I’m a big fan of loyalty punch cards. There may be a better name for them, but I’m referring to paper cards that you get punched or stamped each time you buy a product or service. When the card is full, your next purchase is free. I have cards from sandwich shops, North Mason Fibre, the Lyon’s Pride (my barber), and numerous espresso stands. Today I got a card for the unlikeliest of products and one that will take years to fill up.
I have two watches. Both have special meaning to me (one was a Christmas gift from my mother and the other was an award at work). Although I hardly ever wear them, I like to keep them in good running condition. Every so often when they stop working, I take them to WatchMasters, which operates out of a kiosk at Kitsap Mall.
WatchMasters sells watches and watch bands, repairs watches, and, most importantly for me, replaces watch batteries. They have a key location at the mall, but competition from nearby jewelry stores must be a concern. So they developed a program to increase business or at least build customer loyalty. (They don’t need to build loyalty with me, but apparently some watch owners don’t care where they get their batteries replaced.) I read about it while I was waiting for my watches.
A sign at the kiosk explained that you can get a punch card for watch batteries. After four batteries at the regular price ($8.95 each for my watches), the fifth battery is free. However, the sign was clear that you need a separate card for each watch. No putting several watches on one card. As I paid for my watches, the lady at WatchMasters asked me if I wanted to be in the program. Of course I said yes, even after I asked her how long the new batteries would last. “About two years,” she said.
Despite the battery program’s strict requirements, in fairness to WatchMasters they aren’t going to make me wait until 2018 to get a free battery. After all, how long have you had your oldest punch card? In fact, I’m already half-way there as both of today’s batteries went on one card. I guess there is no good way to link a paper card to a particular watch. And the card says you can also get it stamped if you purchase a band adjustment at the regular price. That’s something I have never needed before, but you never know.
Mud Bay Blog 