Shopping with your debit card can prove to be a very rewarding experience.

Naziah Mohd Yusuff, 37, purchased her groceries using her card at Giant Hypermarket Alor Setar and it won her a new Proton Exora worth RM56,500.

“This is such a blessing since I was actually planning to get an MPV. My family is quite big and my children are all getting older, I’m afraid my saloon car will not be able to fit all in.

“Now we will all be going home in this car,” exclaimed the grand-prize winner of the “Giant Go Cashless” contest.

During one of her grocery runs, Naziah had thought it best to leave most of her cash at home and this turned out to be the winning move.

“I’ve always liked using my debit card; I feel it is a lot safer,” she said.

In addition to the car, the shopping contest also awarded the first, second and third-placed winners Henery Anak Sigan, Samehah Wan Abdullah and Anwar Ul Haque with Air Asia travel vouchers worth RM8,000, RM5,000 and RM3,000 respectively.

Six consolation-prize winners walked away with Air Asia travel vouchers worth RM1,000 each.

Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony, GCH Retail (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd general manager (marketing) Norine Erica Majaman said the contest was one of the group’s ongoing efforts to encourage the use of electronic payment system.

“Giant has worked together with the Malaysian Electronic Clearing Corporate Sdn Bhd (MyClear) for the second time in this contest and it has been well received among shoppers.

“This increases value proposition to our customers where they now have an additional way to pay,” she expressed.

Norine revealed that the eight-week contest received 73,000 entries, which was double the number entries received in last year’s contest.

“This is very encouraging and it shows that customers are ready to embrace the e-debit habit,” she said.

The contest also marks Giant’s and MyClear’s support of the Government’s aim to make cashless transaction a way of life in Malaysia.

Voicing his support for the contest, MyClear managing director Peter Schiesser said such initiatives helped inculcate the e-payment routine, which benefited both customers and the retailer.

“For consumers, this is a safe, accessible way to make payment where there is no need to withdraw cash and no risks of credit card debts or late payment finance charges,

“It also reduces the retailers’ cost of cash handling,” he noted.

The contest, held from April 23 to June 17, was opened to shoppers who have made electronic payments for purchases worth RM60 and above.


Source : The Star Online / 15 August 2015