The High Street giant is making sweeping changes to its loyalty card schemes amid the cost of living crisis and it’s good news for Asda customers but bad times for Sainsbury’s loyalists.
Boots is the latest High Street giant to make the change with users who currently receive a 4p credit for every £1 spent in store: from May they will only get 3p – a 25 per cent cut.
Boots has justified the move by saying that it is focusing on reducing prices on essential products.
But while other initiatives such as £10 Tuesdays and Freebie Fridays will be kept, the move has still irked Boot devotees.
One Twitter user ‘Twitter Tat’ said: “So now the benefits cards are going to be completely useless. Cool, thanks, Boots.”
Added another: “Soon it may be almost as useless as a Marks & Spencer Sparks card.”
Sally Answell wrote on Facebook: “Ok I’m off to Savers or Superdrug.”
Pete Markey, Boots Chief Marketing Officer, said: “The Boots Advantage Card is one of the original and most generous loyalty programmes, and now we’re improving it – to meet the changing needs of our customers and the way they want to shop now. According to him
“Customers want to be rewarded with on-the-spot low prices and immediate value. We’ve also seen that Advantage Card members are now using their points more often to buy essentials rather than save them, we’ve heard and expanded the plan to deliver more instant rewards, instant value and lower prices .
But it’s far from the only business making the change. Here’s how they compare.
(PA)
tesco
Which one? has reported that Tesco is now phasing out its Clubcard app, which has 20 million users for groceries, and the Clubcard app, which offers vouchers to users every fortnight, instead of the previous plan of eight times per year. However, the price of the meal deal has increased from £3 to £3.40 for Clubcard holders and from £3.50 to £3.90 for non-cardholders. Tesco introduced Clubcard Plus in November 2019, which costs £7.99 a month and offers a 10 per cent discount on two “big shops” in store per month, as well as other benefits.
Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer’s Sparks card is free and when you buy six at an M&S cafe you get your seventh hot drink free. The chain has now launched a trial for Sparks Plus, a loyalty scheme with selected existing members. Which one? reported that it would require a £120 upfront cost for benefits such as a monthly £10 voucher, invitations to store events, double donations to charity, unlimited next day delivery and a free hot drink every month.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s Bank customers will now only get one Nectar point for every £2 spent, compared to two points for every £1 spent previously – the Leicestershire Mercury has reported. There is no change in the free nectar card scheme.
morrison
Last year, the supermarket revamped its My Morrison app to deliver amazing offers and deals on everyday items customers demand. These include personalized rewards tailored to individual customer tastes.
asda
Asda Rewards was launched last year, giving customers the chance to earn pounds to spend in store. Customers can also complete ‘missions’ by purchasing specific products.
This reporter has contacted all the mentioned stores for further comment.
