Loyalty Cards - A real benefit or a con?
By shelagh77
@shelagh77 (3643)
April 24, 2007 4:06am CST
I hold loyalty cards for a number of stores, figuring that if I am going to shop there I might as well have the points. However, in comparison with stores which do not have loyalty cards, and excluding any "loss leaders" these stores are often very much more expensive than their rivals.
Yes, there are some wonderful gifts which can be saved up for, and vouchers - I bought my entire Christmas shopping food list with vouchers - but I wonder what would happen if you shopped elsewhere and pocketed the difference.
Have you ever done this, and what was the result. Or have you not done this but wonder youself whether you actually get a real benefit from your points?
2 people like this
6 responses
@phonevolts (919)
• Ireland
24 Apr 07
I have a loyalty card with Tesco. You get one point for every euro you spend. Then every four months you get 1 euro for every 100 points. Or you can transfer them into buy and fly points which can then be used to book holidays, flights and hotels away. This is what i do with my points. Tesco is very cheap, one of the cheapest stores in Ireland and it is only 5minutes walk from my house.
2 people like this
@shelagh77 (3643)
•
25 Apr 07
It really works well for you then. If it is the only store that is close and you do not use to use vehicle fuel or pay parking fees you are saving even more :-) I agree that Tesco does appear to be cheaper, the only one near me is too far away from the car park. By the time I get there I am exhausted, so I have trouble walking back to the car, let around the shop lol. If you have to use a shop then you might as well have the points, do you keep an eye out for the bonus points items too?
@shelagh77 (3643)
•
3 Jul 07
I know, sometimes there are not enough hours in the day, are there?
I do buy things I do not need at the time to accommodate points offers, but I have a sort of "grey area" in the budget where I have a certain amount that is available for such an offer if it is there that week, and then of course I don't have to buy that item again for a while. I would never buy anything I don't use just to get points unless I could give it away as a gift, just me being thrify, lol.
@phonevolts (919)
• Ireland
25 Jun 07
Really sorry about the delay, havent been on the net in ages.
Thanks for the best response.
Yes i always watch out for bonus points but i wouldnt buy something just for the points if i dont really need it or know i would not use it.
1 person likes this
@cardizon (223)
• Philippines
24 Apr 07
it's just a 'come-on' for the shops. i have the same observation. these shops with loyalty cards usually sell for more expensive price. what is that? they have to kick back or compensate for higher prices that's why they attract customers with these cards and points=reward system? this is a nice topic to discuss.
2 people like this
@shelagh77 (3643)
•
25 Apr 07
Thank you :-) I must admit I play them at their own game though. The internet is a good tool, I check prices and if they have something I want cheaper I buy it there lol.
@shelagh77 (3643)
•
3 May 07
It also amazes me the number of people who claim to have too little money, but they do not make the effort to buy things at the cheapest price for the quality of the item. If they do not have the time themselves, there must surely be someone in their circle of friends who has a computer or the time to check?
@rainbow (6761)
•
25 Apr 07
I love my tesco club card points although it does scare me when I get a load and realise how much I spend there, lol.
My kids get clothes from there when the points come up so as they say every little helps and my boys can get through up to 4 outfits a day, bless them.
1 person likes this
@shelagh77 (3643)
•
25 Apr 07
Yes, where you use a shop anyway for convenience then they are 100% benefit. I just watch friends of mine though, and they go beserk in these shops, chattering about how many loyalty points they just got on purchases they would never have made - how long does it take to go through three jumbo sized bubble baths when you live alone anyway? Then what happens is that either someones kiddie uses the bathroom and flushes a million bubbles, the stuff gets knocked over, or it clutters their cupboard and takes forever to use. Meanwhile, there is a fabulous points offer on the latest fragrance in bubble bath . . .
You may laugh, it is true, and fortunely those who I am speaking of are not Mylotters as they do not have computers - phew!
Have you checked out the tesco home site? They often have free entry competitions and bonus coupon offers. I suspect joining results in even more junk mail but what the heck, that is free (reused) envelopes, free scrap paper, free packaging shredding and sometimes something I actually want, not to mention maybe freebies and coupons lol.
www.tesco.com
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
24 Apr 07
If this is like discount cards and cupons I always spend more trying to by the items! and then wish I had gone on to the cheaper store for the same things
I hate it when I go to one of these store and they swipe store card and it says you saved this much ha ha would have saved more if I went to the other one.
2 people like this
@shelagh77 (3643)
•
25 Apr 07
I don't know about discount cards, how do they work?
As to coupons, I am a demon for them. Every piece of junk mail and unrequested brochure is closely scanned for coupons, which I clip and put those which I may use into a folder in my bag. Then I give away as many as possible to others that may use them. I will teach them to block up my letter box lololol.
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
24 Apr 07
Yes I have these cards also they do come in handy when I need to buy something in that particular shop. Oh our shops that have these are not that expensive at all thank goodness. That was wonderful that you bought your entire shopping list with the vouchers as I did have a few vouchers but not enough to do mine with. But I certainly did receive a real benefit from my points in regards to buying new clothes for myself.
2 people like this
@shelagh77 (3643)
•
25 Apr 07
I probably get better value for my points because I do check prices etc before I buy. The main store near me is an ASDA one and due to my mobility problems we mostly go there. I keep my till receipts for a few weeks so if I think "hmmm that seems a bit pricey" I can check as to whether the item has gone up in price. Some items have gone up by nearly one third since Christmas.
This year we have changed tactics and are spending vouchers instead of pooling them, and putting the cash into a savings account. And it is certainly NOT for a boat lol.
@1983tyler (507)
• United States
24 Apr 07
We only use loyalty cards for places that we shop at often. Most of the loyalty cards that I have seen are the buy so-many, get one free. I only get the cards for places that we shop at even if they didn't have the "get free" cards. We've got cards for the pizza place, the pharmacy, and the pet food place.
1 person likes this
@shelagh77 (3643)
•
25 Apr 07
I agree. I think if you are careful and use these buy the cheapest or the best for you and get the points if they are available they are very good value. If you get very tempted by offers etc they can be a landmine in your finances. I am absolutely terrible. I save coppers, pool my points, check that things can't be bought cheaper elsewhere and generally save all I can, then if something really nice comes along we can afford to buy it. Currently I have my loving eyes on an American style fridge freezer. We would have to do a bit of juggling of items in the kitchen, but it would just fit where I want it. Now, the raising of the cash . . . lol. It will probably take me three years, but there will be no hire purchase or credit and I will be sooooo happy with it.
