No cash for the car guard? Pick n Pay now sells R5 tip vouchers
Pick n Pay now sells R5, R10 and R20 Appreciation Vouchers at every till, so you can tip car guards without cash. They're valid for three years but can't be swapped for cash.
No cash for the car guard? Pick n Pay now sells R5, R10 and R20 "Appreciation Vouchers" at every till in the country, which you can hand over as a tip and the person can spend on groceries at any Pick n Pay (Pick n Pay).
The retailer launched the vouchers nationally on 22 October 2026. It says the idea is for shoppers who want to tip but no longer carry cash, when the person they want to thank can't take card or QR code payments (Pick n Pay).
How do you buy a Pick n Pay tip voucher?
Ask for it at the till when you pay for your shopping. It rings up like any other item, and you can buy several in one transaction, so a R20 voucher and two R5s for different people is fine (Pick n Pay).
Pick n Pay says the vouchers can be given to anyone, not only car guards. Packers, petrol attendants and other people who rely on tips can use them too (Pick n Pay).
What are the rules for using the voucher?
| What you need to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Amounts | R5, R10 or R20 |
| Where to buy | Till points at Pick n Pay stores nationwide |
| Where to spend | Groceries at any Pick n Pay store, not only the one where it was bought |
| How long it lasts | Three years from when it is issued |
| Cash or change | Can't be swapped for cash, and no change is given |
| Spending it | The full voucher must be used in one shop, on a basket worth at least the voucher amount |
| Lost voucher | Can't be reprinted |
Source: Pick n Pay media release, 22 October 2026
That last pair of rules matters for the person you're tipping. A R20 voucher only works if they buy R20 or more of groceries in one go, and if it goes missing it's gone. Several R5 vouchers give them more flexibility than one bigger one.
Where did the idea come from?
It started at Pick n Pay Steenberg Village in Cape Town. The franchised store sold R5 food stamps that shoppers could give to car guards at the centre, who collected them and swapped them for groceries when they needed to. Pick n Pay says the national rollout followed that store's success and positive feedback (Pick n Pay, Bizcommunity).
The move comes as more South Africans stop carrying cash. A Reserve Bank study found that 29% of people prefer to pay only electronically and 19% prefer only cash, according to BusinessTech.
Is the voucher the same as cash for a car guard?
No. Cash can be spent anywhere, including on a taxi home. The voucher can only buy groceries at Pick n Pay, so it suits people who shop there anyway. If you do carry coins, cash still gives the person the most choice.
FAQ
How much are Pick n Pay Appreciation Vouchers?
They come in R5, R10 and R20 amounts and are bought at the till in any Pick n Pay store.
Can a car guard swap a Pick n Pay tip voucher for cash?
No. Pick n Pay says the vouchers can't be exchanged for cash and no change is given. They can only be used for groceries.
How long is a Pick n Pay Appreciation Voucher valid?
Three years from the date it is issued, at any Pick n Pay store in South Africa.
What happens if the voucher is lost?
Pick n Pay says lost vouchers can't be reprinted, so it should be kept safe.