A truly rewarding loyalty card?
By James Havers, Sympatico / MSN Finance
We Canadians are a loyal lot. While other countries have only learned to embrace loyalty programs over the past 10 to 20 years, we've been stashing away our Canadian Tire money - the country's first foray into any kind of rewards program - since their inception in 1958.
That's not to say all rewards programs are created equally. Some people love Canadian Tire money. Others can't throw them away - or donate them - quickly enough. The same goes for programs like Air Miles, Aeroplan, HBC Rewards, Shoppers Drug Mart's Optimum card, Petro Canada's Petro Points, etc.
I've collected all of the above - and more. But for all the work dragging these cards around in my wallet and offering them up to cashiers whenever the opportunity arose, I can't say I've received a single thing for my efforts. For example, I've been accumulating Air Miles points for about five years now, and just received notice that for all that work I now have enough points for a free movie rental. Am I the only one that finds this a waste of time?
So it was with a hint of skepticism that I signed up for the SCENE card last summer. The pitch - a free movie after 10 visits and 10 per cent off concession purchases - won me over. As a movie lover suffering high ticket and concession prices mostly in silence, I really couldn't lose.
So after six months I've already scored a free movie (in a theatre, no less), along with ample discounted pop and popcorn.
That either says a lot for this card, or for the woeful state of the country's loyalty programs. You decide.
Posted by: DrVex007 | Jan 13, 2022 12:12:30 AM
For me the main problem with Loyalty cards is the scam itself. First, is the promise of great rewards if you sign up and initially you do see you points climb quickly, but after awhile they slow down, regardless of how often you shop.
AirMiles added restriction after restriction
Sunoco Performce card is only good if you buy Ultra 94 ONLY
Blockbuster Rewards? Umm Yeah after you rent 10 movies they will give you one free, but at $5.74 per movie you have spent $60 and then you add the $20 membership. Rip Off!
GM VISA - after you hit the maximum you cannot earn more and then they start reducing your rewards, which should be illegal.
Canadian Tire Money is still by far the best, I have reaped many rewards with with the "Options Mastercard" or the CT Cash itself. It is real, there are no catches and they never take it away.
It is time to revilt and make them actually pay out the rewards for a change. Stop using them and they will increase the rewards to get us all back.
Posted by: titus groan | Jan 13, 2022 1:46:07 AM
the only card i regularly use is shopper's optimum. simply because there seems to be no catch. one trip there i paid ten dollars cash for one hundred dollars worth of product. i couldn't argue with that transaction.
air miles card is a crock. too many restrictions, deadlines bla bla. i can't help but think this card is merely a sugar pill for the consumer, a lame attempt at getting your attention away from dwindling service tied to rising prices. even after collecting a bazillion points (and now think how much money you have to spend to get those points), a simple seat upgrade can be a shocking failure. you can collect these points practically anywhere. i'm of a mind it's because they are worth next to nothing.
canadian tire...at least i can walk into a store with a mitt full of their "play money" and walk out with something tangible.
which, in the end, is what i look for as a "reward"
Posted by: Works for me | Jan 13, 2022 7:25:21 AM
I love my airmiles card. I have been to Europe 5 times in the last 4 years and have not paid to fly once. I am a pretty enthusiastic airmiles shopper and plan my weekly meals around what the local supermarket has on airmiles specials. I have also had 8 domestic shorthaul flights with my aeroplan ponits as well.
Posted by: Frasera | Jan 13, 2022 8:56:31 AM
Canadian tire cash is by far the best but as mentioned before they have been at it the longest. I do tote an air miles and over the years have recived small things like A&P dollars and this year we took all 5 kids to the T.O. zoo for Free admission. If you want to score big you need to plan like Works for me does that isnt a reward program that is a second job and then you have to do do the math are you spendingmore on groceries than the flight cost. I think it is a personal decisiion to be a reward collector I am not wholy motivated by these programs but I think Shoppers Optimum Air miles and#1 with me Canadian Tire cash are the best
Posted by: TJ | Jan 13, 2022 9:12:09 AM
We all pay for "Rewards" in the end. Do we really think that companies are going to reduce their profit margin by giving us something for free? The cost of these so called rewards is built in to the price we pay for everything which raises prices making it harder and harder for lower income consumers to be able to afford even the necessities of life. The rewards for loyal customers should be lower prices and better service! That way everyone wins.
