I get loyalty points at four grocery chains and I also have Air Miles and Aero Plan. I may have some other loyalty cards but I'd have to look.
So loyalty cards are meant to suck us in. They are meant to put a little hook on us so that we keep coming back. In the old days my Mom bought stuff that contained mugs or cups or tea towels. It seems to me that these were mostly in soap. Of course, they were in sets so that she had to buy more stuff to get the set.
Now with loyalty points the more you save the bigger the loot you get. If you redeem points for little stuff it doesn't seem worth it. So keep on building up the points.
With Air Miles you need a tremendous amount of points to just get out of town. Now there are fewer places that give you Air Miles. One also has to search very hard to find things that you would like for your points. I did buy my camera with aeroplane points but the price was much more than I would have paid for it on sale. Aeroplan now takes points away when your account is not used I filled up with gas the other day just to keep the stupid account open. I had to do a search to find a gas station that gives Aeroplan points (Esso)
Grocery points are a rip off. You have to make sure that you have the card and then that you give it too them. If you check your points total you will find that they sometimes miss giving you points. The card sometimes does not scan. I wish that would happen when they run my groceries through the scanner.
Now I wonder how much would I save on my groceries if they weren't giving away those stupid points. I also know that points can't be stupid.
So there's my little rant for the day!
I imagine there are worse things than loyalty points.
I only accept rewards plans that work with my phone number. I don't want to carry more cards. I always shop at the same grocery store, so rewards plans offer reduced prices that I use only on the stuff I would buy anyway. Today those Points, that I got online, saved me $10.00. We also get gas rewards of .10 per gallon that can accumulate to $1.00 per gallon reduction in price. Those things are worth it.
ReplyDeleteWe never pay cash anymore unless we have to. We use credit cards. We have a credit card that gives World Points that can be used for travel, but it takes a long time to add up. I mostly use my Amazon Visa card now, which gives me rewards cash toward purchases from Amazon. Sine we do a lot of shopping on line, especially at Christmas, the rewards are a real savings.
So yes, I can make those "points"' work for me.
We only get points and no discount One store does give a discount on some things but their prices are much higher to start with, I've never heard of using your phone for points.
DeleteToo many cards in my wallet. I remember the soap prizes and also stamps at grocery chains.
ReplyDeleteThere are other cards that are a higher priority like my library card.
DeleteThe shops all want you to come back and spend your money with them. I am not doing this anymore to save points, it is often not worth the price.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't have a lot of points you don't get much.
DeleteWe used our Visa points to stay in Vancouver for 5 days! It was great. We don't go out of our way to buy things, but if we are going to spend the money anyway...
ReplyDeleteAnd we always pay the card off every month!
But I understand your point(s)!
We only use the credit card about half the time.
DeleteI have one of those cards from Rite Aid but so far nothing I buy gives me points. I don't stress over it but I think it's just a way to keep you coming back for more. Worked to get you to buy a certain gas for your car, though. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're right that it's a gimmick to keep us coming back.
DeleteAir Miles is the only one I use... too many cards in the wallet as it is.
ReplyDeleteYes, and the most important card is my library card.
DeleteAce hardware has a Rewards card, I do use it and once in awhile they send me 5 dollars to use in the store...works for me. I got a bird feeder once from a Charge Card Reward program...the bears stole it:)
ReplyDeleteNow sending some money sounds like a good idea.
DeleteWe just switched to an Air Alaska card to get better travel miles. We'll see.
ReplyDeleteMore of us should switch and there might be more competition.
Delete"I wish that would happen when they run my groceries through the scanner." HAHAHA... You and me both! Funniest line of the day :)
ReplyDeleteWe always check the sales slip. About half the time thee are mistakes.
DeleteI've only had one loyalty card and that was at a grocery store. What would get me is when I forgot my card- I would get charged the higher price..when I know they could just look up my number!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have cards the give us lower prices.
Deletethey do sucker you in, though, don't they? :)
ReplyDeleteNice post Red!
ReplyDeleteAlso like the photo very much!
Wish you and your loved ones a wonderful weekend:)))
Greetings Anita
I like the good old days when grocery stores gave out S&H Green stamps. Mama used to let me stick them in the book for her. You could get nice gifts...I think. :) Seemed nice to me back then.
ReplyDeleteI do the little loyalty points thing too, but have never received anything from them except to get a cheaper price on some items.
ReplyDeleteRed I'm with you on loyalty points, they're stupid, I've learned that Air Miles are now changing things up too, at the end of 2016 apparently all of your points have to be used up or lose them. I'm going to have to do a bit more research in this area but the last time I checked on how go get a flight with Air Miles I became frustrated and gave up. I have a purse full of these cards, useful, not really but when I can redeem $10 off at Shoppers Drug Mart on my purchase all is well in my world with these stupid cards once again! lol
ReplyDelete