Scrip FAQs
What is Scrip?
Scrip is a term that means “substitute money.” When you purchase scrip, you’re purchasing prepaid GiftCards that are used just like cash to purchase everyday items like food, clothing, gasoline, home improvement supplies, pharmacy items, and other essentials. Scrip GiftCards are even available for entertainment expenses and dining out.
These are the same GiftCards that you buy at the store. Because the stores sell the GiftCards in large quantities and receive their cash up front, they are willing to offer them at a discounted price. Our member families buy the GiftCards for full face value and the church keeps the difference as revenue, so with every purchase you make using Scrip GiftCards, you earn money for our church. The discounts offered by the merchants vary, but range from 2% to 17%.
Why should I buy Scrip?
When you use Scrip in place of cash, checks or credit cards for purchases you were going to make anyway, the church receives a percentage of your purchases courtesy of the participating retailers. TJMC budgets for and needs your participation in our Scrip program. At a time when many of us are cutting back on our spending, using Scrip puts your budgeting on a cash-only basis, helping you to stay within your household budget. While not a substitute for pledging as generously as you are able to during our annual Canvass, buying Scrip GiftCards allows you to financially support the church in an additional way besides your annual pledge.
It is estimated that the average family spends nearly $1000 per month on consumer purchases. Assuming a 5% average discount, using Scrip GiftCards would equate to an annual contribution of about $600 per family to the church. We have a 500 member church… how much do you think we could raise if everyone used Scrip GiftCards for the majority of their consumer purchases? Enough to balance our budget, pay our wonderful staff, maintain our buildings and support our community outreach programs? Do all that and have money left over too?
Does it cost me more to use Scrip than to pay for my purchases in other ways?
You do not pay a premium to use Scrip GiftCards; you pay the face value to purchase them and receive the full value of the GiftCard amount when you use it. The money that TJMC makes from your use of Scrip GiftCards is contributed by the participating merchants.
If you elect to use PrestoPay to pay for your online GiftCard purchases, a $0.39 convenience fee will be added to the face value of your order. If you elect to have your scrip sent to you by mail, a $2 handling fee will apply.
Which stores offer Scrip?
View the complete list
What is ShopWithScrip?
ShopWithScrip is the online ordering system that you will use to place your online scrip orders. This service is closely linked with Great Lakes Scrip and offers you convenience and accuracy – you can order scrip from any internet-connected computer at home, school, or office, and because you are placing your own orders, there will be no data entry errors. Once registered with ShopWithScrip using our enrollment code 5BCFD27A2L439, you may place orders 24/7.
Find out how to get started with ShopWIthScrip (PDF)
Your account is managed via the ‘family dashboard’, accessed at the ‘my account’ tab at the top of the ShopWithScrip home page. Using the dashboard, you can place orders, generate reports about your order history and change your profile information. There is also additional information available about Presto-Pay and a handy user guide with much more information about the program and ordering process. Each time you log on to ShopWithScrip, check your family dashboard for new announcements from your Scrip Coordinators.
What is PrestoPay?
PrestoPay is a convenient way for your family to pay online at the time you place your order. It is a PayPal-like electronic payment method that will automatically debit your checking account for the face value amount of your order plus a small convenience fee of $0.39. Each time you place a scrip order with ShopWithScrip, you will be offered the option of paying by check or via PrestoPay. If you are comfortable using the PrestoPay system, we encourage you to do so, as it means significantly less work for our volunteer scrip coordinators and deposit staff.
Before using PrestoPay, you must first complete the verification process, which takes up to 72 hours. Remember that a $0.39 convenience fee is added to your order if you elect to use PrestoPay, and that overdraft penalties and fees will apply for transactions rejected for insufficient funds.
View detailed instructions on setting up your Presto-Pay account (PDF)
How do I get the Scrip I order?
Beginning April 13, 2009, we are planning on placing weekly orders early each Monday. Orders placed by midnight on Sunday will generally be available for pickup at the scrip table the following Sunday.
If you prefer, for a small handling fee, we will be happy to mail your scrip to you as soon as we receive it from Great Lakes. Unless there is a delay in shipping or the mail service, you would typically receive your Scrip GiftCards by one week after we place the consolidated order on Monday.
Can I reload my TJMC-linked Scrip GiftCards?
Your TJMC-purchased Kroger card is linked to us and can be conveniently refilled by cash, check, or credit card at the customer service center at any Kroger store. Each month Kroger sends us a report of the refills along with a check for 5% of your purchases. While the other Grocery Scrip GiftCards that we offer might be refillable, TJMC does not receive any donation from the retailer when you do, so we recommend that you discard them when empty and purchase new cards from the scrip table.
Great Lakes Scrip Center offers you the opportunity to reload funds onto some GiftCards purchased through them while still earning money for our church. To see a list of the retailers participating in this reload service, log on to your account at ShopWithScrip.com, and click “Reload.” This list is continually updated as more retailers elect to participate, so periodically check it for your favorite stores.
Reloads are done via the ShopWithScrip website using PrestoPay or with a check written to TJMC. You may not use a credit card to reload your GLSC-purchased GiftCards. If you have enabled PrestoPay for your family account, you may place a separate order for your card reloads, pay with PrestoPay, and Great Lakes Scrip will automatically retrieve that order, reload your gift cards, and credit our church for your reload. If your reload/PrestoPay order is placed by roughly 3pm Monday through Friday (unless GLSC is closed) the reload will typically happen overnight.
What else should I remember about Scrip GiftCards?
-GiftCards are cash equivalents, so safeguard them as you would cash. TJMC cannot be responsible for lost or stolen cards. We recommend that you write down the serial numbers of all the GiftCards you get for your records.
-GiftCard orders are not returnable, so be sure you are ordering what you really want.
-If unused for long periods of time, the cards will often lose value, so use them promptly.
-If you forget how much value remains on your card, call the toll-free number on the back of the card and follow the instructions to determine it.
-If the magnetic strip on your card becomes deactivated, your card will not electronically scan, and the cashier will need to hand key in the card number at the time of purchase.
-Some cards have expiration dates or restrictions. On the screen where you view and select the denomination and quantity, you can also view an actual gift card, front and back (choose view larger to enlarge the card). The details will be on the card, usually on the back. If you have any questions about a card, please check there before ordering. If it is still unclear, contact your scrip coordinators so we can research your question with Great Lakes Scrip.
-A handful of retailers offer the option of reloading cards after their initial purchase. Please consult the ‘reload’ section of the ‘shop’ or ‘my account’ sections of the ShopWithScrip website for more information.
We are excited about this new fundraising opportunity and hope that you will use scrip for the majority of your consumer purchases. While it takes a little advance planning to obtain and manage the cards, the potential financial windfall for TJMC could be very large. Please contact your scrip coordinators if you have any further questions about this new and improved program… and happy shopping!
