Why Club 26 needs SMART cards when we already have different means of digital payment?
Members can use their Membership Smart Card to gain access to the club’s grounds, restaurant, gym or specific areas within these locations. The same Smart Card can be used to make purchases through a prepaid mechanism. With the launch of “Club 26” App, members can go online to view their Card balance and to transfer funds to top-up their Cards remotely.
The SMART card helps the staff to differentiate between Members and Non-Members.
Payments through CC, DC, GPay, PhonePe etc does not tell if you are a member, however SMART card does.
Now that we understand that SMART card is a good thing and a step towards Digital India, however there is lot of ambiguity about the usage and benefits.
It is a facility that should be given for free, and charges should not be imposed. I heard many members have not taken the cards just because it is chargeable. Not that they cannot afford 200/- per card but who would like to pay for something he/she never asked for? Charges should be reversed.
This also, resulted in reduced footfall in the restaurant and thus loss of revenue.
The recent message by MC Club 26: “Kindly check your balance in SMART card and make sure you have sufficient balance before you place the order to avoid inconvenience.”
This word “before” is disturbing me. What if I topped up my SMART Card and got short of 150/-? Will I be asked how much you have in your account and for how much you want to eat? Sorry Sir, you do not have sufficient balance thus you cannot order. Embarrassing if you are with a guest.
NAAHHH.. doesn’t sound right. We should be thinking on how we can make it easier for the members. As an example, if we do not pay our annual charges on time then we are charged a nominal interest/penalty/late fee which is justified. This account is called Membership Account. We can extend this membership account to give a credit of let’s say 5000/- to start with or any amount the Club 26 MC deemed fit. Now, I do not have to be bothered of topping up “before” but can do it while eating; if there is an amount that is short it can then be credited from my Membership Account; if I am with a guest and forgot my card, wallet and let’s say phone too, I would not worry to go back home to get the SMART Card. But yes, I must pay the credited amount in stipulated time defined by the MC else you will be charged an interest. This can help to get the desired results.
Alternatively, we can have members keep some extra amount in the Membership Account if Club 26 pays interest. This way it will a debit from Membership Account instead of Credit.
We request the MC of Club 26 to think about it.
