Paper punch cards have been a staple of coffee shops and barbers for years. They are simple, cheap and everyone gets them. But they may be costing you more customers than you think. Here are the 5 problems we see most.
1. Cards get lost
Your customer's wallet is full of cards. Yours ends up in the washing machine or a drawer. Once it's lost, the customer doesn't want to start over, and the loyalty is gone.
2. "I don't have my card with me"
The customer comes in but the card is at home. Either the stamp is missed or staff say "we'll give you two next time". Nobody keeps track.
3. Fake stamps
Stamps can be copied and marks can be drawn with a pen. Most businesses never notice.
4. You don't know your customers
A paper card tells you nothing. How many people took a card, how many came back, who is your most loyal customer? You can't tell, and you can't notice and win back someone who stopped coming.
5. Hidden costs
Printing cards, reprinting them, ordering stamps. Small amounts that never end. The real cost is the customers who leave with lost cards.
Moving to the phone is easier than you think
With a digital card the customer scans the QR at the counter and the card opens on their phone. No app. Staff scan the customer's QR and the stamp is added. The card can't be lost or faked, and you see who comes how often in your dashboard.
We explain how a digital loyalty card works in a separate post.
What does a lost customer cost you?
Enter your daily customers and average spend in the revenue calculator. Even bringing back 10% of customers may surprise you.
Switching from paper takes 2 minutes, not an afternoon. Start free.