Below you will find the details of some of the biggest loyalty programs available. I have added (as usual!) my personal opinions on these programs as well, but check them out and make the decision for yourself.
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HAPPY SAVING:)
Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum Points
Club Sobeys Points
PC Points
Walmart Rewards
Airmiles Program
Esso Extra Points
Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum Points
HOW TO EARN:Optimum card holders automatically receive 10 Optimum points for every $1 spent when their card is swiped (with the exception of lottery, tobacco, and gift cards not used at Shoppers Drug Mart). The total awardable points is calculated before taxes, and after any applicable discounts.
BONUSES:Shoppers Drug Mart will run promotions awarding you bonus Optimum points when you purchase certain products (ie 1000 Optimum points when you buy any 2 Tylenol products, or 10x the points on all vitamins). They also have 20x the points days where you receive 20x the points, usually when you spend $50 or more.
REWARDS:Shoppers Optimum points can be redeemed in store on any products except for gift cards. If you redeem your points during "Spend Your Points" or "BONUS Redemption" events, you receive more than the regular dollar amount assigned to the points level being redeemed (ie 50000 points = $100 instead of the regular $85).
8000 points = $10
22000 points = $30
38000 points = $60
50000 points = $85
95000 points = $170
TIPS & TRICKS:
*Take advantage of BONUS Optimum offers! These will be posted at Save Big, Live Better! as they come available.
*Purchase a gift card before shopping! You earn Optimum points on Shoppers Drug Mart gift cards, so if you are planning on spending $50 on your purchase, buy a $50 gift card before shopping. That earns you an extra 500 points!
*Shop on 20x the points event days! These days are the key to racking up the points the fastest! Make sure to bring your coupons so you get double the bang for your buck! You will not recieve 20x the points on gift card purchases, but still go ahead and do it because you will still get the base points.
*Use coupons to lower your total! Even on promotional days, as long as your total BEFORE coupons and taxes have been applied meets the required threshold, you will receive the points for your total amount, not the amount you actually pay!
*Save your points for higher redemption levels! The more points you are redeeming, the higher the points/dollar ratio is. Ideally, work your way up to 95,000 before redeeming.
*Only redeem points on Bonus redemption days (these will be posted on Save Big, Live Better!). This can get you upwards of an additional $80 for your points depending on the amount you're redeeming!
MY TWO CENTS!!:Personally I think that Shoppers Optimum is the best loyalty program out there by far! The rewards are great for the points required, and with all the bonus offers, the points add up very quickly.
Sign up for an Optimum card online.
Check out Maximizing Your Optimum Points for more tips!
Club Sobeys Points
SIGNING UP:Signing up for a Club Sobeys card is quick and easy. It can be done in store or online.
HOW TO EARN:You are awarded 1 Club Sobeys point for every FULL dollar spent in store. Awardable points are calculated before taxes and after discounts have been applied.
BONUSES:Bonus Club Sobeys points can be found throughout the store for purchasing specific products (ie 200 Club Sobeys points for buying Mccain Pizza). Club Sobeys will also email/mail you vouchers for additional bonus offers (ie 100 Club Sobeys points when you spend $50 or more).
REWARDS:Club Sobeys points can be redeemed in store or online. You can redeem in store for an instant credit toward your grocery purchase, or online for gift cards and other items.
In store redemption...
725 points = $5
1375 points = $10
2000 points = $15
2600 points = $20
3200 points = $25
6250 points = $50
9375 points = $75
12500 points = $100
TIPS & TRICKS:
*Take advantage of bonus points offers by combining them with coupon savings! This way you get more points for less money out of pocket!
*Do multiple transactions! If I have found a really great bonus points offer, I will put all of it in my first transaction, then use those points to pay for my second transaction.
*Check the Weekly Matchups for the "Super Bonus Points" items of the week! This is usually 1 or 2 items in store that will award you higher points than anything else.
MY TWO CENTS!!:Occasionally you can find some great points offers that, especially when combined with a coupon, can really save you money on your groceries. To be perfectly honest though, I find that alot of the bonus point items each week in store seem like the price has been RAISED to compensate for the points they are awarding with the purchase! So even with a coupon, you're paying for those points!
I do like the fact though that you have the option to use your points online towards things other than groceries, but in the long run, alot of the time it seems like you're paying for it one way or another.
Sign up for a Club Sobeys card online.
PC Points
HOW TO EARN:As a PC MasterCard customer, you earn 10 PC points for every $1 spent using your card everywhere you shop. With a PC no fee bank card, you earn 5 PC points for every $1 spent using your bank card at participating stores where President's Choice products are sold (ie any Loblaws chain location).
BONUSES:Occasionally bonus offers may be sent to cardholders.
REWARDS:You can redeem your PC Points in store toward your grocery purchase, excluding tobacco products, lottery, and prescription medication. The minimum redemption level is 20000 PC points, getting you $20 in savings. This is followed in 10000 point increments after that.
TIPS & TRICKS:
*Using a PC Mastercard for ALL your shopping can allow you to earn points much faster. If you have/apply for this card, consider using it at all grocers, for gas purchases, etc.
