detailers - customer loyalty cards

JWilliams.RadiantDetail

JWilliams.RadiantDetail

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Lots of places I eat give out cards where they punch them every time you eat and after x number of visits you get a free meal. This seems like it would be a good thing to use for the people I detail for. But, I'm not really liking the idea of punch cards, it seems, I dunno cheap. I know it works, but it's kind of amateurish and I'd to be able to track things easier.

Googling around I found a place that does frosted plastic business cards, and they can add the magnetic strip on the back. This intrigues me, but I'm not finding a full solution here. I after a card reader/programmer to work with a laptop. But I'm not coming up with software to use here. I'm assuming there's some sort of package I could buy but I don't know where to look obviously. Basically I want to give customers a card and whenever I detail their car I swipe it and input what they had done and it keeps track of everything. And they can earn free stuff after so many swipes.

This seems kind of specific and advanced, but maybe someone here has done this. Or at least something similar?
 
I wish I could help you. I believe that the hardware needed to encode cards is not that expensive. About 300$ I believe for the reader/writer. You will need a programmer to design a database for you that can encode and decode the cards.

I looked at this stuff about 10 years ago for my poker club and decided not to do it because when you add the price of the reader/decoder, programmer and blank cards it costed something like 10$ per card. Since most people misplace these cards it would have been a pain.

What I can suggest is that you print out business cards that are actually coupons. You can have a simple system that allows you Customer to exchance x amounts of these cards for specific services. For exemple, 5 of them for a free wax or sealant, 10 of them for a free polishing or interior detail... something like that. Cost for printing business card can be very low. I get mine for 140$ per 5000 cards. That's both side printed, full color with varnish to protect the card. I might actually do something like this when business starts to pick-up.
 
Haven't really looked into it myself but "loyalty blocks" keeps popping up on my Facebook. An app that you can customize and download to offer rewards. Maybe check that one out.
 
I give out cards that are my regular business card on the front, but on the back it says $10 off your next detail! They can use it or give it to someone and write their name on it and the original customer gets $10 off their next detail for the referral.

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I know you said it may be a little amateurish for you, but maybe your original idea of punch cards will actually end up being easiest/best? I know the customers will enjoy it, and they will know that each one of their washes will count up. Maybe waxes/sealants are two punches, corrections 3, multi-step 4, etc. Just to entice them to keep coming back to you. I don't think they would find it amateurish since they are getting something free.

I mean, yeah, obviously a card, like the Players Cards you get in casinos, would be best but they spend millions on their reward systems. Try the punch cards and if you get good feedback, you can always change/upgrade in the future. Good luck and happy detailing!
 
If you decide to go with a punch style card, make sure people can't just punch the cards themselves... that is the tricky part.
 
On the reverse of my business card I have boxes which I initial after each valet. When the customer has 5 boxes filled in I give them a free basic wash/wax valet. Very easy & cheap to do.
 
You can get any design you want made into a stamp for around $5, just stamp a card every time they come.
 
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