What Is a Cardless Loyalty Card? How to Earn and Redeem Rewards Without the Plastic
A plain-English guide to digital loyalty cards in South Africa: how they work, how to collect stamps and rewards at the places you already visit, and how to keep all of your loyalty cards in one place on your phone.
A cardless loyalty card is a digital loyalty card stored on your phone instead of a plastic or paper card. With Cardless Club you get one personal QR code that you show in store. Staff scan it to give you stamps, and when you reach a shop’s reward goal you get a digital reward to redeem, with no card to carry and nothing to lose. It is free for customers, and you can also store your other shops’ loyalty cards in one digital wallet.
What does “cardless loyalty” actually mean?
Traditional loyalty programs give you a plastic card or a paper card that gets a stamp each time you visit. The problem is obvious: cards get lost, left at home, or pile up in your wallet. Cardless loyalty replaces all of that with your phone.
With Cardless Club you sign up once and receive a single personal QR code. That QR code is your identity across every participating shop. You never need a different card for each shop, because the one code works everywhere on the network.
How do you earn and redeem rewards with Cardless Club?
The whole loop takes seconds and happens at the counter. Here is exactly how it works:
- Sign up freeYou create a free Cardless Club account and get your personal QR code on your phone.
- Show your code in storeAt a participating shop, you open your QR code and the shop owner or staff member scans it.
- Collect stampsEach qualifying visit or purchase adds a stamp toward that shop’s reward goal.
- Reach the goalWhen you hit the shop’s stamp threshold, a digital reward card is created automatically.
- Redeem your rewardShow the reward at the shop and the staff member redeems it, for example a free coffee or a discount.
Is Cardless Club free for customers?
Yes. Cardless Club is completely free for customers. There is no fee to sign up, collect stamps, or redeem rewards. You only need a phone with a web browser, there is nothing to install, and no card to pay for or replace.
Can I keep my existing loyalty cards in one place too?
Yes. Beyond earning at Cardless Club shops, the app includes a Card Wallet where you can store the loyalty and rewards cards you already have, such as supermarket cards and pharmacy cards. You add the card name and number, or scan its barcode, and it is saved to your phone so you can stop carrying the plastic.
One QR code
A single personal code works across every Cardless Club shop, with no card per shop.
Automatic rewards
Stamps and reward cards are tracked digitally, so you never lose progress.
Card Wallet
Store your other shops’ loyalty cards in one place and ditch the plastic.
Find places nearby
Discover participating loyalty shops within 5 km of where you are.
How do I find shops that use Cardless Club?
Inside your account you can browse the directory of participating places and switch on Nearby Places to automatically discover loyalty shops within 5 km of your current location. The list updates as you move around, so it is easy to spot somewhere new to earn rewards.
Cardless loyalty vs. plastic and paper cards
| Plastic / paper cards | Cardless Club | |
|---|---|---|
| What you carry | A separate card per shop | One QR code on your phone |
| If you lose it | Progress is gone | Saved to your account |
| Cost to you | Sometimes a card fee | Free |
| Find new shops | By chance | Nearby places within 5 km |
| Your other cards | Loose in your wallet | Stored in your Card Wallet |
Is my personal information private?
Yes. By default, shops you visit can only see your display name and your loyalty activity at their own shop, not your email address or phone number. You can choose to share your contact details with a specific shop if you want their offers, and you can switch that off again at any time. Your choices are made per shop, and they are off unless you turn them on.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to download an app?
No. Cardless Club runs in your phone’s web browser, and you can add it to your home screen for one-tap access like an app. There is nothing to install from an app store.
What does it cost to join as a customer?
Nothing. Joining, collecting stamps, and redeeming rewards are all free for customers.
How do I collect a stamp?
Open your personal QR code in store and let the shop owner or staff member scan it. The stamp is added to your loyalty card for that shop instantly.
Who decides what reward I get?
Each shop sets and honours its own reward and stamp goal. Cardless Club provides the system, and the shop provides the reward.
Can I store cards from shops not on Cardless Club?
Yes. The Card Wallet lets you save other loyalty and rewards cards by entering or scanning their details, so you can keep them all in one place on your phone.
Will shops see my phone number or email?
Only if you choose to share them with that specific shop. By default shops see just your display name and your activity at their store, and you can withdraw sharing at any time.
Start collecting rewards the cardless way
Sign up free, get your personal QR code, and never carry a loyalty card again.
Join Cardless Club free