New Rewards Card Launched by PLAY.com

(PRWEB) May 31, 2009

The UK's second largest online retailer Play.com has teamed up with MBNA Europe to launch a credit card offering users competitive rates and appetising rewards.

Inviting rewards scheme hopes to boost loyalty and attract new customers

PLAY.com aims to boost customer loyalty by including a multi-layered rewards scheme. Each use of the card will earn cardholders 'PlayPoints', which can in turn be used to towards buying from PLAY.com's reported 8 million products.

Two PlayPoints for every £1 spent at PLAY.com and one Play Point for every £1 spent elsewhere. Customers will receive 1,500 bonus Play Points on their first spend, which can also be redeemed for a £15 Voucher.

PLAY.com latest in spate of online retailer launching credit cards

The launch on May 20 came a week after rival retailer HMV released its own loyalty scheme, "purehmv". While HMV is yet to launch a credit card, PLAY.com follows a spate of online retailers entering the credit card game.

Amazon.com's credit card has been available for over three years, but in spite of attractive reward offers, poor reviews and a troublesome online banking service have damaged its reputation. Argos, John Lewis and Sainsbury's among many others all offer credit cards.

Low APR, longest interest-free purchase period on the market

Thinking Money notes that the PLAY.com / MBNA credit card compares favourably to major competitors and outperforms those offered by fellow online retailers. The PLAY.com card has the longest interest free purchase period on the market - alongside Bank of Scotland One - of 9 months, significantly longer than the industry standard of 3 months.

With an APR of 15.9% the PLAY.com/MBNA card is lower than Argos (18.9%) and John Lewis (16.9%). PLAY.com's card also offers a lower introductory balance transfer fee than both the aforementioned.

MBNA is an esteemed partner, having maintained successful credit card partnerships with top companies such as Sony and BT.

Users will have access to online banking to view their balance and transactions, set up direct debits and carry out balance transfers. Credit card and fraud protection is standard on every online purchase. PLAY.com also offers customers a free 24-hour worldwide customer satisfaction helpline.

PLAY.com going from strength to strength

Thinking Money sees the launch of the PLAY.com/MBNA visa as evidence of the online retailer making good on their promise earlier this year to increase its visibility online and attract customers from defunct retailers such as Zavvi.

Play.com was named the top-ranked retailer in the National Consumer Satisfaction Index customer service survey in February this year.

The survey, which involved over 6,000 consumers, gave PLAY.com a score of 87 out of 100, seeing the site beat other online entertainment retailers Amazon.co.uk and iTunes.

Testament to its recent success, PLAY.com's turnover in the 12 months to January 3 2009 hit £340 million, up from £290 million last year.

References and further reading

http://www.thinkingmoney.org
http://www.mbna.co.uk
http://www.ncsiuk.com/

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