MY TWO CENTS!!:Personally I don't think this card is worth its place in my wallet! Even at the higher redemption rate the PC Mastercard provides you with at 10 points per $1 spent, you're spending $2000 just to get $20 back?! No thank you! If you are in the market for a no fee bank account or credit card, then this is an added bonus I guess. But I would definitely NOT recommend this program as a rewards program alone!
Sign up to earn PC points online.
Walmart Rewards Program
SIGNING UP:Walmart Rewards Mastercard must be applied for in store or by mail using a printable application form.
HOW TO EARN:Earn 1.25% of every purchase made at Walmart back in Walmart Credit, and 1% of every purchase made anywhere mastercard is accepted, using your Walmart Rewards Mastercard.
BONUSES:
*Earn $15 in bonus Walmart Rewards for getting the card and using it once at Walmart and once at another retailer.
*Earn $10 in bonus Walmart Rewards for going paperless and receiving your statements electronically.
REWARDS:Walmart Rewards can be redeemed instantly at the cash in $5.00 increments at any Walmart in Canada.
TIPS & TRICKS:
*Use your Walmart Rewards card to pay for everything from groceries to gas and get the rewards back!
*Pay your balance instantly in store at the cash, but still earn REWARDS!! You can actually pay for your purchase with your Walmart Rewards Mastercard, then instantly pay that balance using your debit card in the same transaction! So no interest ever accumulates, you just earn the rewards!
MY TWO CENTS!!:I think this is a fabulous card! Yes, its a credit card, but you can use it simply as a rewards card by paying your balance immediately with your debit card, and still earn the money back! I just heard about this from the most FABULOUS cashier ever at my Walmart, Christine, who filled me in on using it just for the rewards. What a fantastic idea! and the fact that you can use it everywhere definitely means HUGE and FAST return! You can only use the rewards at Walmart, but lets face it, what can you NOT get at Walmart!?! I'm definitely loving this one:)
Apply for a Walmart Rewards Mastercard.
Airmiles Program
SIGNING UP:Its FREE to sign up and you can sign up for the airmiles program on the Airmiles.ca website and print a temporary card instantly until your actual card arrives by mail.
HOW TO EARN:Swipe your card at participating retailers to earn airmiles reward miles. Usually they are awarded at about 1 mile for every $20.00 spent. The following are just some of the retailers you can earn from:
Rexall Pharma Plus
LCBO
Metro
Rona
Safeway
Shell
Sears
You can also sign up for an American Express card that will earn you airmiles as you spend as well.
BONUSES:No start up bonuses at the present time. There are constantly airmiles bonuses available in store and online. These are viewable on the airmiles website, by signing up for the airmiles newsletter, or on Save Big, Live Better!
REWARDS:Airmiles can be used to pay for travel, or can be redeemed for merchandise found in the Rewards section of their website, or used to purchase gift cards for associated retailers.
TIPS & TRICKS:
*Give your extra card to a friend or family member so both of you are collecting onto one account!
*Take advantage of every FREE bonus offer. Typicaly these will include taking a survey of some sort, but the survey is usually under 10 minutes, and you get the airmiles within a month or so.
*Be aware of bonus points offers in your regular reatail stops before shopping! If Rexall has a promo for "50 airmiles when you spend $50", and you can get anything you were planning on getting somewhere else for around the same price, go where you'll get the rewards!
MY TWO CENTS:I think that the airmiles program, though slower to earn than Shoppers Optimum points, is a great free program with lots of options to cash in on! The fact that there are frequent FREE ways to earn miles is very appealing, so its not always just 1 mile/dollar spent. I just got this card 2 months ago and have earned over 150 miles just by doing surveys and shopping strategically.
Esso Extra Points
HOW TO EARN:You automatically earn 1 Esso Extra point for every dollar spent at Esso stations. You can also sign up for an RBC Esso Rewards Visa and earn on any purchase you make.
BONUSES:Earn 200 Esso Extra points automatically when you sign up. Bonus offers are released at various times as well like "10x the points when you buy THIS" and the like.
REWARDS:Esso Extra Points can be redeemed in store or online. Some examples of the rewards levels available are:
*499 points - one full car wash
*800 points = $5.00 in lottery tickets
*130 points = Nestle Chocolate bar
*100 points = Medium Coffee
*4500 points - $25 Tim Hortons or Shoppers Drug Mart gift card
TIPS & TRICKS
*If this is a program that makes sense for you, you can convert other points programs into Esso Extra points such as HBC Rewards (the bay, home outfitters, zellers) and Club Sobeys, to earn faster.
*Signing up for the RBC Esso Visa will earn you rewards much faster if you use it for all your purchases.
MY TWO CENTS:I think this is a great program for small day to day rewards. Ultimately, I wouldnt see myself waiting to have spent $4500 on gas to get a $25 gift card. But, since I have to get gas anyway, it'd be nice to be able to cash in once or twice a week on a free coffee or some gas:)
Sign up for an Esso Extra Points card and receive 200 points FREE!
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