WALTHAM, Mass. — Global Partners LP has adopted a tool that lets drivers purchase gas from their car without using cash, a credit card or a mobile app at one of the retailer's Alltown convenience stores in Westborough, Mass.
- Waltham, Mass.-based Global Partners is No. 24 in the Top 40 update to CSP's 2018 Top 202 ranking of c-store chains by number of retail outlets.
Customers with E-ZPass toll transponders who register for PayByCar on the PayByCar website will be able to pay for their fuel at the Route 9 Alltown Mobil using their transponders, without ever pulling their wallet out of their pocket or purse.
“We chose [this] area to launch this new technology, and Westborough, Mass., specifically because the community matches our target market demography. Close to 495 and the [Massachusetts Turnpike], Westborough has a lot of daily commuters with E-ZPass transponders. PayByCar gives them use of a proven and familiar technology in a completely new way," said Anand Raman, president and chief operating officer of PayByCar.
PayByCar aims to make the payment technology available for other transactions such as paying at convenience stores, car washes, the drive-thru and restaurants.
“PayByCar aligns with our strategy of being first to market with innovative solutions that enhance the overall experience for our guests,” said Mark Cosenza, senior vice president of Global Partners.
Global Partners aims to enable PayByCar technology in additional Alltown locations this year. “PayByCar is easy to use and allows commuters to get in and out of the family of Global locations faster,” Cosenza said.
Purchases through PayByCar do not go through the consumer’s toll account but are charged directly to the payment method they choose when enrolling, such as credit or debit cards or an e-wallet.
When a car equipped with PayByCar enters the station, PayByCar recognizes the transponder and sends a text to the consumer’s smartphone. The customer replies with the pump number and PayByCar automatically activates that pump, registers the transaction, charges the card and sends an email receipt with retail offers for the visit.
Boston-based PayByCar, by Verdeva, an in-vehicle payment company, makes it easier for people to pay drive-up retailers while in their cars using the toll transponders drivers already have. Verdeva’s agreement with the 17-state E-ZPass Group, a transponder brand used in more than 35 million vehicles across much of the United States, gives consumers the ability to pay by car.
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