Do you play the points game?

Runcarla

In other words, do you participate in customer loyalty schemes and how do you spend your points? I belong to 3.

1-A grocery store/pharmacy/gas station group - points are used for one or two free grocery shops around the holidays at the end of the year.

2-A pharmacy - points are used in January of the year to restock the first aid kit

3-Charge card - points are used to buy plane tickets

Would it be worthwhile to get a Nordstroms card? I shop in the Canadian B&M store, but not online. Are there other clothing stores that have loyalty systems? Are there other stores (not necessarily fashion) that have good customer loyalty perks?

Thanks in advance for your ideas and input.

6 years ago

Off Topic

26 replies

Latest reply was from bj1111

JAileen

Veteran

I got a Nordstrom card to participate early in NAS. I don’t use the card, though. The credit card we use is an airline miles card. Sometimes we travel for free, or upgrade. We were at our local nursery yesterday, picking up bird seed, and they said we had a credit from their program.

6 years ago

kkards

Veteran

My local grocery gives discounts on gas if you buy it from there convenience store-10cents off a gallon for every $50 spent. It seems like a good deal until you comparison shop them vs target. So I participated but don’t go out of my way to rack up points
I’ve got a loyalty card at one of the pharmacy chains—they will give limited time discounts & coupons. Don’t spend enough to go out of my way to use it.

Sephora—a couple of times a year they give discounts based on your level. Discounts at the middle level is 20%—which is real money. So I make it a point to keep my level by buying all my makeup and facial cleaners from them.
Nordstrom I’ve made the same decision. If I have a choice I’ll buy from them to get the points. Same with alterations, since the give me back the cost in points I’ll get the work done there.

6 years ago

Helena

Veteran

The only points card I actually use is PC Optimum, and it's not very good anymore TBH (used to be great before the merger of PC with Optimum).

We've collected Aeroplan for years and are only now using the points for a trip in March ... and that will pretty much tap us out.

Having worked in marketing on loyalty programs, I know the main advantage is to the retailer in collecting your purchase data!

6 years ago

Anonymous

Nope, too much data mining-aside from a local independent boutique. There are places I wont or rarely shop since theyre so agressive with their loyalty cards and credit cards. If I want to buy something, Ill buy it. If I dont, a sale makes no difference.

6 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I shop a lot at Safeway, Dad and I use the same phone # for their saver card. It's the only way to get the sale stuff, and I can apply the points to gas discounts.
I figure I throw off their data because we buy different things.

6 years ago

carter

Veteran

I use the Banana Republic Visa for everything, which gives me about $1300/year in rewards that can be used at BR, Gap, Athleta and Old Navy. Since there's always a 40% off sale, plus the card gives another 10%, it amounts to quite a lot of clothing! I take my daughter on a BR shopping spree for work clothes every Christmas, usually get my husband and son a couple shirts and sweaters annually. The rest I use throughout the year as the mood and need strike. I also get free expedited shipping, free alterations on BR merchandise, and early access to no exclusions sales events. Points add up very quickly with regular 5x or 10x point months, plus, with the Luxe card, I get quarterly bonuses that always shock me :-).

6 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I have all the cards, but Safeway is the only one I ever manage to redeem - on gas. But I have to say, most of the time the gas station pump makes it impossible to use the Safeway card. I always forget the reams of CVS coupons that get printed with receipts. The Sony card is a right joke. It started as an Apple card, which I did get something with, but they did away with that... that was the Dark Ages, boy.

6 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I only use a card for our local grocer. Sale items are only available with the card, and when the card is scanned, it registers them automatically. The points work toward free in-store items and gasoline at the neighboring filling station. I routinely fill my tank for free by being mindful of points.

Dh uses loyalty programs with airlines and hotel because he travels for work so often. We have stayed completely free in condominium resorts in Florida due to the points, so I cannot complain.

And, of course, we use the points associated with our credit card. That way, we get cash back for every purchase.

6 years ago

kerry

Veteran

Yes I do! I have three credit cards each with their own points program that work for us: PC MasterCard for 2% on groceries at Loblaws, Fortinos and No Frills; Capital One MC for Costco (1%), restaurants (3%) and gas (2%) and an AMEX for all other purchases including recurring bills (1.25%). None of the cards have annual fees.

6 years ago

Anonymous

Ditto what Suntiger wrote.

6 years ago

Anonymous

I'm right into PC Optimum points, and rack up enough to let me buy premium cosmetics and skin care at a Shoppers without the guilt I'm also a Sephora whatever-the-highest-level card holder is, and like to use those points for trying new things. I use my AirMiles card at Sobey's and the MLCC- and use the $10 -$20 off of groceries once or twice a month. Yes, I know I'm being mined for data, but I've given up worrying about it.

6 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

Does the mining for data have any deleterious effects, other than 'lowest common denominator?' I get some weird stuff routinely, so if the grocery keeps carrying goat's milk, Canadian grown produce and meats, Country Living (UK Edition) and ice cream from the local dairy, because of my data - I'm jiggy with that. $300 a week for groceries puts a lot of points on my store loyalty AND charge cards!

FWIW, if you buy something and use a store card, then return the item, does the store record the number of returns and maybe realise they have a 'lemon' product or a provider with a quality control issue?

