Where can you redeem the gift cards?
Click HERE for the list of participating businesses
———-
Did you know that every $100 spent locally has an impact of approximately $180?
The Shop2580 gift cards will give locals an easy option for giving a gift that not only provides value to the recipient but keeps that value in the local economy. The cards will be an opportunity for local businesses to attract new local customers.
All local businesses can join the Shop2580 gift card program for FREE until 30 Nov 2021.
Save $120!
Businesses that are members of the Goulburn Chamber of Commerce can join the program for free to sell or accept the cards.
Benefits for your business of participating in the Shop2580 gift card program
Participating in the Shop2580 gift card program could benefit your business through:
- Bringing new customers to your business
- Encouraging customers to spend more money with your business
- Increased exposure through promotion of the program and participating businesses
- Increased local spending by promoting people to shop locally first
Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
Business FAQ
Card User FAQ
General FAQ
How do the cards work?
The Shop2580 gift cards are EFTPOS prepaid gift cards that are activated at the time of purchase and can be used for purchasing goods and services at participating stores. They work the same as other gift cards you may purchase from a major retailer – with the value being redeemable only at participating stores in Goulburn.
Cards can be purchased and ‘loaded up’ with value at a select number of businesses. They can then be used to purchase goods and services from any of the participating stores.
When will the cards be available?
The cards are available to purchase right now.
Where can I buy a card?
You can buy a gift card and load it with value at the following locations:
- Goulburn Visitor Information Centre
- Goulburn Workers Club
- Park Newsagency (Newspower)
- Helloworld Travel Goulburn
You can also order gift cards online via Why Leave Town (the gift card program facilitator).
Where can I use the card?
The list of businesses where you can redeem the gift cards can be found here. We will be adding new businesses regularly as the program grows.
Do the cards expire?
Yes, after three (3) years from the date of activation (as per government legislation requirements). The cards cannot be used or replaced after expiry. At expiry, the remaining balance will be forfeited. There will be no reminder issued before the card expires.
For a full list of the card Terms and Conditions click here.
Business FAQ
How much does it cost to be involved?
Until 30 Nov 2021 all local businesses can join the gift card program for FREE.
Chamber members can join the program as a Load Up or Redemption store for free. After Nov 30 2021 for non Chamber members, there is a $120 annual fee.
For more information about becoming a member of the Chamber, click here.
What about EFTPOS fees?
Businesses will be charged fees when the gift cards are loaded or redeemed based on what their EFTPOS provider already charges when currently accepting payment via EFTPOS.
Load Up stores should also check with their terminal provider if there are any fees associated with processing REFUNDS before becoming a Load Up store.
What is the difference between a Load Up store and a Redemption store?
A Load Up store is a place where people can come and purchase a Shop2580 card and load value onto that card.
A Redemption store is somewhere a card recipient can come and use the card to pay for products or services.
There are a limited number of Load Up stores for each program. We anticipate there will be 5-10 Load Up stores in Goulburn.
There is no additional cost to be a Load Up store.
If I am a Load Up business, how does that work?
A customer first pays you the amount they want to be loaded onto the card. For example, they would like a $50 card and they pay for it with their own debit card. Therefore, the customer will be charged $50, and their debit card is swiped through the EFTPOS terminal where the cards are being loaded.
Next, the business takes a Shop2580 card and uses their EFTPOS terminal to do a REFUND onto that card for $50.
If you choose to be a Load Up business you will be provided with training to show you the process of adding value to the Shop2580 cards.
When someone uses a Shop2580 card to purchase from my business, how do I get paid?
The transaction will be like any other normal EFTPOS transaction. So you will receive the funds whenever your terminal settles, usually overnight (depending on your EFTPOS system).
We recommend you update your payment/refund terms and conditions to reflect the use of Shop2580 gift cards where relevant.
What systems will the cards work on?
The cards will work on all standard EFTPOS terminals within Australia. The cards will also work with EFTPOS terminals that are integrated with a computer. The cards are required to be swiped through the EFTPOS terminals to transact, therefore, they will not operate via pay wave. Please note that the cards WILL NOT work on Square, PayPal or similar card readers. Although some of these terminals have a swipe function and will accept EFTPOS cards, these terminals operate differently to standard EFTPOS terminals, and hence cannot be ‘locked down’. The locking down process is essential for the scheme because it is what ensures that the money can only be spent at participating stores.
So if my business uses EFTPOS to process payments, but we don’t have an actual EFTPOS machine, can we still be involved?
No. The cards require swiping through a physical EFTPOS terminal to work. The card providers (Why Leave Town) are currently working on a way to accept payments via QR code to overcome the need for a physical terminal, but this functionality is not currently available.
Where is the money held?
No funds are held by the Goulburn Chamber of Commerce, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Regional Development Australia Southern Inland, Why Leave Town Promotions or the participating businesses. This is vital in protecting the value of the card for the card holder. All the funds that are loaded onto cards are held in a trust account which sits with Cuscal, the largest independent provider of payments solutions for the Australian financial services sector.
To find out more about Cuscal, head to Cuscal Payments
What if I already offer my own gift vouchers?
There is no reason why you can’t continue to have your own gift vouchers as well as be part of the Shop2580 card program. Accepting the cards gives your business extra exposure and more opportunities for people to spend money with you.
Has this program been implemented anywhere else? What are the results for other regions?
Yes. The Shop2580 gift cards are being provided by Why Leave Town. They launched their first gift card program in Narrabri in 2010, and now reach more than 50 different communities across 130 postcodes. Over the last decade, they have helped inject over $8 million dollars into local communities by loading up and selling more than 100,000 gift cards.
Recent statistics for the Upper Hunter/Muswellbrook region over a 2 year period include:
- 230 redemption stores
- 7570 cards sold to the value of $578,381
- 9694 redemptions to the value of $441,309
- 83% of stores had a least 1 redemption
- 68% of stores had redemptions worth over $100
- 43% of stores had redemptions worth over $500
- 32% of stores had redemptions worth over $1000
- 13% of stores had redemptions worth over $3000
We are looking forward to seeing how much value the Shop2580 cards will deliver in the Goulburn Mulwaree region.
Register HereCan I make a bulk purchase of gift cards to give to employees and/or customers?
Yes, we would love you to do that! You can place a bulk order of cards through Why Leave Town by completing the order form here.
Card User FAQ
How do I use the card?
Your Shop2580 gift card operates the same way as a bank card. When you make a purchase, swipe the Shop2580 card through the EFTPOS machine, select SAVINGS and enter the 4 digit pin on the back of the card.
How do I check the card balance?
To check your balance, head to the Why Leave Town Check Card Balance page. Here you can also see a full statement of where and when the card was used, as well as the expiry date of the card.
What if I lose my card?
The cards need to be treated like cash, and hence if they are lost then this is just like losing cash. However, if the card number is known then the card can be replaced. Holders of the card are encouraged to register the card
via Why Leave Town when they first receive it just in case the card is lost.
Where can I not use the card?
The cards cannot be used at ATMs, for online purchases, over-the-counter at financial institutions or be redeemed for cash.
Can I add money to the card?
No, once it has been loaded with a value once, the card is not reloadable.
Do I have to use the full value in one transaction?
No. Once the card is loaded, you can make purchases in as many participating stores as you like until the money on the card has been spent.
Can I cash out the remaining value on a card?
No. Cards cannot be used to obtain or redeem cash.
What denominations are the cards available in?
The cards can be loaded with any amount between $10 – $1000 on a single card.
If your question hasn’t been answered here, please contact us via [email protected]