What is a Volunteer Shopping or Gift Card?
Alongside the social distancing measures supermarkets have implemented, many have introduced ‘volunteer shopping cards’ designed specifically to help at-risk customers pay friends and neighbours who shop for them. The cards are ideal for those who might be self-isolating, older or medically vulnerable, the Volunteer Shopping Card provides a contactless, safe and secure way to allow others to shop for them.
How do volunteer shopping cards work?
These ‘cards’ are actually virtual vouchers which work in the same way as other e-gift cards. You buy them online and send the details to your volunteer’s email address for them to use in store. Your volunteer won’t need to spend the full balance of the card each time they shop; the remaining amount will stay on the card meaning you could load it with enough money for multiple trips if you wanted.
Asda
Asda’s volunteer card comes in the form of an e-gift card, with a barcode that can be scanned for payments. It can be downloaded and presented on a phone screen, or be printed on A4 paper and scanned by a member of checkout staff. Customers can buy these shopping cards online, top up and give to their family member, friend, or NHS volunteer to pay for their shopping without the hassle of using cash or bank cards.
Sainsburys
Sainsburys will be launching a new volunteer gift card and online voucher ‘in the next week or two’. In the meantime, customers can purchase a Sainsburys Gift Card, which can be used to purchase products in all Stores, but can’t be redeemed online. www.sainsburysgifts.co.uk/sainsburys_gift_cards.html
Tesco
Tesco does not have a dedicated volunteer gift card, but customers can purchase a Tesco Gift Card. The cards be used to purchase any of the goods stocked in Tesco stores nationwide.
Marks and Spencer
M&S volunteer card comes in the form of an e-gift card, with a barcode that can be scanned for payments. It can be downloaded and presented on a phone screen, or be printed on A4 paper and scanned by a member of checkout staff. Customers can buy these shopping cards online, top up and give to their family member, friend, or NHS volunteer to pay for their shopping without the hassle of using cash or bank cards.
Morrisons
Customers can order a Morrisons Gift Card online and it will be posted to the recipient’s home address. The recipient can then use the Gift Card at any checkout in any Morrisons store in the UK.
The card can then be printed and used in store, or alternatively it can be presented in store on a phone screen to be scanned at the checkout. They also work on self-service checkouts. The cards can’t be used online.
Waitrose
Waitrose’s volunteer card comes in the form of an e-gift card, with a barcode that can be scanned for payments. It can be downloaded and presented on a phone screen, or be printed on A4 paper and scanned by a member of checkout staff.