Posted by: Robert | Jan 13, 2022 9:27:26 AM
I don't consider movie theater loyalty programs much of a loyalty program. Concession prices are way overpriced and anything they "give away" is more than paid for in their ridiculous prices.
To successfully benefit from a loyalty program, you need to pick one program and stick with it. Avoid the temptaition of signing up for every program on the go. As with everything, the best program is dependant on your spending habits and lifestyle. Also, try to find complementing programs where you can switch points from one program to the other. Citi mastercard with Petro points convertable to Sears points for example can be very lucrative.
For a short period you need to almost force yourself to remember to use the card or take it with you. Then force yourself to watch for bonus programs and how best to take advantage of them. It seems like a waste of time but in a short time it becomes second nature and you get a vibe for how best to "work the system".
Personally as my primary loyalty program, I use the Citi mastercard to collect Petro points at Sobeys fast fuel to receive not only petro points but also 3.5 cents off my gas purchases (as opposed to only 2 cents saved at Petro Can with the card) The I switch my Petro points to Sears points for Sears gift cards. I usually get 2 $350 Sears cards per year on everyday purchases.
As a secondary program (incase I don't have my mastercard with me or shopping at Costco where they don't accept mastercard) I use my Air miles American Express. I never seem to have my Air Miles card with me so I memorized the card number. This may sound impossible but it is really no more difficult than remembering a phone number. And it's fun to watch the amazement on people's faces when you rhyme off the number.
These 2 programs work well for me personally but others can be just as effective depending on where you shop. I rarely go to HBC or Shoppers Drug mart but if you shop there regularly and take advantage of their bonuses, they can be very good programs as well when combined with say Esso Exta.
Posted by: Webloyalty | Jan 27, 2022 12:34:19 AM
Hi,
Working with Web Loyalty has been a fantastic experience and one that we would recommend to any internet retailer. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks
Sofia.
Posted by: CC | Mar 19, 2022 11:57:14 AM
I love my CIBC AeroGold Infinite Card. I have earned countless flights, from domestic within Canada to flights to Europe and the Caribbean. Sure there is a $120 fee, but I have gained thousands of dollars worth of rewards in a single year that more than offsets the fee. Plus, I am only spending money that I would be spending otherwise. I never carry a balance so there is no cost of borrowing and I'm not forced to shop at a specific store to earn these points. There is a reason these loyalty point credit cards are so popular. I will admit that the AeroPlan card by itself is pretty much useless, but once you get a loyalty points credit card you can reap the rewards.
The Shoppers Optimum Card is pretty good, minus the fact that their prices (unless on sale) are outrageous compared to other big box grocery retailers. The Air Miles card is ok, but you can't seem to earn enough points unless you have one of the MasterCard cards or Amex cards which is associated with this points program. If you clip the bonus Air Miles coupons from the Safeway coupon books you can earn them really fast, however you are paying top dollar for your groceries shopping at Safeway. I absolutely hate Canadian Tire money, I have no time or space to carry around a huge stack of what seems like mostly 5 cent, 10 cent or 25 cent "coupons". If you have the Options MasterCard then maybe that is a bit better BUT, aren't the rewards tied to Canadian Tire Products?
In response to TJ's comment (We all pay for "Rewards" in the end. Do we really think that companies are going to reduce their profit margin by giving us something for free? The cost of these so called rewards is built in to the price we pay for everything which raises prices making it harder and harder for lower income consumers to be able to afford even the necessities of life. The rewards for loyal customers should be lower prices and better service! That way everyone wins.)
Sure we all pay for it, but they aren't going to go away, so... go collect as many points as you can.