Magnetic Stripe Cards: Types Encoding and Security Tips
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About Plastic Card ID
Plastic Card ID brings a practical edge to brand engagement by delivering high-quality, custom-printed plastic cards that create lasting connections. With a legacy of serving more than 100,000 businesses and producing over 50 million cards, Plastic Card ID blends craftsmanship with strategic insight to help clients convert tangible items into measurable business growth.
We operate as more than a supplier: Plastic Card ID is a strategic partner focused on long-term results and repeatable success. From marketing gift cards that can increase sales substantially to secure ID and access solutions, our emphasis is on delivering consistent, reliable products that keep brands top-of-mind and customers returning.
Our Mission and Values
Plastic Card ID aims to preserve the power of physical branding by creating cards that are both beautiful and functional. We emphasize quality, accuracy, and responsive service to ensure each project meets client goals. Our mission supports durable brand recognition through products that convey permanence and trust across customer interactions.
We believe in building relationships as much as we build cards. That customer-centered approach leads to tailored solutions, attentive project management, and clear communication-advantages that consistently produce measurable ROI and strengthen long-term client partnerships.
Proven Performance and Results
Across retail, hospitality, education, and membership sectors, our products deliver measurable impact: gift cards that boost sales, loyalty cards that increase return visits, and promotional items that generate above-average response rates. Those results are part of why over 60 affiliates succeed with our offerings and why partners keep coming back for new campaigns.
Every production run is grounded in data and experience, so clients see predictable uplift when they transition from paper alternatives to professional plastic cards. Our record of success underscores a business model focused on quality, repeatable outcomes, and long-term client value.
Contact the Team
For personalized consultations or sample requests, reach out to our knowledgeable sales staff who guide you from concept to fulfillment. Our specialists help select the right substrate, finishing, and security features to meet your operational and marketing needs with confidence and speed.
Call our team at 800.835.7919 to discuss project timelines, sample kits, and volume pricing tailored to your business. We respond promptly and provide practical recommendations so decisions are efficient and informed.
Why Choose Our Magnetic Stripe Cards
Magnetic Stripe Cards remain a cornerstone of practical card solutions where compatibility and cost-effectiveness matter. Plastic Card ID offers robust magnetic encoding options that integrate smoothly with legacy systems and modern POS hardware, delivering reliable swipes every time without sacrificing durability or print fidelity.
Our approach balances technical compatibility with bespoke design, ensuring your magnetic cards carry striking visuals as well as accurate data encoding. Whether for gift cards, loyalty programs, or secure membership credentials, these cards provide an economical, widely supported solution for many industries.
Compatibility and Technical Options
We support high-coercivity (HiCo) and low-coercivity (LoCo) magnetic stripes, supplying cards that meet the specific read/write demands of your equipment. Our team helps determine the appropriate stripe type based on environment, expected lifespan, and security requirements, ensuring accurate, durable encoding.
Additional services include pre-encoding, site-specific personalization, and testing protocols that validate each production batch. These quality checks ensure cards arrive ready for immediate deployment and reduce integration headaches during rollout.
Design Flexibility and Branding
From full-color photographic printing to spot UV and specialty finishes, our magnetic stripe cards combine visual impact with practical functionality. Clients can choose custom shapes, clear overlays, and holographic elements to enhance shelf appeal, giving each card a unique presence that reinforces brand identity.
We work closely with marketing teams to produce cards that support campaign goals-whether eye-catching gift cards for seasonal promotions or subtle, professionally branded membership cards-delivering consistent brand messaging across every unit.
Ordering, Pricing, and Support
Our ordering process is designed for clarity: transparent pricing, sample approvals, and milestone-driven production schedules. Clients benefit from our volume-based pricing and the efficiencies of consolidated fulfillment options, which include custom carriers, sleeves, and full-service mailing to reduce in-house workload.
To get an estimate or speak about technical needs, contact our sales staff at 800.835.7919. We work quickly to present options and timeline estimates so projects begin on schedule with predictable outcomes.
Products & Custom Options
Plastic Card ID offers a comprehensive portfolio of plastic cards, including gift cards, loyalty cards, membership IDs, and specialized items like clear plastic and luxury metal cards. Each product is customizable in material, printing technique, and finishing so clients achieve exact visual and functional requirements.
Our specialty options - such as stainless steel or gold-finish metal cards, custom die cuts, and tactile embossing - provide distinctive tactile experiences that elevate perceived value and promote long-term retention. These premium choices are ideal for brands seeking to make a memorable impression.
Gift Cards and Loyalty Solutions
Plastic gift cards transform promotional budgets into repeat business. Our designs help increase average order values and drive return visits, with gift and loyalty solutions proven to impact sales positively. Cards can be integrated with point-of-sale systems via magnetic stripe encoding and barcodes where appropriate.
We also produce matching carriers, sleeves, and retail displays to create a complete merchandising package. This unified approach enhances presentation and protects cards until they reach the consumer, contributing to higher perceived gift value at the point of sale.
Specialty Materials and Finishes
Our specialty offerings include metal cards, clear plastic substrates, and sculpted shapes that stand out in wallet or display. These options are ideal for premium membership programs, VIP gifting, and brand campaigns that require distinctive, durable materials that command attention.
Production of specialty cards involves close collaboration with clients to ensure weight, feel, and finish match expectations. We provide samples and prototype runs to validate design choices before full production, reducing risk and ensuring satisfaction.
Ordering & Contact
We simplify buying with guided ordering, flexible lot sizes, and consolidated fulfillment options that save time and reduce logistics complexity. From small pilot runs to large-scale campaigns, our systems manage production and delivery efficiently so you can focus on your audience and distribution strategy.
