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Through the WildCARD Advantage Program, students, faculty and staff can receive a free small bag of popcorn, a 20-percent discount on books, $5 off an hour-long massage and even $50 off Web hosting depending on where they shop.
When it comes time to pay, though, many students aren't reaching for their cards.
"When you're ordering you don't always think to pull out your WildCARD and ask for a discount," said Emily Petrone, a Communication senior. "I can never keep track of who offers the discount."
The Associated Student Government initiated a program last week to recruit new businesses for the advantage program and find ways to better publicize the discounts.
Participating merchants usually post purple stickers on their doors that advertise WildCARD Advantage, and a link on the HereAndNow Web site lists all participating vendors. Still, many students are unaware of the service.
"I just think students don't know," said Jenny Kim, an Elder Hall senator and business recruiter. "I'm sure if they did -- because we are all poor, starving college students -- that they would gladly use it."
About 150 establishments in Evanston already offer WildCARD discounts, said John Marshall, manager for supplier diversity at NU who founded the program in 1997. About 50 others offer discounts online or near the Chicago campus, he said.
Business recruiters hope to expand that number, targeting merchants, such as restaurants, that students frequently patronize, Kim said.
Kim, a Weinberg freshman, said vendors benefit from the program as much as students do: In exchange for discounts, the businesses get free advertising.
Some merchants said they were disappointed that the discount, which can range from a free fountain drink to a percentage off the bill, didn't draw in more customers.
Nathalie Barbier, a manager at LuLu's Dim Sum and Then Sum, 804 Davis St., said after 8 p.m. students can get noodle stir-fry entrées for $4.95 -- almost half off the regular price -- but very few are using the discount.
"We thought we might be getting a little bit of the night crowd," Barbier said. "We don't really have more kids that come in with it, and I don't know why, because it's a really good deal."
At outdoor equipment store Uncle Dan's, 700 Church St., employee Eric Poehler said about 20 students a day use their WildCARDs, but only about half of those clients are aware of the discount when they walk in the store.
"We're proactive about student discounts," he said. "A lot of times if we see it in their wallet we'll say, 'Oh, you're a student. You get a 10 percent discount.'"
Many students said they rarely use their cards because they didn't know who offers discount.
"Most of the time, when I'm shopping, I never think about it," said Lauren Matecki, a Weinberg freshman. "I may notice the sticker in the window, but I don't really know what it entails."
Put it on the plastic
WildCARDs can save money in three ways
WildCat Meal Plan:
* This off-campus meal program is run by a private company. When students sign up, they put money on a card that is accepted at 16 participating area restaurants. A listing can be found at www.wildcatmealplan.com.
WildCARD cash stripe:
* Students can use WildCARDs to patronize four eateries: Chipotle, Taco Bell, J.K. Sweets and Burger King. Students add money at cash-to-card machines all over campus. The cash stripe also can be used for doing laundry and making copies.
WildCARD Advantage Program:
* About 150 Evanston businesses are enrolled in this program. Upon showing a WildCARD, students receive a free item or a discount on their purchase. A listing is on HereAndNow.
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