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Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

Visa payWave It Forward #Giveaway

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

It may have already happened before your very eyes.

Here’s the scenario: You’re in a checkout line, and the person ahead of you is waiting to pay for her purchases.

“That’ll be $37.50,” the cashier says.

The woman reaches into her wallet, and pulls out her trusted Visa. Then, instead of swiping her credit card or inserting one end into the chip reader, she simply waves the card over the terminal and “BEEP!” – her card is authenticated and her purchase is complete. No secret codes, no wobbly signature, no hassle.

Of course, if you have a Visa card with the payWave feature… perhaps that woman is YOU.

Here’s the deal. Go hunt up your Visa card. (It’s okay, I’ll wait.) Now take a look at it. If you see this symbol (pictured right) on the front of the card, great news! You’re already eligible to pay with Visa payWave for transactions of $50 or less, including taxes. So it’s ideal for places like fast food restaurants, gas stations, movie theatres, pharmacies and convenience stores.

And now, you can shop and be charitable at the same time with Visa Canada’s payWave It Forward program.

The fact is, many of us donate to charities quite often throughout the year. However, according to a survey commissioned by Visa Canada, 71 per cent of Canadians donated money to charity last year, but over half (56 per cent) wish they could have given more.

To help Canadians contribute to important causes, Visa Canada and key retailers are teaming up to support charities with the Visa payWave It Forward program. For a set period at participating retailers, for every payment made with Visa payWave, Visa will donate one dollar to the retailer’s charity of choice (up to a maximum donation amount). With Visa payWave It Forward, cardholders can simply “wave and go” to make their payment and the associated donation, without needing to key in a PIN, sign a receipt or look for change.

Canadians can join the Visa payWave It Forward movement at the following participating retailers:

ESSO (in-store) – August 19th to September 1st. Charity: United Way
Marshalls – August 19th to September 15th. Charity: Kids Help Phone
Metro (ON) – August 19th to September 8th. Charity: Green Apple School Program    
Metro: (QC) – August 19th to September 8th. Charity: Food Banks of Quebec

So… of course I had to lend my support to a good cause… and if the cause just happened to involve a little shopping, how could I say no? Off I went to Marshalls… I was feeling particularly charitable!

I was greeted by a gorgeous display of furniture and decor inspired from India –


As tempting as it was to add a little intricate styling to my mostly modern and minimalist decor, I came to Marshalls in the hopes of finding two things: a) a black blouse to pair with my blue skinny jeans and short, high-heeled boots, and b) a denim shirt to pair with my black leggings and riding boots. Now I’ve been fortunate enough to uncover random, great finds at Marshalls in the past, but because I was looking for two things in particular, I wasn’t holding my breath.

Ding-ding-ding! It was my lucky day. Because stationed directly behind the furniture display? That’s right – a black blouse! And not just any black blouse… a Calvin Klein number that normally retails for $70.00, marked down to $39.99. It hung perfectly at the shoulders and was made from the softest, silkiest material. My first score – and I had been in the store for less than 5 minutes!

Well, based on my fast success, I decided to scour the racks for my coveted blue denim shirt. And you won’t believe this, but I honest-to-goodness found the perfect shirt in seconds – a lightly faded, subtly striped shirt from Seven Jeans. I loved the masculine edge and the fact that it’s long enough to be belted or simply left loose over leggings. The list price was $50.00; Marshalls price – $29.99.

And just like that, I powershopped my way to two items in less than 10 minutes. Of course, even though I should have simply checked out at that point, one can never leave Marshalls without doing a necessary walk through. Points of interest:

1. The Betsey Johnson handbags. Super fun and flirty, I wish I had more of a Paris Hilton-circa-2005 vibe going on, because she instantly came to mind when I saw the handbags. Alas, the style is too “bubblegum princess” for me… I’d take the same silhouette in a more refined kate spade any day of the week.

2. The Walter Baker Jean Jacket. Technically, I don’t need yet another fall jacket… but I was nevertheless intrigued by this artfully stone- and acid-washed jean jacket. It had an interesting cut and just the right mix of preppy and grunge – making it perfect for layering over short, floral dresses or paired with a white t-shirt and slim black pants.

Even more intriguing? The price!  The item still had its original price tag: regularly $138.00, it was marked down to $29.99! Sigh – this *almost* became an impulse purchase, but I eventually passed.

3. The Adidas Track Suits for Toddlers. Not going to lie: I bought this track suit for Reid. Hey, he’s definitely the athletic type! He loves to run around and he’s been known to work on his dance moves. And, it’s just so darned cute.

4. The India-themed Decor. Rounding the corner, I found yet another display fashioned to look like the interior of a condo in Mumbai. I’ve often wondered where Marshalls buyers find their inspiration for trends and relevant pieces; in the case of the Bollywood-styled decor, I’m quite loving it.

I finally made it to the checkout, and ta-da! Found point-of-sale information about the payWave It Forward program. Since my total purchase was over $50, I asked the cashier to separate the transactions so that I could wave my Visa three times… and earn $3.00 for Kids Help Phone.

Shopping at one of my favourite retailers… using my favourite method of payment… AND donating to a worthy cause? It’s a WIN-WIN-WIN! Actually, I should really add a fourth WIN… because this one’s for my amazing readers!

WIN IT!

One lucky reader will win a $50 Visa Gift Card. And, you’ll also have a chance to payWave It Forward: you’ll be asked to choose which one of the participating charities above will receive an additional $50 donation from Visa Canada. Simply fill the form below with your qualifying entries. Good luck everybody!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. I donate at checkouts with the “add on” to your total things, I also leave money anytime I see a donation jar set up and buy any raffles, etc for charity. It’s not as much as I’d like to be able to donate, but I do what my pocket book allows – every penny counts, right? :)

  3. i always donate to fundraising activities (terry fox run, MS walk, jump rope for heart, etc)

  4. I always donate to people canvassing in the neighbourhood and friends and family participating in charity events.

  5. I definitely will admit I don’t donate as often as I would like to.. but I almost always donate the couple of dollars you can add on to your bill at checkouts. However I don’t always add to collection jars, I rarely have change with me and if I do it has to be hunted down in my disaster of a purse. Maybe I will start to make it more of a priority now that it has been brought to my attention!

  7. i donate to charity on a monthly basis in a monetary form, as well as any old clothing or house supplies whenever i have them to local places. that’s the best i can do at the moment so yes i’m happy :)

  9. We donate every year at Christmas to 3 different charities. Because we can’t donate cash unfortunately, we donate most of my winnings from entering giveaways like yours. We donate to a local Immigrant Association, the Single Parent Society and PEERS which is a sex trade workers organization. I manage to win enough to donate a few boxes of things to each charity! We love giving back and this is the only way we can do it!

  11. We usually make cash donates around 4 times a year to various charities, but we drop off items to various shelters about every 2 months.

  13. I am a mom to 10 Children, I change very often as the kids are growing like weeds. We usually have about 2 full garage bags every other day. I feel Happy in the amount I share =)

  15. I don’t currently donate to charities, but someday when I have more money, I will definitely donate! We do donate all clothes and household items that are still usable that we are getting rid of.

  16. I donate as much as possible, but only to the causes closest to me. There are so many deserving groups but I find it easier to donate larger amts to the causes that have affected me/my family (Cancer) etc, than to donate a small amt to lots. I will drop a $1 or $2 st the cash to charities from time to time as well. I also donate unused household items and clothes as well.

  17. We usually make a few donations around Christmas but right now our budget doesn’t allow for much.

  18. I do donate, not as much as what I used to when working but about $150 in cash a year and I donate to my local food bank and everything that is usable and clean from clothes to furniture I send to the Canadian Diabetes Association through their Clothesline program, and they pick it up right at your home!!

  19. I was a student for a long time and now I’m looking for work, so I don’t give to charities nearly as often as I’d like. Maybe once a year and it’s never very much :(

  22. I try my hardest to make all effort’s to donate a few times a year. I would give more in terms of money if I had more to give. I donate all my children’s used clothing and all the baby gear we pack up goes to a woman pregnancy center for young moms. Feels great to give back!

  23. I wanted to add, I LOVE MARSHALL’S! I drive an hour just to shop their, the deals are incredible! I would of impulsed on the jean jacket. OMG I have been looking for one. Guess I need a road trip to Marshall’s.

  28. not as often as I would like, but we are struggling and most months have to scrounge just to pay our own rent.

  31. When I was working I donated through my pay cheque to United Way. Our family donates each year to the Canadian Down Syndrome Association because it’s dear to our hearts. Besides those, we bring clothes, toys, etc, to Goodwill, Salvation Army drop offs.

  34. I would donate the $50 to either the Kids help phone or to the Green Apple program. Usually when stores ask for a $1 donation to a charity I will 99% of the time say yes …

  42. We donate to our church almost weekly, and I really like doing a money donation to the soup kitchen, usually about once a year.

  44. i donate where and when i can..unfortunately i can’t give something to all of the charities. i have a few close to my heart which i regularly support.

  45. I donate all of our used clothing, and we make bigger donations to the food bank. Every little bit helps :)

  46. We donate every payday with automatic withdrawal through my husband’s work. I also donate a few groceries to the food bank most weeks. I feel like we do what we can but it never feels like enough.

  47. I would love to donate more than I do. I have signed up to volunteer at the hospital. Random acts of kindness in a way helps people…I helped 2 homeless people last month…

  48. We donate a lot but if I could do more I would, at Christmas every year I buy about 20 winter coats and boots, and tons of mittens and hats and go hand them out to the homeless on the street, I feel so bad when I see them out there, some say they can get a job but lets face it most of us are only a paycheck away and some are out there for different reasons. Animals shelters are my biggest donation

  51. We donate money twice a year, and our time once a year. And near Christmas we donate to the food bank and the toy bank. We really should do more. Especially re: the food bank because people obviously need food year round!!

  52. I donate clothes and food all the time, cash not as often as I just cant afford much but I do donate locally to things when they do charity drives for things

  53. I donate money as often as I would like due to being on a budget, BUT I do donate old clothing & household goods every month or two!

  55. Of course it’s not as often as I’d like. What else is there to say?
    I give a small amount once a week.

  58. I donate to my local homeless shelter frequently. I also organize a food drive at Christmas at my school with my classroom. I love getting the students involved in helping their community. I certainly wish I could donate more often.

  61. I donate as often as I can, but usually not with cash, as that can be in short supply! I like to donate event tickets, if I am lucky to win children’s toys they go to the Christmas Bureau, the same goes for pet food items that i can’t use, they go straight to the local humane society. There are lots of ways to donate, whether it’s time, cash or items, you just have to be creative and do it with love in your heart :)

  62. I donate monthly, and It’s as often as I like. This was a resolution years ago and I’m happy to have stuck with it :)
    Visa payWave It Forward – what an AWESOME idea! My Visa card doesn’t have this feature yet, but my new card is coming later this year, so can’t wait to try it!

  63. I donate my clothes a few times a year to the Red Cross and also to the Diabetes Association. I also help the food bank.

    Finally visa is getting on board with the payWave! I have a MasterCard that does that and it’s soo easy/quick.

  65. I do think I donate as much as possible. My husband responds to anyone who comes to the door. Plus we have a handful of charities we regularly support.

  66. I try to donate as much as I can. The fact that I hate carrying change helps as well, because I usually drop the change off into those little charity boxes at the cash register. i love being able to support different charities, especially local ones!

  67. I donate my kids old clothes to the Diabetes and Children’s Wish Foundation almost every month. It feels to give back and de-clutter at the same time!

