NODE 3b79d800~digicash at Shell
Brad Dolan <bdolan@USIT.NET>Mon, 23 Dec 1996 07:39:19 -0800 (PST)
Shell is now marketing a stored-value card in $25, $50, and $100 face
denominations. The $100 card retails for $94 right now. I'm not sure if
that discount will be a long-term thing or if it's just to get people
hooked. Anyway, the card can be purchased anonymously for cash and can be
used to buy anything at Shell. I like to use the automated
pay-at-the-pump gizmos to save time but I don't like to leave a digital
footprint behind on my credit card statement for Louis' Legions to peruse,
so I think the stored-value card is a step forward for privacy.
Anybody know if these cards are useable overseas?
bd
NODE 22bd81e7Re: ~digicash at Shell
Eric Blossom <eb@comsec.com>Mon, 30 Dec 1996 14:13:50 -0800 (PST)
> Shell is now marketing a stored-value card in $25, $50, and $100 face
> denominations. The $100 card retails for $94 right now. I'm not sure if
> that discount will be a long-term thing or if it's just to get people
> hooked. Anyway, the card can be purchased anonymously for cash and can be
> used to buy anything at Shell. I like to use the automated
> pay-at-the-pump gizmos to save time but I don't like to leave a digital
> footprint behind on my credit card statement for Louis' Legions to peruse,
> so I think the stored-value card is a step forward for privacy.
Is this a "stored value smart card", or something like most US phone
cards, where the "account number" is used to debit a centrally
maintained account?
NODE 408c196eRe: ~digicash at Shell
Brad Dolan <bdolan@USIT.NET>Mon, 30 Dec 1996 14:32:18 -0800 (PST)
On Mon, 30 Dec 1996, Eric Blossom wrote:
> > Shell is now marketing a stored-value card in $25, $50, and $100 face
> > denominations. The $100 card retails for $94 right now. I'm not sure if
> > that discount will be a long-term thing or if it's just to get people
> > hooked. Anyway, the card can be purchased anonymously for cash and can be
> > used to buy anything at Shell. I like to use the automated
> > pay-at-the-pump gizmos to save time but I don't like to leave a digital
> > footprint behind on my credit card statement for Louis' Legions to peruse,
> > so I think the stored-value card is a step forward for privacy.
>
> Is this a "stored value smart card", or something like most US phone
> cards, where the "account number" is used to debit a centrally
> maintained account?
It appears to be mag-stripe "dumb card," which is used to debit a
centrally mantained but anonymous pre-paid account.
bd
>
>