G-Cash - My Accidental Friday G-mmick (Part 1 of 3)

I tried out a couple of G-Cash services last Friday. There were a couple of bloopers, sad stories as well as moments of delight.

This is going to be a long three-part article, so here's the short of it: G-Cash is highly versatile and will be used in many so ways. But people will take time and effort to adjust to G-Cash transactions. Moreover, they'll need more compelling reasons to use G-Cash. The service is still in its infancy, and there's a lot of room to improve the service.

See what I went through to try out this new creature called G-Cash...

I. Mercury

My first attempt to use G-Cash was at Mercury drug. I took a pack of Clorets then told the cashier that I was paying with G-Cash.

"G-Cash?" says the cashier, "Sir paki, tanong nalang yung customer service."

The customer service lady took out a folder of announcements. It turns out, not all Mercury Drug branches accept G-Cash payments. Currenty, around 104 Mercury branches around the Philippines can take G-Cash payments. Herks.

II. National Bookstore

I went to two different branches of National to try out G-Cash. I was the first G-Cash customer for both cashiers at the customer service desks.

When we made the G-Cash transaction, the managers as well as a handful of staff were there looking on. They observed my G-Cash transaction closely. They looked like they were examining an exotic animal -- G-Cash, not me!

I filled-up a small piece of paper with my name and mobile number. The cashier entered the purchase amount, a transaction code and the Branch m-PIN (mobile Personal ID Number) in the Globe cellphone of the branch then sent the SMS message.

A split second later, I received this message:

NBS Glorietta requests to deduct 35.00 of G-Cash from your wallet. Send YES 12813835 if you want to confirm.

I confirmed by replying as instructed including my m-PIN. Another split-second later, the cashier receives a confirmation that my G-Cash payment has been made. I also received confirmation and my G-Cash balance statement.

The National Bookstore cashiers said that the transaction is easy enough to do. It's very similar, they say, to a credit card transaction. In fact, "G-Cash" is listed in their cash-box computers in the list of credit cards, below BPI-Mastercard, EquiPCI etc.

National will be a good way to be acquainted with G-Cash. Just go straight to customer service and say you're paying via G-Cash.

III. LBC

Globe's Cash-In List says ALL LBC branches can accomodate cash-in transactions (convert cash to G-Cash).

I tried to cash-in P500 through LBC. The first LBC branch had their Globe cellphone in a locked drawer. Blooper! They couldn't entertain my transaction so I was referred to a second LBC branch.

At the 2nd LBC, I was told that their computers aren't equipped yet for G-Cash transactions. They say their IT department hadn't changed their computer program yet. Blooper!

Harghs! Why am I putting up with this?!

But it doesn't end there. You've got to hear my experiece with Burger King and two Globe Hubs...

(To be continued tomorrow...)

- Edwin

Read: G-Cash: My Accidental Friday G-mmick (Part 2 of 3)
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