FAQ
Questions
Plain answers. If yours is not here, ask us.
For shopkeepers
For shopkeepersHow much can this actually cost me?
Work it off one bill. If you set 9% with a ₹300 cap per bill, the worst any single bill can cost you is ₹300 - a ₹3,000 bill and a ₹30,000 bill both come to ₹300. One customer can use your shop at most 10 times a day, so the worst one customer can cost you in a day is ₹3,000, and that is a day on which they spent at least ₹33,000 with you. Your own rate, cap and minimum bill are on your Offer Schedule before you sign it.
Is there a joining fee, commission or monthly charge?
Not today. There is no joining fee, no commission on the bill and no monthly charge. How Countr will charge in future has not been decided. If that ever changes, you will be told in writing before anything applies, and you can stop instead. Nothing will ever be taken out of a customer's payment to you.
How do I get paid?
The customer pays you directly, by cash or UPI, exactly as now — just the bill less the discount. Countr never holds your money, so there is nothing to wait for and nothing to reconcile with us. That is deliberate: collecting payment on your behalf would need RBI authorisation, and it would put us between you and your customer.
What if the customer types the wrong bill amount?
The amount they typed is the biggest thing on your screen, with a note to check it against your bill. If it is wrong, tap 'Bill amount is wrong'. No discount is given and no coins are used. We record it, so a customer doing it repeatedly stands out.
Can I stop?
Any time, with no notice period and no charge. We pause your offer and it stops appearing to members straight away.
Does it work without internet?
No, and we would rather say so. Both phones need a data connection: the customer's to send the bill, yours to approve it. If your connection is down, charge the full price as normal; nothing is lost and nothing is owed.
Do I need a new machine or software?
No. You get a printed code for your counter, and you approve discounts in the Countr app on a smartphone you already have. Nothing connects to your billing software or card machine.
Who pays for the discount?
You do, which is why you choose the rate and you cap what any one bill can cost. The rate card shows that every ceiling is set well below the category's margin, so the discount stays affordable even on a customer who would have come in anyway. Countr earns from member memberships, not from your sale.
Can I change my discount or my cap?
Yes, any time. Tell your Countr contact and we change it for you. The new rate applies from the next bill. Bills already approved keep the rate they were approved at, so nothing you have already given changes.
Will it slow down my queue?
We measure it. From your last PIN digit to 'approved' takes about 1.6 seconds on the live system over a good connection. On a slow connection it takes longer.
Can one customer use it again and again?
Members hold a limited number of coins, and they expire. On top of that, one member can use your shop at most 10 times a day and 100 times a month. Countr sets those and you can ask us to change them.
What if someone copies the code on my counter?
The code only identifies your shop; every discount still needs your PIN. If a code is copied, we replace it in minutes and send you a new one to print.
What does Countr see about my shop's sales?
Only Countr bills: the amount the customer declared, the discount and the time. Nothing about your other sales. At month end you get a summary of members served and discount given.
For members
For membersIs it really free?
During the pilot, yes. The Starter plan is 500 coins, worth ₹500 off your bills, valid for 30 days. We do not ask for a card or any payment details.
Where can I use my coins?
At participating shops in Mysuru. The app lists the ones near you by distance. Some neighbourhoods have few shops so far, and the app will tell you so plainly.
Can I get more coins?
Not during the pilot. Coins are never sold: they come included with a membership, and the only membership open now is the free Starter plan. When other plans open, their coins will come included with the plan in the same way.
Do coins expire?
Yes. Starter coins last 30 days. We remind you before they go, and expired coins are not refunded.
What if I do not have enough coins for the full discount?
You get as much as your coins cover. The screen shows the reduced discount, what you will pay and how many coins short you are — before you submit, never after.
Why was my discount less than the shop's percentage?
Two possible reasons, and the screen tells you which: the discount is rounded down to whole rupees, or the shop has a limit per bill. If your coins are short the screen says that too, before you submit.
Do I pay through Countr?
No. You pay the shop directly, by cash or UPI, less the discount. No money passes through Countr.
Can I give my coins to family?
No. Coins belong to one member and cannot be transferred.
What do you do with my phone number?
Use it to sign you in and run your membership. We only send you news or offers if you separately agree to that, and you can change your mind in the app.
Can I delete my account?
Yes, yourself, in the app under Account. Your name and number are removed straight away. Records of discounts you received are kept for 8 years because tax law requires it, with your personal details removed.