The recommendation: yes, a balance card fits prepaid bundles exactly
A prepaid wash bundle — say, 300 SAR loaded up front, deducted per visit — is precisely what Waya's balance card type is built for. It tracks a running balance that goes down with each redemption, rather than counting visits (stamps) or spend-based points, which makes it the correct mechanic for a customer who has already paid in advance.
Keep the balance card separate from any stamp card used for pay-per-wash customers. The two solve different problems: a balance card tracks money already spent, while a stamp card motivates a customer who pays as they go.
Balance card vs. stamp card for prepaid bundles
A stamp card can approximate a prepaid bundle, but it loses the ability to reflect the actual riyal value remaining, which matters once bundle sizes vary.
| Balance card | Stamp card (approximation) | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracks | Riyal value remaining | Visit count only |
| Fits variable bundle sizes | Yes — any prepaid amount works | No — assumes a fixed number of washes |
| Customer clarity | Sees exact balance remaining | Sees stamps only, not riyal value |
| Plan availability | Growth and Premium | Free and up |
A concrete example: a 300 SAR bundle at a 30 SAR wash price
A customer prepays 300 SAR for a bundle at a wash priced at 30 SAR per visit. On a balance card, that's loaded as 300 SAR, deducted 30 SAR per visit, giving exactly 10 washes with the balance visible to the customer at every scan — no ambiguity about how many washes are left. If the wash later runs a promotion offering a 330 SAR bundle for 300 SAR paid (a 10% bonus), the balance card reflects that directly: load 330 SAR against a 300 SAR payment, and the customer simply has more value to draw down.
A stamp card trying to represent the same offer would need exactly 10 stamps for a fixed 30 SAR price — the moment the wash offers a different bundle size, a different bonus percentage, or a customer buys a top-up mid-cycle, the stamp count stops mapping cleanly to what was actually paid.
- Prepaid bundle at a fixed per-visit price → balance card, loaded with the prepaid amount
- Bundle sizes or bonus percentages vary by promotion → balance card handles any amount without redesigning the card
- Pay-per-visit customers with no prepayment → stamp card, separate from the balance card
- Customer buys a top-up mid-cycle → balance card simply adds to the existing balance
Why a balance card protects against a common prepaid pitfall
A common failure mode with prepaid bundles sold on paper is disputes over how many washes are left — the customer remembers one number, the shop's records show another. A balance card removes that ambiguity entirely: the balance is visible on the wallet card itself and updates at every scan, so both sides are looking at the same number in real time.
This also protects revenue that's already been collected: a prepaid bundle is cash the wash has already received, and a balance card that accurately tracks the remaining value ensures that cash converts into the exact number of washes it was meant to, no more and no less.
Setting up a balance card for prepaid bundles
The setup mirrors any other card type, with the balance amount itself being the one variable that changes per customer.
- Decide your standard bundle size and price
For example, 300 SAR loaded for 300 SAR paid, or with a bonus percentage for larger bundles.
- Create the balance card
Balance cards are available on Growth and Premium, alongside stamp, points, and discount card types.
- Load the prepaid amount at purchase
Staff enter the bundle amount when the customer buys it, either in person or via the dashboard.
- Deduct per visit at the till
Each visit, staff scan the card and deduct the wash price from the remaining balance.
- Offer top-ups as needed
A returning customer can add to an existing balance rather than starting a new bundle from scratch.
The limits that apply to balance cards like any other type
Balance cards don't sidestep Waya's core limits: no POS or till integration, so staff record every deduction by scanning the card on an ordinary phone, and no SMS channel — balance and stamp updates alike land as wallet lock-screen notifications. Balance cards require Growth (85 SAR/month) or Premium (149 SAR/month); Free supports only a single stamp card, which doesn't fit a prepaid bundle model well. For pay-per-wash customers alongside a bundle program, see stamps vs. points for uniform pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What card type should a car wash use for prepaid wash bundles?
A balance card, which tracks a riyal value loaded up front and deducted per visit — exactly matching how a prepaid bundle actually works, unlike a stamp card that only counts visits.
Can a balance card handle bundles of different sizes?
Yes. Because it tracks an actual riyal balance rather than a fixed stamp count, any prepaid amount — including promotional bonuses like a 330 SAR balance for 300 SAR paid — works without redesigning the card.
Does a balance card show the customer how much they have left?
Yes, the balance is visible on the wallet card itself and updates at every scan, removing the common dispute over how many prepaid washes remain.
Can a car wash run a balance card and a stamp card at the same time?
Yes — a balance card for prepaid-bundle customers and a separate stamp card for pay-per-wash customers can both run from the same dashboard, since Growth supports up to 10 cards.
Is a balance card available on the Free plan?
No. Balance cards require Growth (85 SAR/month) or Premium (149 SAR/month). Free supports only a single stamp card, capped at 100 customers.