Waitrose Launches E-Gift Card to Help Volunteers Shopping for the Vulnerable
In the News
If there’s been one positive to come out of the coronavirus crisis, it’s how communities have rallied to help out their vulnerable neighbours, and now Waitrose has come up with an idea to make picking up your neighbour’s groceries even easier…
Shopping for your neighbour is one of the simplest ways to help the vulnerable in our communities at present, but sorting out the money can be tricky – should you collect it before or after doing the shopping? Can elderly neighbours cope with online banking? If not, do you want to be handling cash at a time when minimal contact with people and frequently touched objects is so important?
Fortunately, Waitrose has just made things a bit easier with a new e-gift card designed specially for volunteer shoppers. Customers unable to get to the shops themselves can buy an e-gift card online at johnlewisgiftcard.com and email it directly to friends, neighbours and volunteers to use on their behalf in Waitrose & Partners shops.
The e-gift card provides self-isolating households with a simple, safe and contact-free way to pay for their shopping without having to take out cash or share bank card details.
The e-gift cards are available in £10 denominations up to £500, which can be emailed to a volunteer for home printing or saved to a phone. Customers can also check the balance of their e-gift card online to keep track of their grocery spending. They can also be bought in-store or online and then posted or handed to volunteers.
The John Lewis Partnership has also dedicated the first hour of trade every day to elderly and vulnerable customers, and their carers, as well as putting in place priority shopping for NHS staff, priority access to online shopping deliveries for elderly and vulnerable customers and donations to local charities.
Lovely idea but a lot of oldies can’t work their mobile phones let alone the internet, I’m referring to my father in law.
Good point Pjran, suppose they’ll have to share their confidential info with a trusted person to buy on their behalf
ivenailedit or give their bank card to pay by contactless now it’s up to £45. Heaven forbid!
Pjran realise difficult circumstances, but meant a very trusted person. Thanks for reminder about contactless increase
But a lot of oldies can. I know many folk younger than me who will not even try to learn to use technology. They are defeated before they even try.
I have offered to help but they stubbornly dig their heels in and refuse. It's as if they are scared of it.
Lynibis very true & thank goodness as nowadays most things are online. Just seen this & wondered why vulnerable would need cash, but suppose is to give to those who shop for them etc
‘Vulnerable customers who cannot leave their homes to get cash have been offered a lifeline after the Post Office rolled out a vital collection service to all banks. It means friends and family will be able to withdraw cash for those who are self-isolating and drop it to their door. Banks which sign up to the Post Office's 'Payout Now' service will be able to send customers vouchers by text, email or post, which they can then share with a trusted individual to withdraw cash on their behalf. Customers will also be able to use the new 'Fast PACE' service, which allows a nominated individual to cash in a cheque on their behalf at a Post Office branch. Customers should complete a cheque as usual, but print the name of the person withdrawing the cash on the back and sign that side, too. The third party then presents the cheque with their own ID. All UK banks, building societies and credit unions will be able to use the service, and customers can contact their bank to find out if they have signed up. The Post Office's banking director Martin Kearsley said being able to access cash is a 'vital service for older people and those self-isolating'.
Pjran The idea is so you have no connect with person so you don’t get their card from them.
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