Fri Nov 15 12:24:00 UTC 2002
After long negotiations relating to the acceptance of Debit Cards Shoprite, Checkers, and Checkers Hyper stores will now also accept Maestro by MasterCard and Visa Electron Debit Cards at point of sale terminals, making it safer and easier for consumers to shop at their 348 stores across the country.
Shoprite Checkers Deputy Managing Director Carel Goosen said today the supermarket group is delighted that the cost of debit card transactions to the Company has now finally reached a realistic level. “On-line debit cards offer consumers convenience, security and savings, and Shoprite Checkers believes that its customers also deserve those benefits”.
As part of an agreement reached with Absa that sees this bank becoming the supermarket group’s acquirer for card transactions, a special campaign will be launched in the media, Absa branches and in Shoprite, Checkers and Checkers Hyper stores. The supermarket group’s latest service offering, which includes the acceptance of all Absa ATM Debit Cards, will be communicated and consumers will be informed about the benefits of Debit Cards as another payment vehicle to transact conveniently at retail stores.
The Absa ATM Debit Card has multiple functionality, which allows the customer to transact at POS terminals and via the Internet (Absa Online Payments).
Research has shown that the customer profile of the Shoprite customer is reasonably closely aligned with that of the Absa customer. Mass and middle market levels have a high degree of compatibility. Of the Absa client base about 41% currently withdraws cash to make purchases at Shoprite, Checkers and Checkers Hyper stores.
“This agreement with the Shoprite Group is a significant breakthrough for the industry in general, but especially for Absa as one of the major issuers of Debit Cards in South Africa. With over 6 million Absa Debit Cards in the market, the ability to use these cards at Shoprite, Checkers and Checkers Hyper stores is certainly good news for our customers,” says Walter Volker, General Manager: Absa Group Payment Systems.