Learn what tabling is, how credit card companies use it to market to college students, and what rules campuses have concerning the practice.
The typical university center is a place where college students can grab a bite to eat between classes, buy their textbooks and supplies, socialize with their friends, study and just hang out. However, these gathering areas are also a prime location for vendors to market their products to college students. One of the most aggressive vendors on campus is likely to be the credit card tabler. These vendors have tables set up close to the most popular campus stores, the most popular places to sit and the busiest entrances to the UC. They tout free rewards, free gifts and sign-up bonuses such as Frisbees, iPods, free phone cards, gift certificates, T-shirts and other gifts to grab college students’ attention and to encourage them to sign up for a student credit card. Their high energy, highly invasive approaches seem to be working as nearly 75 percent of all college students now have a credit card in their pocket.
College students are one of the prime targets for a number of different products, including credit cards. One way that credit card companies attract college students to sign up for a credit card is by tabling on campus. Tabling is a marketing strategy that involves setting up a display table at a high traffic area on campus, like the UC. This display table will have brochures about credit card programs, credit card applications and samples of what premiums or sign-up gifts the credit card company is offering.
Usually this table is manned by a sales representative whose primary function is to answer questions and encourage college students to apply for a credit card. But these representatives don’t always directly represent the card company they’re pushing. Therefore the tabler doesn’t always give solid advice that is in the applicant’s best interest.
Like any other vendor on campus, credit card companies are required to follow the rules set out by the campus administration. While each campus will have its own rules regarding tabling, most campuses will have the same basic rules. For example, most campuses require all vendors and organizations interested in tabling on campus to be pre-approved before they set up their tables. Many campuses also require vendors to reserve a table for a specific time period. While some campuses will allow outside vendors to set up a table on campus, others have placed restrictions on what types of companies or organizations can do so. For example, some colleges require tablers to be associated with some student organization. These rules are continuously evolving to protect students from being overwhelmed by tabling, while still providing vendors and organizations with the opportunity to connect with students.
