 2.000 euros), also accumulating a minimum percentage of purchases.
Mercadona has developed a different design through its own card to make purchases, being a totally free plastic. It has two forms of payment: daily or monthly to adapt to the needs of its clients, and that allows them better control of their expenses, for the monthly sending of a detailed statement of all your operations. Holders of the main card, on the other hand, may request additional cards to extend the benefits to their main family members: children, parents, etc. Even with the possibility of modifying the payment method.
The Alcampo Card is another alternative that you have to use in your hypermarkets and also for free. No issuance or maintenance fees, both for the cardholder and for the associated ones. Through them you can choose in each purchase the payment method that most interests you, either paying at the end of the month, or a fixed fee every month, and as a last alternative the deferred payment from 3 to 36 months. You can also benefit from exclusive offers and discounts at its hypermarkets and gas stations, with special financing conditions for purchases made in its hypermarkets and travel agencies.
The El Corte Inglés Card is another means of payment that allows a strict control of your monthly expenses, since each month they send you a detailed summary of the purchases made, as well as information on the activities and promotions carried out in their stores. It is also free, in its concession and maintenance. On the other hand, the mere fact of being the holder of this card will generate greater credit facilities in the payment of your most important purchases.
And, as a complementary benefit, they provide you with greater facilities so that you can park your car in the facilities they have enabled to meet this demand. As a general rule, if you make a purchase greater than the amount stipulated in each center, you will have two hours of free stay.
The Simply Card is another proposal that you can access right now, without involving any financial outlay. In addition, you will be able to consult the extracts of the movements that you make in this commercial establishment, as well as the limit available at all times on your payment card. The Family Card of the supermarket chain Más completes the offer of this means of payment with another model with similar characteristics.
It will also be free, offering you exclusive offers and discounts in its supermarkets and free home delivery from 60 euros of purchase. With it, you will also have the possibility to obtain gifts with your purchases. For every 5 euros of purchases they will give you 50 points, which you can later exchange for the gifts enabled in their shopping catalog. And as a more original feature, the gift of a baby basket for newborns.
Features of these cards
You should bear in mind that you are not dealing with standard cards, but that it is a different means of payment, which basically tries to retain you as a customer. And in this way, do not go to the competition. From this general scenario, there will be many services that you can take advantage of from the beginning, and among which the following stand out.
- They generate a financing between 3 and 12 months approximately, without interest or commissions, but that require a minimum consumption.
- Enables pay a fixed amount per month, so that the expenses do not have an excessive impact on the monthly household budget.
- It can access offers and promotions, but also to another series of more aggressive commercial strategies, and even access to another series of complementary products.
- They can be used by both its main owner as well as family members that you wish to include, through the additional cards that do not have any type of special recharge for any of the parties.
- They are free in their emission, both in its concession and in its maintenance, that is, without any economic cost for its subscribers.
- Through them you can choose in each purchase the payment method that interests you the most, either in payment at the end of the month, a fixed monthly fee, or finally the payment postponed.
- It is a very dynamic product that constantly evolving based on offers generated by each commercial establishment. With more aggressive proposals to retain your customers.
- They provide other complementary services: discounts at gas stations, free parking, and direct access to offers and catalogs of the commercial brand.
They are personal and non-transferable cards
Most of these cards are personal and non-transferable, and only their holders can use them when making purchases in shopping centers and benefit from all their advantages. Although they allow you to transfer them to your family members, requesting as many additional cards as their main holder requires. The only requirement to formalize this subscription process consists of fill out an application at any establishment of the brand in question. Where both the holder and the additional applicant will sign, and attach a photocopy of the National Identity Document of both applicants.
In this way, they can be used with all their benefits by several people at the same time, without limitation in their use. Generally, both the cardholder and the additional ones do not entail issuance or maintenance costs. On the other hand, in case of loss or theft of your card, these shopping centers have a permanent customer service where this event must be referred as soon as possible so that the plastic is blocked immediately. And in this way, the rights acquired by the holders of this loyalty card can be safeguarded.