Speak directly with our production advisors at 800.835.7919 to review sample kits, lead times, and packaging solutions designed to streamline your launch and ensure flawless execution.
| Solution Type | Common Use | Security Level |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic Stripe Card | Gift/Loyalty, Retail | Standard |
| RFID / Contactless Card | Access, Transit | Elevated |
| Metal / Specialty Card | VIP, Premium Gifting | Variable |
Security & Access Control Solutions
Security is integral to many card applications, and our capabilities extend to casino player cards, hotel key cards, and RFID smart cards featuring contactless technologies like MIFARE DESFire. Plastic Card ID balances secure encoding and operational convenience so access controls remain seamless and reliable.
Beyond physical durability, we provide multi-layer protections-mag stripe encoding, encrypted RFID programming, and tamper-evident options-so each deployment meets the needs of its environment, whether hospitality, gaming, or institutional access.
Encoding Standards and Testing
We adhere to industry encoding standards and implement thorough testing protocols to validate read/write performance across devices. Our QA procedures include sample swipes, read tests, and batch audits to ensure consistent, device-ready deliveries that minimize field failures and downtime.
Clients also receive documentation and testing results when requested, helping integrate our products into existing security and membership systems with confidence and transparency.
Access Card Integration
Integration services cover both physical and logical access needs. From pre-encoding credentials to coordinating card activation schedules, our team ensures a smooth transition into your operational workflow. This coordination reduces administrative overhead and improves the user experience for cardholders.
Contact our integration specialists at 800.835.7919 for recommendations on credential formats, activation windows, and lifecycle management that preserve security while supporting daily operations.
Value-Added Services
We offer comprehensive fulfillment packages that include full-service card affixing, variable data printing, and coordinated mailing-services designed to eliminate bottlenecks and provide seamless delivery of ready-to-use cards. These value-added capabilities free up client resources and reduce time-to-market for campaigns.
Additionally, our specialty options and secure packaging reduce risk during transit. For clients seeking turnkey solutions, these services create a compelling one-stop experience that aligns production, personalization, and distribution.
Production, Fulfillment & Warranties
Our production workflows are optimized to deliver reliable results at scale, offering both small runs and high-volume capacity with consistent quality control. Clients benefit from fast turnaround options and clear milestone communication that helps projects stay on schedule.
To increase confidence in long-term relationships, Plastic Card ID provides industry-leading warranties and adherence to strict production standards. These assurances protect investment in premium materials and custom features, and they underscore our commitment to client satisfaction.
Printing, Finishing, and Quality Control
High-resolution printing, durable varnishes, and specialty laminates are a few of the finishing options we apply to ensure visual impact and longevity. Our QC process includes color matching, tolerance checks, and functional testing to deliver cards that perform both visually and operationally.
We emphasize repeatability so subsequent orders match previous runs with precision. This consistency is especially important for brands that maintain ongoing programs and need uniform presentation across multiple print runs.
Fulfillment Options and Logistics
Fulfillment ranges from bulk drop-shipping to fully personalized, assembled kits ready for retail distribution or direct mailing. Services such as variable data printing, sample approvals, and secure packing are available to reduce your internal workload and ensure recipients receive complete, professional packages.
To explore fulfillment strategies or to request a custom logistics plan, please call 800.835.7919. We collaborate with clients and partners to tailor solutions that match campaign goals and operational constraints.
Warranties and Aftercare
We stand behind our workmanship with clear, client-friendly warranties that cover material and printing defects under normal use. Our support teams respond quickly to issues, providing replacement strategies and corrective production where necessary to maintain client confidence and program continuity.
Post-delivery support includes guidance on proper handling, storage, and activation procedures to extend the useful life of cards and minimize avoidable wear, ensuring programs run smoothly after launch.
Partner with Plastic Card ID
Partnering with Plastic Card ID means gaining a collaborator focused on long-term success, not a one-off vendor. Our specialties-gift and loyalty solutions, secure identity systems, and premium specialty cards-are supported by robust service offerings that make scaling easier and more profitable.
We also actively support affiliate and reseller opportunities, evidenced by a thriving network of over 60 partners who leverage our product demand to build sustainable revenue streams. Our partner-focused resources include sample programs, marketing assets, and dedicated account management.
How to Get Started
Begin by requesting a consultation or sample pack so you can evaluate feel, finish, and encoding options firsthand. Our onboarding process includes scope reviews, proof approvals, and pilot runs so you can validate performance before committing to large volumes.
Contact our onboarding team at 800.835.7919 to schedule a discovery call and receive targeted recommendations that align with your goals. We prioritize clarity and predictable timelines so your campaign launches smoothly.
Case Studies and Success Stories
Clients across retail and hospitality have reported notable results after switching to professionally produced plastic cards-from immediate increases in redemption rates to long-term improvements in customer retention. These case studies demonstrate the practical business value of investing in quality card solutions with strategic distribution.
We share tailored case studies with prospective clients to illustrate outcomes relevant to their industry and objectives. These examples help stakeholders visualize returns and make data-driven decisions about program investment.
Final Call to Action
Ready to elevate your brand and operational systems with expertly produced Magnetic Stripe Cards and specialty solutions? Reach out for a personalized quote, samples, or a project timeline review. Our team is prepared to advise on materials, encoding, and fulfillment so you launch confidently.
Plastic Card ID - call us now at 800.835.7919 to discuss your project and get a fast, clear estimate from experienced professionals.
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