KEY POINTS:
Grey Power and the Consumers' Institute are urging superannuitants angry at the lack of discounts offered by the new SuperGold card to wait and see what other companies join the discount scheme.
The much-anticipated card, which offers over-65s discounts at 188 businesses, was launched by Associate Senior Citizens Minister Winston Peters this week.
Mr Peters said it was critical that people understood the scheme was just beginning, and more companies would join over time.
Graham Stairmand, Grey Power's national president, said the scheme was not as big and as full as he would have liked.
"There's no real big chains, there's no companies like Dick Smiths or petrol companies or insurance companies, although our understanding is that there are quite a number of corporates who are standing in the wings just to see how well the card is taken up and what use the elderly make of it before they actually commit themselves to becoming part of the scheme.
"How long they will stay there and what criteria they will use we have no idea."
However, Mr Stairmand urged superannuitants to be patient. Similar discount card schemes in Australia had also had slow beginnings and now offered thousands of discounts, he said.
"The elderly who had great expectations that they were going to get free lunches and free meals and all that kind of stuff are bitterly disappointed and quite vocal about it, but it's got to start somewhere ... there are some people that no matter how much you put into it there would be nothing in it for them."
Several superannuitants have contacted the Herald complaining about the limited range of discounts available, and the fact that few Auckland-based businesses were in the scheme.
Jean Matika, 63, from Papatoetoe, said the card was "disgusting" and most of the discounts were available only in stores in Wellington, Nelson or Christchurch.
"There are some things there that I would like to purchase, but a lot of this stuff is sold down the line. There's none of it on sale in Auckland," Mrs Matika said.
"Do they give you a fare to Wellington? It's rude. I don't even want to carry it around in my purse."
The Consumers' Institute said it had not yet looked at the card in any great depth, but did plan to follow its fortunes closely.
Researcher Belinda Allan echoed Grey Power concerns that no power companies had signed up for SuperGold card - something Mr Peters has said is a priority.
Ms Allan said the institute supported anything that gave discounts to the elderly, but it was important people with the card looked at the discounts being offered to make sure cheaper options were not available elsewhere.
"Power companies and big phone companies, companies which provide everyday items that all people pay for, that are part of the weekly bills, it will be important for them to come on board and offer some real discounts."
On the card
SuperGold Card discounts include:
* Kawerau District Council, access to free heated swimming pool.
* Seal Swim Kaikoura, $5 off all seal swimming tours.
* Interflora, 7.5 per cent off flowers ordered through call centre or website.
* Beaurepaires, 30 bonus Fly Buy points or $10 off each tyre purchase.
* Mobility Scooters New Zealand, 10 per cent off
Other cards
* New South Wales: Several thousand businesses offer senior discounts.
* Queensland: Thousands of discounts across 404 categories, from astronomy supplies to worm farms.
* Grey Power NZ: Most of its 77 associations offer their own discount books.
