INC NEWS - DukeCard thoughts

[John Schelp]

Thanks, Randy. 

We have spoken with the folks at NC State and UNC,
where their university cards can be used as debit
cards at off-campus businesses. We then asked Duke to
look at both these models at Chapel Hill and NCSU. 

The UNC and NCSU cards can be tied to an area bank to
make things easy. There's no need for anyone to spend
$3500 on set-up costs for equipment (which hinders
participation from small, locally owned businesses).
You can just use it like a regular debit card (or
check card) and swipe it at the cashier.

This change would support more businesses near Duke's
campus and give students more options. It would also
mean that Durham would collect more sales tax (because
of the rise in off-campus purchases).

So, yes, shop windows in business districts near
Duke's campus would have decals saying, "We honor
DukeCard." It'd be a win-win-win solution. :)

thanks so much,
John

PS
While Duke charges 18% for each purchase, NCSU has no
charges.


> I recently spent an afternoon in Chapel Hill and ran
> across something that
> could even be a business for someone if they had the
> time and inclination to do it.
> 
> I noticed at restaurants across downtown, they
> displayed a sign in their
> front window saying that they were part of the Off
> Campus Dinning Network.
> The same thought could be used here in Durham (and
> as far as you want to take it).
> 
> One organization, a central office if you will, that
> processes all off
> campus food sales from the local food shops,
> restaurants, and elsewhere
> this service needs to be provided. Having a central
> organization do it
> would cut down on costs of individual stores having
> to do it. And then it
> would be through a subscriber service that the
> "outside world" signs on. I
> didn't ask for the particulars of this program I
> mention. I don't have a
> dog in this race, so it's neither here nor there to
> me. But I do see how
> it would help the "outside world" to be able to
> easily fit into a DukeCard
> program. It seems that initial cost is one of the
> problems I see mentioned
> (as well as the kickback). This "new organization"
> could help defray those
> costs by having a large pool of businesses that pay
> a little toward that
> single goal.
> 
> Looks like it's already working in Chapel Hill. Why
> doesn't someone just
> ask "them" how it works.
> 
> RWP