As an experiment, in the La Copa Commercial Center belonging to the TRD Caribe retail chain, Cubans can now pay in all areas with Cuban pesos and magnetic card.
According to the official exchange rate of CADECA (1X25) this new method of payment was implemented, as a significant step to imminent monetary unification. In order to comply, step by step, the guideline No.55 of Economic and Social Policy of the Party and the Revolution is to take this experience as its effectiveness at all stores nationwide. The first two trials were done in Miramar, Playa municipality, since in the La Puntilla Mall, that belongs to CIMEX chain people can purchase the products in local currency , but only in the grocery, yet.
Why is La Copa the first store in the country? , How did workers prepare to take on this new mode of payment? , How has the public received it? They were some of the questions answered by the directors of La Copa , who still observe the surprise of customers. Many were aware of the change for the promotional posters and the flyers, others surprised and almost skeptical.
“The experiment was a directive from the TRD main branch and we are working on the basis of acceptance of the national currency. It is established in this entity since it has a wide range of products and it is in a very central location and does a lot of business everyday, where many consumers come on daily basis. The new payment form started at the complex in March 4 when we did it in the area of perfumery. It was intended in the first instance to be a pilot register to collect all the cash; from there we took the experiment to all areas. As of March 22 it was generalized to the entire facility from the Mall to the outside point of sales. “Elizabeth Verdecia, General Manager of La Copa stated
Leading this activity is Flor Arrieta , chief of the central cashier of the complex who has been commissioned to achieve its expected functionality for the client, who detailed the preparation of the cashiers and the effectiveness of the procedure.
“We took a workshop taught by the people of the bank for the proper reception of the bills. We learned how it should be depending on the degree of impairment. Cashiers are also configured with a new program to assume the exchange rate. “she said
“The biggest benefit is that the customer who earns his salary in CUP avoids the queue in Cadeca to change currency and higher criticism so far has been that the price is not shown with the equivalent in CUP , only displays the previous value in CUC. We are governed by specific guidelines and proof of purchase that the customer has all the information on the currency exchange. It is a still incipient experiment and we are working on the progress of its benefits, “Flor said and stressed that both returns and change are in CUC.
“Sometimes the change includes the cents. Therefore this new form of payment will revalue the cents because before the customers did not give it much importance, now every cent counts. “she said.
Flora Luisa Reyes, Assistant Manager, thinks this experiment has had a good level of acceptance by the public. “There are significant figures showing the improvement in quality and service. It’s pretty easy when operating, unlike what many may believe, and the cashiers got used to it and most importantly the customer leaves pleased, “she said.
“The best thing about it is that a client can pay you in the various possible ways. You can use multiple currencies in the same transaction, in national currency, as freely convertible or magnetic card, “Vladimir Mora, Head of Commercial Group said who gives great importance to the acceptance of posters and other promotions that allowed population to learn of the new mode of payment.
Besides service advantages, there are many concerns of consumers who constantly express worries about prices, lowering of prices, salary increases and the values of the CUC and the CUP. The truth is that while this is strengthened as a business strategy beyond the experiment, increases the uncertainty about whether the CUC will lower its exchange rate or is permanently removed faster than we imagine.
Author
Cecilia Crespo
