MSE News: Superdrug takes on Boots with loyalty card launch

Stuart_W

Not sure about everyone else's town, but in my town it seems that Boots have a better higher-end offer, Savers have a much cheaper lower-end offer and this leaves Superdrug somewhere unambiguously in the middle. I only ever shop in Superdrug for stamps or phone top-ups when they do their 5% or 10% discount offers. Won't knock another 1% off if that is what the loyalty card offers.

Hermia

Stuart_W wrote: »

Not sure about everyone else's town, but in my town it seems that Boots have a better higher-end offer, Savers have a much cheaper lower-end offer and this leaves Superdrug somewhere unambiguously in the middle.

That is very true. They don't seem to have a place or an identity. I couldn't tell you what image they are trying to project on the high street.

One of the things that is irritating about Superdrug is those awful CDs they play of current songs that are not sung by the real artist. It's painful to listen to!

Horasio

BargainMad wrote: »

Superdrug often have ENORMOUS queues and not enough checkout staff and I can only think that a loyalty card would slow things down even more

And it is strange that they have called it a "Beauty Card" which does not have the all encompassing reach of the "Advantage Card".....will the staff have to ask male shoppers if they have a beauty card?

I have a Debenhams Beauty Card and that makes sense as they only sell cosmetics/beauty products/fragrance but Superdrug sell everything from washing up liquid to newspapers. I would have called it something more far reaching.

It will certainly need ramping up with extra point offers but I cannot see them being able to replicate Advantage Card Point terminals which exist in Boots.

Still it's better than nothing.....JUST !

The queues put me off in Suoerdrug - I detest queuing:(

Horasio

The queues put me off in Superdrug - I detest queuing:(

Mat_Lock

Hermia wrote: »

One of the things that is irritating about Superdrug is those awful CDs they play of current songs that are not sung by the real artist. It's painful to listen to!

Must have been a while since you were last in the store. Music licences have been in store for a few months nbow.

Mat_Lock

corbyboy wrote: »

I think this question is answered by this quote from the Superdrug press release.

There are plans afoot for a male version too I believe

jenniewb

Mat_Lock wrote: »

Must have been a while since you were last in the store. Music licences have been in store for a few months nbow.

Still were playing tribute singers scrawling when I was there last week, if they have rolled out the real deal they haven't done so nationally yet. Agree, its a pet dslike of mine too: why can;t the singers sing their own tunes or at least really old stuff which would then sound a bit more genuine.

Hermia

Mat_Lock wrote: »

Must have been a while since you were last in the store. Music licences have been in store for a few months nbow.

Was in my local store last week and it was still the painful cover artists being played.

frugalstephen

Amazed at the derogatory comments here at SuperDrug. Here in Northern Ireland, their stores are clean & well merchandised. Staff are a bit hit & miss, just like they are in Boots.

But the price? Superdrug wins hands down. On basics like anti-perspirant, soap, Gilette blades etc, they are consistently cheaper than Boots.

For those old enough to remember, in the 90's, Boots use to offer a 'price promise' to beat competitors if they were cheaper - that was withdrawn when they launched their Advantage card. I'd much rather have simple cheap pricing that some hyped up 'loyalty' card, pity retailers don't feel the same!!

jenniewb

frugalstephen wrote: »

Amazed at the derogatory comments here at SuperDrug. Here in Northern Ireland, their stores are clean & well merchandised. Staff are a bit hit & miss, just like they are in Boots.

But the price? Superdrug wins hands down. On basics like anti-perspirant, soap, Gilette blades etc, they are consistently cheaper than Boots.

For those old enough to remember, in the 90's, Boots use to offer a 'price promise' to beat competitors if they were cheaper - that was withdrawn when they launched their Advantage card. I'd much rather have simple cheap pricing that some hyped up 'loyalty' card, pity retailers don't feel the same!!

Lol, obviously not the same as the stores I've visited: seen in a Superdrug near me eariler this month: selling out of date stock. Did they realise it was out of date? Well I'd assume so, it was in the "reduced to clear" section and more then 2 months out of date:eek:

Staff in the SD's near me aren't just hit-and-miss, they seem to seriously dislike customers. You only have to look at a tester and go to pick it up before a voice bellows into your ear "your not allowed to test the [STRIKE]testers[/STRIKE] makeup in here"! In the end this is what puts me off more so then any queues. Maybe they need to send all their staff over to NI for training!!:cool: