Convenience chain Sheetz is bringing digital currencies directly to the fuel pump for an instant, fraud-proof form of payment.
The retailer will be enabling digital currency payments via pure-digital payments network Flexa to provide customers with the ability to pay for items inside the store or fill up their vehicles at the pump using digital currencies like bitcoin, ether, litecoin, dogecoin, and more.
“Above all else, our mission at Sheetz is to continue providing our customers with the ultimate one-stop-shop where they can refuel their car and refresh their body,” said Linda Smith, payments manager for Sheetz. “As a result, we are constantly innovating and exploring new offerings to truly give our customers what they want, when they want it, 24/7/365 — that includes accepting many forms of payment. We’re very excited to be working with Flexa to roll out support for cryptocurrencies and other types of digital assets at our stores.
Sheetz will begin accepting digital currencies using Flexa’s instant, scalable, and climate-neutral payments technology at select Sheetz Cafe Stores later this summer with a planned roll out later in the year for acceptance at Sheetz’s fuel pumps as well.
Sheetz customers will also have the option to link their My Sheetz Rewardz loyalty account when paying with Flexa-enabled apps. Sheetz currently operates 622 stores in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland.
“With interest in digital currencies reaching all-time highs, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that there are real, tangible benefits for the merchants who accept them—not only reduced fraud and cost savings, but also a better and more mobile customer experience,” said Trevor Filter, co-founder of Flexa.
To seamlessly enable the instant, fraud-proof authorization process for digital currency payments, Sheetz turned to its relationship with NCR, its point-of-sale technology partner.
“Connecting through the existing POS solution to the NCR payment gateway enables retailers to quickly integrate new solutions making it easy to introduce new innovations enabled by digital currencies,” said Tim Vanderham, chief technology officer of NCR. “Retailers benefit through increased loyalty, lower transaction fees, and reduced fraud while improving convenience and choice for shoppers.”
Combining Sheetz’s innovative, customer-focused approach with NCR point-of-sale technology and Flexa’s digital currency payment solutions, this groundbreaking partnership marks the first time that digital currencies have been accepted for convenience purchases, and greatly expands the utility of digital currencies for everyday spending, according to the company. Sheetz customers who would like to be informed when Sheetz payments are available on Flexa can download a Flexa-enabled app at flexa.app or follow Flexa on Twitter at @FlexaHQ.