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PayRange Offers Flexible Pricing For Amusement Machine Operations And Location Promotions

PORTLAND, OR -- One way to judge technology is by its flexibility. A system should work efficiently, as promised out of the box. Beyond those basics, however, is the much more subtle ability to meet unforeseen challenges. It is the difference between the employee who knows a manual backward and forward, compared to the one who can improvise a solution in a pinch. In an ideal world, you want some combination of both. Such is the case with the PayRange 's mobile payment solution. The three-year-old system...

August 15, 2017

PORTLAND, OR -- One way to judge technology is by its flexibility. A system should work efficiently, as promised out of the box. Beyond those basics, however, is the much more subtle ability to meet unforeseen challenges. It is the difference between the employee who knows a manual backward and forward, compared to the one who can improvise a solution in a pinch. In an ideal world, you want some combination of both.

Such is the case with the PayRange's mobile payment solution. The three-year-old system that allows fast secure payment via smartphones has already gained an enviable reputation in a variety of applications that include full-line vending, amusement and laundry machines -- all straightforward applications. However, where PayRange really proves itself is in its ability to improvise in creative partnership with gameroom management or amusement street operations. This is no small thing considering the vastly different operating principles and environments involved.

"Suppose a family entertainment center is running a promotion, such as a Taco Tuesday, in which food is offered at a discount," instanced PayRange director of marketing Amanda Mailey. "With our platform, the FEC could easily offer a similar discount on games, in addition to food, as part of the promotion. The longer they play, the longer they stay, and that means more money spent on food and beverages."

Mailey pointed out that PayRange promotional pricing can run for the entire day or just a few hours. For the FEC operator, the special pricing arrangement on games can also be set up to be a recurring or a one-time promotion using PayRange's Web management console.

One PayRange merchant who owns pinball machines in a bowling alley runs promotions on a regular basis, Mailey offered. He takes advantage of PayRange's pricing promotions, which not only include discounting games, but also changing pricing formats. For example, the operator can charge 89¢ per game through PayRange, compared with $1 using coin acceptance. In one instance, the pinball operator priced all games for a penny for a limited amount of time to draw in customers for a new game launch event.

PRICES AND PROMOS IN RANGE:The PayRange mobile app allows amusement operators to change pricing on the fly. They can also stage pop-up events, and broadcast them on social media, to draw in customers to bar locations or FECs. The app supports custom graphics that can be tailored for locations, brands and other promoters.

This same principle holds true for the street operator. Working with a location owner or manager, the operator can remotely coordinate game pricing in a tavern or club to draw patrons in on a slow night. Discount hours can be created in minutes and broadcast through social media. In this regard, coin-op becomes an extension of the well-established "happy hour" promotion. Not only does it benefit the location, Mailey said, it also differentiates the operator in a competitive marketplace by offering a value-added service.

"All of these promotions can be tracked, so an operator can judge the success of promotional activities. They learn what works and what doesn't," said Mailey. "That means they can make adjustments or move on to the next idea quickly."

Another feature included in the PayRange platform is the ability to tie in promotions with an outside party. For instance, a busy club or bar hosting a beer or liquor company promotion can prepay for games in a manner similar to an open bar. As part of the gimmick, the promoter can add a company or brand logo that will appear on a consumer's device. In this scenario, the play price would be negotiated between the operator, location and third party.

"You can tie into any promotion, and have a liquor or beer company pay for all the games," the PayRange marketing executive said. "And, an operator could put a special image and offer in the app. You can create an actual discount offer, courtesy of the sponsoring company."

In another application in which PayRange may also prove itself resourceful, operators of both FECs and street locations can use the mobile payment app to coordinate implementation of real-time promotions through social media. Spur of the moment tweets, text messages or emails can be sent to patrons announcing special pricing, which the operator sets remotely on the fly, to draw in customers during inclement weather or a particularly sluggish night. "Got the rainy-day blues? Come on in! Tonight, we're featuring 59¢ games."

"The old way of making a payment to a machine is inflexible, it's analogue, but we're digital and flexible," Mailey said. "It's a digital solution you can couple with other digital solutions to promote your business. So, it's more than just offering the ease of paying for games with a phone -- it's a promotional tool. And it's as flexible as you want it to be. Imagination is your only limiting factor."

PayRange technology allows patrons' smartphones to handle an entire transaction over their cellular networks, while using Bluetooth personal area networking to actuate a credit. The system uses a small dongle, called the Blukey, which plugs into existing machines, and it works with iPhones and Androids.