Overview
Instant Vouchers offer employees the ability to buy discounted store credit whenever and wherever they like and receive the voucher code ready to use within seconds.
It means there's no need to pre-plan purchases. When they are out shopping, in a restaurant, queuing up for cinema tickets or shopping online and want to get a discount on their purchase there and then, all they have to do is log on to their platform order a discounted voucher for their chosen retailer and then present the voucher code at the point of purchase in-store or online.
Buying Instant Vouchers
- From your Discounts platform, go to Instant Vouchers.
- For the retailer you want to purchase from, click Check offers.
The Instant Voucher appears in the Instant Vouchers area specifying the savings amount and if the Instant Voucher can be used online or in store. - Click Buy Now.
- Under How much would you like to order?, enter the Instant Voucher value you want to purchase in your local currency before the discount is applied.
- Click Add to Basket.
The Instant Voucher is added to your basket. - To see how much money you've saved and to complete your purchase, click View your basket or go straight to checkout.
In the example below, you would pay £9.40 for an Instant Voucher with a value of £10. - Complete your purchase.
The Instant Voucher is now available in your account under Discounts > Instant Vouchers.
You can now pay the retailer for the goods, service or experience by showing the voucher (if in-store), or typing in the code (if shopping online).
Some key points
- Instant Vouchers can be for either in-store or online use, or for both; this depends on the retailer. Terms of use will always be clear on the retailer's page within the SmartSpending platform.
- Instant Vouchers can be used just like cash. This means:
- They can be used on top of the retailer's other offers, for example in the Blue Cross Sale at Debenhams.
- The whole voucher amount doesn't need to be spent in one go. Any remaining balance will remain on the voucher to be used next time you shop with the same retailer, and the voucher will remain in the user's My Account section.
- Most retailers will allow multiple vouchers to be used in one transaction. This means that a remaining balance on one voucher can be combined with a new voucher so that the user always gets a discount!
What is an instant voucher?
Instant vouchers allow employees to save in-store instantly, without having to wait for anything in the post. In all cases the employee just buys the voucher on site at a discount, downloads / views it and shows it in store to make their purchase. Some instant vouchers can also be used for online purchases.
Viewable vouchers
Most instant vouchers come in the form of a code that the employee just needs to copy from their account and redeem with the retailer. Amazon, Cineworld, itunes and Vue and other popular offers work this way. The employee takes the code from their account and copies it into the retailer's online checkout.
Downloadable vouchers
Downloadable vouchers come in the form of PDFs which the employee just needs to print from their account and show in-store. Debenhams, Ernest Jones, H.Samuel work in this way. These vouchers are often referred to as "eGifts".
SMS vouchers
SMS vouchers come in the form of a code that's sent via text message when the employee completes the purchase. Pizza Express and Zizzi work in this way.
Refunds & reissues
If the employee changes their mind about an order, we can refund them as long as they haven't viewed the voucher (in the case of viewable and downloadable vouchers). SMS vouchers we can't refund but we can reissue them if the employee hasn't received them.
Viewable and downloadable vouchers don't need to be reissued as they always remain on the employee's account.
Instant Reloadable Vouchers
Instant Reloadable Vouchers offer significant advantages: employees can purchase or top up the new vouchers via mobile or desktop at a discounted price and use them in conjunction with other in-store promotions, loyalty cards, or sales.
The digital vouchers can be repeatedly topped up – either at the point of need or pre-scheduled – at a discounted rate.
This ensures that any leftover balance is used and no funds are wasted.
More information
- Using Cashback to purchase retail vouchers at a discount