Last day TODAY for shoppers to spend loyalty points as bargain retailer axes rewards
TODAY is the last day for shoppers to spend their loyalty points before a major bargain retailer axes its rewards scheme.
The programme is coming to an end after almost ten years as the firm faces a “challenging economic backdrop”.
The Works confirmed that it would drop its Together Rewards system on March 30 as it struggles with profitability.
Under the scheme, customers collected five points for every £1 they spent in-store, with each point equivalent to a penny.
Vouchers would then be sent out every three months based on the number of points customers had accrued.
They could then redeem these vouchers in-store to get money off future purchases.
Members were also given exclusive access to offers, bonus points and even gifts.
The cut-off for new registrations was set at February 27, while no more points were given out after March 30.
We have had to look at ways to maintain the most important thing for our customers – everyday affordable prices
Gavin Peck
Now, though, any vouchers which have not yet been used must be redeemed by 11.59pm tonight or they will be invalidated.
Announcing the change earlier this year, The Works chief executive Gavin Peck said: “After careful consideration, we have decided to end our ‘Together Rewards’ loyalty scheme.
“Against a challenging economic backdrop, we have had to look at ways to maintain the most important thing for our customers – everyday affordable prices – whilst also making savings across our business.”
However, he did mention that the firm would explore other ways of rewarding customers for repeat business.
Social media reaction to the decision has been largely negative, with commented sharing their “outrage”.
One wrote: “I literally just got one of these a couple weeks ago.”
Another asked: “Why are they getting rid of it?
“I loved having my rewards card it felt like I was saving so much money.”
It comes after troubled video game retailer GAME took a similar decision to wind up its loyalty programme, with the cut-off date just a couple of weeks away.
Supermarket loyalty schemes - which has one?
MOST UK supermarkets have loyalty schemes so customers can build up points and save money while they shop.
Here we round up what saving programmes you’ll find at the big brands.
- Iceland: Unlike other stores, you don’t collect points with the Iceland Bonus Card. Instead, you load it up with money and Iceland will give you £1 for every £20 you save.
- Lidl Plus: Lidl customers don’t collect points when they shop, and are instead rewarded with personalised vouchers that gives them money off at the till.
- Morrisons: The My Morrisons: Make Good Things Happen replaces the More Card and rewards customers with personalised money off vouchers via the app.
- Sainsbury’s: While Sainsbury’s doesn’t have a personal scheme, it does own the Nectar card which can also be used in Argos, eBay and other shops. You need 200 Nectar points to save up £1 to spend on your card. You need to spend at least £1 to get one Nectar point.
- Tesco: Tesco Clubcard has over 17million members in the UK alone. You use it each time you shop and build up points that can be turned into vouchers – 150 points gets you a £1.50 voucher. Here you need to spend £1 in Tesco to get one point.
- Waitrose: myWaitrose also doesn’t allow you to collect points but instead you’ll get access to free hot drinks, and discounts off certain brands in store.