Membership Card Printer

Gyms, country clubs, charities and other membership-based organizations have long used ID cards as a main method of access control and a guarantor to member benefits. Take, for example, large "warehouse" discount stores, where food and other household items are sold at low prices. In order to take advantage of the savings of these club stores, members pay yearly dues and receive a membership ID card, usually with a photo and a magnetic stripe. Members present their ID cards upon entering the store and then once more at the cash register upon paying. The card is authenticated first, at the entrance, in order to ensure that only members can enter the store and take advantage of the discounts offered there. The next layer of security from a membership card comes during checkout, when the member is required to present the card to the cashier, who passes the card through a reader (either barcode or magnetic stripe) in order to verify the membership. This type of absolute verification helps ensure that the shopper is entitled to the discount, which helps keep company costs and prices low.

Country clubs and gyms are other frequent users of membership card makers. Some country clubs require membership cards to retain exclusivity, but most gyms and health clubs use photo ID cards to retain access control. Gyms often have expensive equipment and require membership to use facilities. Membership cards are an easy way to make sure that only members are able to use these facilities. Card technology and verification varies by gym size and member numbers. Smaller gyms may use visual verification (i.e. looking at a card to see if the photo on the ID card and the member match), and larger gyms may use more advanced technologies like a bar code or magnetic stripe reader.