6 years ago

Irina

Veteran

PC Optimum- I use PC MasterCard for everything and get lots of points. I use it mostly to buy cosmetics from Shoppers but recently bought a cashmere sweater from Joe Fresh with points. I also use The Bay points towards purchases but it is a slow process, I don’t shop often enough at the Bay.

6 years ago

Anonymous

I have a Nordstrom store card, not a credit card that I can use anywhere, and like the perks of Nordstrom Notes to buy things and free alterations and such.
The grocery store gives points to use to bring down the cost of gasoline for your car. That is helpful. But I don't pursue any other award systems although there are many.

6 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

Gap/Old Navy/BR, Ann Taylor/Loft, Target (5% discount + free 2 day shipping with redcard), Nordstrom, TJX family has a rewards MasterCard, I have Capital One quicksilver & discover that offer rewards, a chase Visa that gives amazon rewards, my bank has a points program for their debit cards, I have a Walmart credit card that earns rewards points, I have a Mastercard that gives me IKEA rewards...

6 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Oh wait... I do take advantage of the free coffee with the Ikea card

6 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Hotels, airline miles, grocery stores, Nordstrom, JJill, Talbots, cash back credit card, more?

6 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I have a credit card that gives me points that can be redeemed for money back. I participate in Ulta's and Sephora's rewards programs, but I don't buy a ton of stuff there, so it takes me a while to rack up points. But both places give you small trial-size products for free during your birthday month, so it's worth it just for that.

I have a Nordstrom card and use it. I like having the free alterations and also earning points against future purchases. My card is currently store-only, but I think that if I upgrade it to be used at any place of business, I can earn even more rewards points. I do enough shopping at Nordstrom that it would be a good deal.

6 years ago

kkards

Veteran

runclara --retailers do track returns, it doesn't matter if you use their credit card, any old VISA or cash....we also track negative product reviews...and yes we do use the data...

as for the data mining, unless you pay cash, you should assume that you are being data mined, even if you don't use the stores promo cards, someone is mining your data....

6 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

Thanks Kkards. I figure there has always been data collection. Back in the day it was called doing a survey or taking inventory!

I can think of one example where data gathering worked in my favour: on 3 occaisions during the 40 year tenure of my charge card, I got a call from the company regarding unusual purchasing activity. Twice it was legit (me), but once it wasn't and I got saved a whole lot of botheration.

What originally got me thinking is that the bank credit card sent a notice to DS#2 that he could cash in his credit card points for an RRSP contribution. I thought this was brilliant. We did discuss the merits - and did a comparison on the conversion amount vs conversion to travel $ so he could make the best decision. Turns out the value would be better applied to travel (better conversion) but the RRSP idea still had merit.

I asked about Nordstroms, because I don't know that I would shop there enough to derive much value. Canadian Nordstroms does not appear integrated with US Nordstroms.

I know vendors pay for the credit card tools and I have paid cash in some cases where a vendor has indicated they will discount a purchase if cash is used. (Not 'cash under the table' - taxes, etc. are still applied)!

6 years ago

MsMaven

Veteran

I have a Nordstrom, BR, and we have a Macy's and Airline card. Also a Safeway. I do use the rewards and points. And yes, I do buy more from Nordstrom than I probably would without that N Notes on hand. We are fanatic to pay cards off every month. I have an extremely high credit rating--higher than DH's at one point, to his chagrin.

The secret is to know yourself, and know that you can handle the responsibility.

6 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Yes I do.

We have a credit card that we get airpoints for (as well as with travel).

I have a loyalty card for fuel and a major supermarket here.

I do have loyalty cards at a few other retailers - but often unsubscribe from the emails. I am shopping less with these retailers anyway.

6 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

I think I belong to a few but the ones I use the most are the Sephora and Amazon points to buy some stuff from Amazon. I have redeemed airline miles for free magazine subscriptions in the past but it is a hassle to cancel them.

6 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I collect PC optimum points. I wait for the spend your points days (just happened) and stock up on skin care and beauty supplies. I try to organize my shopping to maximize my points. I have noticed since the merger of PC and optimum that the points system is not as good as it was. Too bad.
I collect reward points on my credit card for travel. I wonder about that sometimes.

I think marketing happens no matter what.

I do have a Sephora rewards card but I don't buy enough to make much of a difference.

6 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

Yes, we use credit cards for airline points. I just booked 5 tickets to Costa Rica using Southwest airline points. It's the only way we can afford to travel with 3 kids.

6 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

i use a bunch: costco visa, 4% cash back on all gas purchases not just at costco, although it is invariably the cheapest in our area, 3% on restaurants and travel (airlines mostly). spg amex for hotel, 3 points for every dollar, only when we stay at spg (now marriott) hotels. nordies for nordie purchases, the 10-point days and alterations benefit are worth it. fidelity 2% cash back for all other purchases.

my husband adds his discover card into the mix as they run 5% cash back promotions, eg amazon during the winter quarter.

if i had to pick only 1, i'd choose costco as it matches our spending patterns. i do like fidelity as the cash rebate is easy to transfer into an investment account.

6 years ago

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