DeCA begins testing new Commissary Rewards Card
Source: Commissary Connection, September 2012
The Defense Commissary Agency is testing the Commissary Rewards Card that will soon allow customers to access and redeem digital coupons at all its stores.
Testing began Aug. 8 at the Fort Lee Commissary, Va., kicking off the first of three pilot phases scheduled to give customers at 30 stores the opportunity to try out the cards. The test schedule is subject to change, so customers should visit DeCA's official website, www.commissaries.com, for the latest information.
The card can only be used at these test stores until it is released for worldwide use, which could happen as soon as September. As an introductory offer, customers who pick up their cards by Oct. 24 will receive preloaded digital coupons on their cards for use in the commissary that day.
"We are very excited about this new initiative," said DeCA Director and CEO Joseph H. Jeu. "These free cards will allow our customers to reduce the number of paper coupons they have to clip and carry," he added. "That saves our customers time, effort and money and helps us in our efforts to 'go green.'"
The cards, which will only be available at commissaries, are easy to use. Once customers get their cards in the store, they will need to visit DeCA's website to register it and load digital coupons to their account. It's that simple.
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They will also be able to print off a list of their coupons before making the trip to the commissary. Once the card is swiped at the register, the coupons will be matched to their purchases and the savings automatically deducted. New offers will typically be posted online every two to three weeks.
As an incentive, customers who register their card by Oct. 24 can enter the 2012 Commissary Rewards Card "Home for the Holidays Sweepstakes" sponsored by Dr Pepper/Snapple for a chance to win round-trip airline tickets for four to anywhere in the states, lodging in a hotel room that accommodates four for six days and five nights, and $1,000 spending money. The sweepstakes entry form will appear at the end of the registration process online.
Digital coupons, just like their paper counterparts, have expiration dates and other terms and conditions that must be followed for redemption. However, digital coupons will not be accepted for up to six months after expiration overseas as paper coupons are. That's because the coupons are distributed digitally and are instantly available to all customers worldwide, so overseas customers won't need extra time to use the coupons. Once a coupon expires, it will disappear from the customer's account.
Also, DeCA's coupon policy limits coupons to one per purchase, so these digital coupons cannot be combined with manufacturer coupons, including paper coupons and military or commissary coupons.
Future enhancements to the card are expected to enable DeCA's industry partners to target savings based on the customer's specific usage, alert patrons to available sales promotions at their local stores and reward consistent shoppers with specific incentives.
"Digital couponing is the first of many innovative programs that are part of our Commissary 2020 vision to deliver a 21st century benefit," Jeu said. "We are always working with our industry partners to negotiate the lowest possible prices and identify new ways for our customers to save even more."
For more information on this card, please visit www.commissaries.com/faq and click "Commissary Rewards Card." Inmar, the contractor supporting the card, is also available to assist through its customer service hotline at 855-829-6219 or through email at commissarysupport@inmar.com.
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