Great Hunt: What are the most useful loyalty cards?

Sulevia

Nectar as I do nearly all my weekly food shopping at Sainsbury. I save the points till birthdays, holidays, and Xmas then I can buy treats without having to worry about budgeting in too much extra.

colharris57

Tesco Clubcard - we do most of our grocery shopping and fuel from Tesco - we use the points for restaurant vouchers - very useful... We did have a load of points go missing - someone had used them to buy vouchers or something - Tesco were very good and reinstated them for us. Over the last number of years have saved us a fortune at Cineworld and various restaurants

Sainsbury's Nectar Card - use it occasionaly - not very good ...

Boots Advantage - my wife uses it and seems to get some value form it - she saves up and uses the points at Christmas..

dw1

My M&S credit card has earnt me hundreds in vouchers since I got it several years ago. I put all my spending on it, plus once a year for the last few I paid my university fees with it, at £3450 a time, earning me £17 back in vouchers instantly. I don't go to M&S that often so when I do it's virtually always free shopping!

The best card I have isn't a 'loyalty' card, it's a railcard :rotfl: although of course not everyone can get one of those.

As for less useful ones:
- The nectar points devaluation has been noticeable, I shop at sainsburys all the time but the points don't seem to build up like they used to.
- Natwest have a 1% cashback offer on contactless purchases, which sounds great, but those are so few and far between I still haven't passed the £5 minimum before you can cash out.
- The Shell Drivers Club card is offset by the higher price of their fuel near me see also Costa, Starbucks, Boots, Superdrug etc etc which all cost more than alternatives.

dw1

Also - apologies if it's off topic but why did Matalan make me get a card? Do they still require one? I haven't been there in ages but it irks me that I still have the card in my wallet 'just in case' but it gives no discount at all!

loranius

It's probably better if the thread states what card/apps you use. A lot of cards which used to be physically in my purse are now on my smartphone:-

1. Starbucks app on my phone, works just like the card. I bought a lot of credit at 50% from Barclays Bespoke and am happily treating myself to 50% off starbucks, plus the free drink whenever I collect enough drinks, and extras all the time.

2. Tesco - I'm still using my parent's card but I have applied for my own...just need to put this in my purse. Useful for vouchers and the doubling up points etc.

3. Greggs app - I am afraid to admit that I only use this for the freebies they keep handing out. I've had free hot dogs etc.

4. Boots app + card - so useful for vouchers and buying meds with the points etc. I buy my contact lense through them so they give me 10% discount on all Boots branded products. My mum has the senior boots card which gives her more points per £ as well I believe.

5. Nandos card - who doesn't like nandos, or free chicken?



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Cards I never use

1. John Lewis Card - I actually never put this in my purse although I do shop there for all those weddings coming up (I tend to buy clothes there only) but it's useful for the free drinks/cake vouchers, and that free Mabel penguin tote bag at Xmas was awesome!

2. Superdrug - just never tend to shop there

3. Boost Card - I use very rarely as I only go to the one in Westfield, but I have used it for the free birthday drink last year!

4. Waitrose Card - I don't have one close by but keep it in my purse just in case?!

threespires

I've found I've cut down on loyalty cards in past year as supermarkets cutting their terms. The best card I use now is from Ikea; offers discount on specific homeware products but also gives special prices on restaurant lines which can be good. Only snag is restaurant is popular so you may have to queue.

h15t0r1an

Sounds like an inside job. Your account was targeted by an insider at Nectar because of the huge number of points.

I think I would have taken that one further, even going formal on them to prove it was you that did it. Since they couldn't they'd probably have had to reinstate all your points or provide money instead.

And assuming what you say is absolutely true then I'm sure they wouldn't want word about this breach of their security to be publicised by being dealt with repeatedly all over the internet and other public ways.

If you've communicated with them at least three times trying to get this solved, you have 3 years within which to take formal action legally.

h15t0r1an

torbrex wrote: »

Lidl card, I get £5 off every time I spend £25

Bonus being that I didn't have to register it so they don't even know who I am

What Lidl card is this please.

h15t0r1an

dw1 wrote: »

Also - apologies if it's off topic but why did Matalan make me get a card? Do they still require one? I haven't been there in ages but it irks me that I still have the card in my wallet 'just in case' but it gives no discount at all!

They want you to have the app now. Presumably so they can track you and get information on you. And use up your data limit on your phone updating it all the time :-)

Capitalqueen

Tesco card is my one of choice. I use it ,the linked credit card and Payqwik all the time. I use the credit card for virtually everything I buy. (Pay off in FULL every month.) Trading up the vouchers, I haven't paid for a train journey for years, took advantage of their £5 railcards offer and saved a third off sleeper journey. Best bargain was £100 of vouchers doubled up, four pairs of prescription glasses and I paid £4. I also have Nectar, Boot etc but just use them infrequently.