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Sweetbay Sweetens Deal For Checks

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By RICHARD MULLINS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 10, 2008

TAMPA - Grocery chain Sweetbay is hoping customers bring in their government economic stimulus checks - and are offering perks to customers who do.
Sweetbay on Friday started offering a 10 percent bonus when customers convert their checks into Sweetbay gift cards. For example, individuals who bring in a $600 government check will receive a $660 Sweetbay gift card. Families bringing in an $1,800 check receive a $1,980 card. There's also a 5 percent bonus for converting half a check.

The store is waiving the normal check-cashing fee. It only is accepting paper checks, so customers who opted for direct deposit can't take advantage of the offer. The gift cards work only at Sweetbay locations.

With the move, Sweetbay joins a growing list of stores offering perks for customers who walk in with their stimulus checks.

"We know economic times are tough these days, and this is one more way Sweetbay can help customers further stretch their dollars," said Nicole LeBeau, spokeswoman for Sweetbay. The promotion ends Aug. 31.

The federal government is issuing the checks in a drive to boost consumer spending amid threats of a recession.

The first stimulus payments started arriving in early May for taxpayers who chose to receive them via direct deposit. Taxpayers who opted for a paper check by mail could start receiving money Friday, depending on their Social Security number and when they filed their tax returns.

Wal-Mart has similar plans, but offers a different perk. The retail giant will let shoppers cash their stimulus check for free. There is no financial bonus like Sweetbay's offer, but Wal-Mart doesn't require shoppers to spend the money there, though it is cutting some prices on groceries at the same time.

Lakeland-based Publix has no current plan to cash stimulus checks.

Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at (813) 259-7919 or rmullins@tampatrib.com.

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