Sodexo coupons are usually given to employees in companies, which help in saving taxes. The coupons are also an ideal option for those reluctant to carry cash to departmental stores and other shopping destinations.
In a transaction involving Sodexo coupons, the retailer need to first verify the Sodexo coupon, keep it safely and finally send to the company for payment. The process usually delays the money and can often lead to losses. A number of established retail brands like Spencer’s Retail have revealed that commercially Sodexo makes little sense and there are also issues related to the timeline of the payments.
It is clear from the reports in the media that the Sodexo company will be strongly affected if there is such collective action from the organised retail giants. According to Mumbai based engineer Sumit Mall, “This may be a profitable decision for retailers, but it is surely a problem for employees like us who look forward to the Sodexo coupons each month and can spend them with a plan. Sometimes these coupons also help save money.”
Cause for confusion
There were some issues faced by both retailers and customers with the Sodexo coupons. Since the coupons came in small denominations, they often caused confusion when there is congestion near the bill payment counter. Apart from this, there was also a great deal of confusion and friction caused in cases when some retailers did not accept the coupons as they were only meant for grocery items.
Abhishek Dubey, a store owner in Bengaluru, says, “I had a lot of these coupon companies approach me to sign up with them. I realised that there was a chance of this causing confusion between us and the customers. Now the decision of the retailers has convinced me that I took the correct decision.”
While the collective action of retailers leaves little in the hands of the consumer and Sodexo, it is clear that the credit card and electronic coupon concept has made the old one outdated. The trend is also a reflection of the tremendous dynamism of the retail sector in India.
Tias Chakraborty |
Some of the biggest names in retail have announced that they will not be accepting the Sodexo coupons any longer. The move comes after the coupons began to eat into their margins and became a major hassle for the companies to redeem. 
