Festival season is starting up here in Ottawa and one of the biggest, Bluesfest, is making a major change to the way we buy beer. Yes, Millstreet will still be the official beer supplier, but now you will no longer be paying cash at the register.
Bluesfest is moving to a cash-free bracelet system this year. Think a loadable gift card that you wear.
When you are ID’d for the first time, you’ll be given a bracelet that you can then add money to. Great for those of us who don’t usually carry cash and have always wanted to pay for our beer purchases via debit or credit, though as far as I know cash will still be taken to load up the bracelet.
Yeah buddy…
This can be a bit annoying if you only plan to check out one or two shows, but overall I think it’s a pretty good change.
I’m hoping that after the festival any money still on your bracelet will be returned, because who wants to hold on to a bracelet until next year?? But I haven’t heard how they are planning to deal with this.
What do you think?
4 comments
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April 10, 2012 at 8:39 am
Kelly Brisson (@thegoudalife)
I love and hate this. I like the idea that you can fill your card up and buying is easy peasy… but I hate the idea that when it runs out, you have to go to one line to load up your card and another to wait for beer. Seems to be easier on volunteers but a bit of a pain for festival attendees.
April 10, 2012 at 9:44 am
simplyfreshottawa
I’m wondering if there will be a ‘top up’ option like a Timmies card where when you get low it automatically adds a set amount to the bracelet to a credit card you have linked to it.
June 28, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Sasparilla
hello there…is this just for the alcohol vendors or will this cashless system apply to the food vendors as well? If not then people will need cash anyway so it kind of defeats the purpose I would think. I’m also wondering about what one does if there is cash left on the bracelet?
June 28, 2012 at 1:47 pm
simplyfreshottawa
Those have been my questions too! I think they were jumping in a little too fast with this one and I’m glad that they are taking a step back.