  68. I donate old clothing and a debit on my paycheque. I wish I could volunteer more often but just don’t have the time.

  72. About once a month not including church. We also do special gifts at holiday time. Should do more.

  76. I donate at the stores. I donate at the door. I like to give Christmas time to the happy tree and also to the food bank.

  77. I donate to charities regularly through payroll deduction, individual donation to charities that are most dear, support to friends and family who are participating in various runs etc, and donation of used clothing and household goods. I also donate at cash boxes ans food banks.
    It feels good to give back!!!

  78. I dont get to donate as much as i would like. But i do faithfully every year donate to a local charity here that helps buy things for kids in need returning back to school. I also dont always give much but i give food to local food banks. Thanks.

  80. Donate what my financial situation permits. We usually donate to the hospital foundations and Terry Fox organization – one person can move a mountain…hopefully the cure in 2013

    eva mitton-urban

  81. I donate to 3 charities every year, plus I also donate any toys I win through contests to toys for tots or pick an angel off the tree.

  82. Every christmas we donate toys to the Opp for children. We, throughout the year make donations to Ronald McDonald house and Sicks Hospital. If it wasn’t for either of those 2 places we would’ve never gotten the 10 beautiful, lost in time months.. that we got with my grandbaby.

  83. I donate for animals shelters, when it’s not money i will donate food, toys, blankets for animals in need.

  86. I donate to 3 different charities 3 times a year and to food bank at our Parish church every second month. We would like to do more but our budget cannot be stretched anymore.

  89. I’m selective about where I donate but I regularly donate to the charities that I feel use the monies wisely.

  92. I donate all the time. Some are cash donations, some are clothing and household items. I donated books to schools & libraries I donate clothes, ice skated & household items to a women’s shelter and Salvation Army. I donate gently used bikes to school principal who always knows who could really use a bike to get around for the summer.

  96. we donate to childrens hospital when ever we can afford a little extra.. our son had life saving brain sugery there 3 years ago

  97. I donate once in a while. I usually support events that where a portion of the proceeds go to charity.

  99. I donate when I can usually at the grocery store when they ask to add a couple dollars to the bill. I wish I could do more but as a single mom with three little ones it is hard but once they are all in school I will try to find somewhere to donate my time at a shelter or nursing home

  100. I wish i could do it more, but used to be regular donater to a number of charities and always gave to the same ones year after year. i have also organized charitable events and always donate used clothing and goods to charitable causes.

  101. I doate each payroll and give as much as I can…times are a wee bit tough right now. I also volunteer to canvass.

  102. I have a few women’s shelters that I donate new and used goods to a few times a year. I do what I can, so I’m happy with that.

  103. Each year we donate to two homeless shelters and to a home that gets teenagers off the streets. We also donate to the Children’s Hospital in our city, to the cancer ward and my wife volunteers there each week. Like most people we wish we could do more but we definitely do what we can.

  106. I really, really wish i could–sometimes i donate clothes to the sally ann, but things are pretty hard financially

  108. I wish I was able to do more, we donate food and toys to the fire department and cash to animal and children charities.

  110. I donate 2x per year. I would love to donate more but its hard for us to make ends meat as it is!

  111. I don’t donate much, it’s enough of a struggle to pay all the bills each month and pay off my student debt etc. It would be nice to have a few extra dollars to donate, but I need to look after my own expenses each month first, for the sake of my family and providing them with everything they need.

  112. I donate once or twice a year, when my finances allow it. I carefully choose charities that are meaningful to me and who I research to make sure they use funds donated in a responsible way.

  116. I try to donate at least once per month. I am not currently working, but when I do, I do whatever I can to help, even if it is just volunteering for an event.

  118. I entered your giveaway.
    It would be great to win a $50 Visa Gift Card.
    In response to your question of
    How often do you donate to charities? Is it as often as you’d like?
    I donate to charities at least once a month.
    If i had more money i would donate more.
    Thank you for having this giveaway!!!!!!

  122. I donate around 3-4 times a year or if we come into some extra cash. I’d love to donate more, but unfortunately it isn’t in our budget.

