DES MOINES, Iowa -- QuikTrip Corp. will implement its new PumpStart Card program at all 22 Des Moines stores. The retailer began free signup at all of the locations for the PumpStart card yesterday. QuikTrip officials were onsite to demonstrate how it works.
"The QuikTrip stores in the Des Moines Division lost almost $1.5 million in gasoline thefts last year. We intend to stop it," said company spokesperson Mike Thornbrugh.
By eliminating gasoline theft, law enforcement officers will be able to allocate more time and manpower [image-nocss] to focus on other crimes. It will also help eliminate dangerous and erratic driving by gasoline thieves speeding from our parking lots. The PumpStart program also allows store employees to give even better customer service as they will no longer have to worry whether a customer is trying to steal gasoline.
"We have implemented this program in our Tulsa, Okla.; Wichita, Kansas; and Kansas City metropolitan area stores and the response from customers and law enforcement officials has been very positive," Thornbrugh said. "The PumpStart Card program is a more convenient payment system for cash customers at these prepay stores, and it eliminates gasoline theft."
The PumpStart program is the first of its kind in the United States, the company said. The process takes a few seconds. QuikTrip store employee enters the customer's valid U.S. driver's license, and then issues the customer the new PumpStart card. By inserting the PumpStart card into the card reader at the pump, the cash customer can now start the pump without having to go into the store and prepay for fuel. Nothing changes for customers paying with credit/debit cards at the pump.
"The PumpStart program makes life easier for our cash customers, and tells the crooks you can't steal gas from QuikTrip," Thornbrugh said.
Tulsa-based QuikTrip has 449 stores in nine states.
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