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Although older American spend increasingly large sums of money on goods and services, it is widely believed by financial service providers and retailers that these individuals make relatively little use of credit cards. Using a large national sample of respondents from different age groups, finds that older adults use credit cards as frequently as younger adults when circumstances and opportunities for consumption in both groups are similar. Age‐related declines in use of credit cards may reflect changes in lifestyles and other circumstances associated with age, not age per se. Discusses implications of the results for retailers and consumer credit lenders.

Only a small proportion of consumer borrowing is provided by bank and retailer credit cards. Discusses how recent changes in credit card terms and societal attitudes may further reduce that borrowing. Suggests debit cards will become increasingly important as a means of payment in the UK – plastic cards in general will be used more as paper transactions decline. In Europe there may be convergence of plastic card usage with eventual reduction in the number of credit card issuers.

The practice of marketing credit cards on college campuses is becoming increasingly controversial. Critics have charged that credit card companies use unethical practices to encourage students to become overloaded with debt. In response, many colleges now ban credit card solicitors from campus. Perhaps the best way credit card companies can improve their image is to provide specific educational opportunities to students when they fill out credit applications. Includes an empirical study of the debt issues of college students. Results indicate that students can learn specific types of information that should improve their ability to manage their debt. This information includes issues associated with the frequency of use of credit cards, the payment of credit card debt, and the number of credit cards held. Makes specific educational recommendations that should be helpful to companies that currently market credit cards to college students. Results may also provide planning information to banks and credit card companies in parts of the world where credit card usage by college students is not yet widespread, but is likely to increase due to developing free market systems and the increased use of credit worldwide.

The long‐awaited report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission into the supply of credit card services came out at the end of August. Although its deals primarily with bank credit cards, nonetheless it has important implications for retailer credit cards — for example, will retailers start to charge fees for cards or will they continue to issue them free? This special feature examines in some detail the retailer credit card market in the UK and suggests that retailers would be better served if they saw their credit card offerings as part of their overall retail support service.

Japan has a large number of credit cards on issue and many of these are issued by Japanese retailers. Two such retailers, Saison and Daiei, illustrate why and by what means Japanese retailers have entered the credit card market. This provides the backdrop to an explanation of how those major retail groups are now seeking to redefine the payment system supply chain to their own advantage. Makes reference to the worldwide competition between Visa and Master Card and how in Japan retailers have been able to play one card association off against the others. Also highlights the value of the information flows from the cardholder to the retailer and vice versa and draws attention to the potential of the retailer credit card in customer retention, recruitment and relationship building.

A number of insights are provided into the characteristics and attitudinal orientations of American and Canadian credit card users with indications that in both countries further growth in the development of credit cards is expected throughout the 1980s.

Past studies indicate that there is a close relationship between spread of credit card usage in a country and its stage of socio‐economic development. With increased level of socio‐economic and technological development, credit card usage particularly increases in developing countries. Studies credit card usage behavior in an advanced developing country – Turkey. An empirical research study conducted in urban Turkey indicates that there are certain relationships between socio‐economic and demographic characteristics of Turkish consumers and their credit cardholding and usage behaviors. In light of the survey findings, offers a number of marketing strategy guidelines for credit card issuers in developing countries to remain competitive as well as creating more market growth opportunities in this growing service industry.

Explores the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of Asian and Hispanic credit card holders. Outlines a conceptualization of the relationships between alternative payment systems and various demographic and behavioural variables, which may serve as a preliminary theoretical framework for analyses of payment systems. Discusses the implications and their importance to marketers.

This paper analyses three strategies in customers’ use to afford consumption in a developed and an emerging market for different product groups. The strategies are: (1) usage of loyalty cards, (2) usage of credit cards and (3) usage of long-term credits.

Mall intercept surveys conducted in Poland (emerging market) and Germany (developed market) provide data for testing a set of hypotheses using ANOVAs.

Results show that customers in emerging markets show no differences in the usage of loyalty cards for product categories with high shopping frequency (groceries) compared to developed markets, while in all other product categories loyalty card usage is stronger. Results show further that in low price categories, customers in emerging markets use credit card payments more often compared to customers in developed markets. In high price categories, they use credit cards less often, but long-term credits more often.

Results have implications for the design of loyalty programs and payment options in different markets. Results have also implications for public policy regarding concerns about increasing private debt in emerging countries.

This paper suggests a cost-benefit framework where customers in emerging countries perceive benefits of loyalty cards and credit options higher, while they are willing to bear higher costs. As a result, effects of product category characteristics on usage that are observable in developed markets do not exist in emerging markets.

Describes the importance of plastic payment cards at the point of sale (POS) and the evolution of the credit card in general and affinity cards in particular. Suggests reasons for both the growth of plastic card payments (the cashless society) and the threats to affinity cards (the interchange fee). Places the affinity credit card within the paradigm of relationship marketing and emphasises the triadic nature of these relationships. Discusses the development of the research into affinity credit cards and the issues of branding and trust that impact upon the triadic relationships. Explores the potential for affinity marketing and reports on research into trust and ethics which is relevant to this concept. Places affinity marketing within the retail arena and finally draws conclusions on the future for payments at the POS, relationships operationalised via plastic cards and triadic affinities.