  125. We always at least donate to a few places at Christmas time and then we have the regular charities like the Terry Fox and Heart and Stroke Foundations that we donate to through the events during the year.

  128. I make donations a few times per year. We also heip support a child in a third world country. It would be great to donate more.

  133. I sponsor 2 children through World Vision and I buy frequently from Good Will. I do need to do better though!
    Thanks for the giveaway. : )
    wendy2lindsey at yahoo dot com

  141. We donate every time we go to the grocery store and once a month through our bank account

  145. I donate often…clothes, cash and food to the food bank! We also sponsor a litle boy through “Plan” Canada.

  147. I donate once per year but can’t help but feel guilty when I get random solicitations for donations throughout the year so end up doing a bit of that too.

  150. We usually donate to 3 or 4 charities throughout the year: Sheena’s Place in Toronto, Sick Kids Hospital, Cancer Society & Diabetes – wish we could do more, and hopefully in the future we will!

  155. Every month my kids school collects $ and items for various organizations and we participate every month!!

  157. Being a single income family with 5 kids I don’t go looking to donate to charity but I will always donate a buck or two when asked while paying at a store. Just yesterday I donated $3 at Old Navy. Doesn’t sound like much but it adds up over the year.

    If I won I would choose the Children’s Wish Foundation to donate to.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

  158. We donate a few times a years. Twice a year we donate clothing, toys and household items to the salvation army, at xmas we donate toys and food to the cheer board. If we are at a store and asked for a donation at the checkstand I will always give a few dollars as well

  161. I usually donate at checkouts when I’m asked; I don’t get to do it as often as I would like too but I always promised myself if I were ever to win the lotto I have two organization that I would donate too cuz’ it hits close to home…hard of hearing institute and Infertility clinic

  164. We donate at Least a Couple times a Year More depending on what it is. Mainly the Foodbank and The Animal Rescue Groups

  166. I donate to charities a minimum of twice a year but donate whenever I feel like and try to do it more often than not. Giving to charity is so rewarding!

  168. We donate on a regular basis, occasionally money but more often toys, clothing and food items that we’ve either grown out of or have gotten for next to nothing, as we are couponers we also use a lot of coupons to get the food for cheap so we’re able to buy a bigger quantity :)

  169. I usually donate to charities whenever the opportunity arrises, this supper we had 2 yard sales and at the end we gave the rest that we didn’t sell to our local library and big brothers and big sisters.

  170. When its a couple $ here and there I donate quite a bit. I also give my bottles away to bottle drives. I don’t give as much as Id like but I also don’t have as much as I’d like.

  174. We pick three charities at Christmas time. We like to mix it up. I donate clothes and things to the clothesline program and also a few dollars here and there at the checkout when shopping.

  180. I mostly do donations through sponsorships. For friends participating in various walks, runs etc. I wish I could do more!

  182. i would love to go to the stillwater spa you posted about! i have never been to canada for that matter, and from reading your posts i could send months there discovering wonderful places!

  186. What a great giveaway! :) I do not donate as much as I’d like, maybe once or twice a year. But I’m a starving graduate student, so I don’t have too much to give :(

  187. I try to donate as often as I can, its an ongoing project. I love to win contests, donate prizes, purchase items from charity auctions and donate (kind of like double dipping), negotiate deals on sale items at some of my local stores and donate. Any help I can get is appreciated as I’d love to do more.

  188. I donate twice a year to my favorite charities and then periodically if asked by someone to support a cause they are passionate about. I would like to donate more.

  190. I donate through payroll deductions, donating my extra change at Tim Hortons and McDonalds and at Church, but it is not as often as I like. I hope once I am working full time I can donate more :)

  192. I just donated clothing yesterday and I volunteer at least once a month. I wish I could do more financially to help

  195. I wish I could do more cash donations. I do clothing donations year long and new toy donations at christmas to a local shelter

  196. I donate regularly but not in cash – I take food to the food bank, donate clothes and household items and donate my time