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Simply Certificates is nothing more than a universal gift certificate.
If you're familiar with how a normal gift certificate works, the only
difference here is that Simply Certificates is a separate company that
issues the certificate to the consumer; the consumer can use the
certificate at any participating merchant; the merchant redeems the
gift certificate amount from Simply Certificates, less a usage or
participation fee incurred by the merchant.
For example, I log on to Simply Certificates and buy a $50 Dining
certificate that can be used at all sorts of restaurants. I choose to
use it at Mangia's (Mangia's is one of the companies that Simply
Certificates has an agreement with). When I go to pay for the dinner,
I hand them my Simply Certificates gift certificate of $50. In order
to turn that gift certificate into useable money, Mangia's will then
submit the certificate to Simply Certificates. Simply Certificates
will, in turn, remit an amount to Mangia's which is equal to $50 minus
Simply Certificate's "cut" or fee. The cost to the merchant varies
based on the type of business. Simply Certificates makes their money
by taking their percentage off every transaction.
So what is their pitch? Or, what's in it for the participating
merchants (e.g. restaurants, spa, resorts, etc.)? Simply Certificates
has kiosks in malls (as well as through their website) where consumers
can buy gift certificates. The participating merchants are
essentially presented as a list that consumers can browse for choosing
where to buy their certificate(s). In a word, this is a form of
advertising for the merchants.
The company has recruiters that find new merchants to participate.
Merchants can also call and request an information packet to be in the
program. The merchants feel justified in participating, because the
hope is that the additional exposure of their business through the
Simply Certificates program will more than offset any fees that Simply
Certificates charges them. Of course, this ultimately makes or breaks
any merchant's continued participation in the program.
Contact information for Simply Certificates:
Email: customerservice@Simply Certificates.com
Toll Free: 1-866-Simply1 / (866) 746-7591
Fax: (518) 862-2044
Search Strategy:
Searched simplycertificates.com website
and talked to a representative. |
