Coinstar, the provider of self-service mobile phone top-up machines, is planning a roll-out to 400
c-stores across the UK.
The machines are already in 50 outlets with another 150 expected to be added by the end of 2006. Coinstar is targeting retailers that would typically process more than £1,500 of top-up transactions a week.
The c-store initiative marks a change in strategy for Coinstar. Previously the units were targeted at shopping centres, and until the beginning of this year only half a dozen c-store owners had installed them.
However, the firm found that those c-stores which had installed them were generating £2,000-£2,500 a week in transactions.
Spokesman Tom Nutt said there were numerous advantages over other ways of processing top-ups.
&"The machine is free for the retailer, Coinstar will
do all the work - such as
collecting the cash - and the retailer&'s commission from transactions is paid into their bank account.&"