M&S to revamp Sparks loyalty scheme - but how good are the new perks?

Torry_Quine

I got the bag yesterday and hadn't even known about it. Bought something and the assistant said did I have a bag yet and got one. It's a decent size with two sizes of handles. 
I got the £5 off spend on homeward and clothes.  Have often used previous offers such as money off specific food which is related to what I've bought.

LittleVoice

I was never inundated with emails about Sparks but did receive some - perhaps it was how I'd set up account originally.

Received nothing in the way of offers this month.  In the past I hadn't really bothered about the personal rewards/saving/sales early access. 
However I did use the card every time I made a purchase because of the 1p charity donation - and that is continuing so I shall continue to scan my card.

nandrews

I am amazed at the cavalier way M&S are just cancelling anything to do with Sparks and not offering any compensation!
I thought I wrote here before, but I can't find my post or the one I was replying to!
I have asked M&S Sparks a number of times "what about my 11187 points" and their replies continue to ignore the point.
Though one reply said "Thank you for getting in touch with us. The points system still remains. The more points you collect the greater chance you may win your shopping for free amongst other prizes. Thanks for contacting us."!
I appreciate that maybe the T&C said we give points but they are ours and not yours, so we can remove them if we like.
But I would have expected a company such as M&S to do the responsible thing.
Maybe I'm alone in this.

ootzrootz

As I don't have a smartphone or a tablet I spent ages on the phone yesterday to Marks and Spencers to ask if there was any way I could get my £10 Sparks reward without downloading the App. I was told I could come into the store - or send someone in with my card. Great! I'm not using public transport, I'm not willing to spending money to get to the store to get the reward or to risk my health or anyone else's.
When I asked to register a complaint I was put through to someone who told me I could borrow a smartphone or ask someone else to put it on for me. So now I have to find someone and my friends don't have Smartphones either, even better. I told this to the lady and she said she has no access to the Sparks hub, and no-one else does either (?). I asked to register a complaint as I've been a customer for a very long time and I've had a Sparks card almost from the beginning. I was told my 'comment' would be noted!!!!!!
So much for customer service.
Sorry for the rant - just had to get it off my chest

jon81uk

rockiedog said:

Just wondering if anyone has claimed their free M&S Tote Bag yet? Its available via their App.
Is it worth getting and how big is it?
Thanks.

Its a really nice quite large bag with padded handles and separate shoulder straps. If you are going anyway it is definitely worth getting, but I wouldn't make a special trip.

jon81uk

Deleted_User said:

The old scheme was totally useless and in fact put me off M&S for some time. I joined and was innundated with mail. I ceased the card within weeks but could I stop it? No. It took ages and numerous phone calls to finally stop it. And you get the loud "Have you used your Sparks card" request at the check out. And all for what, there are no useful benefits for the shopper and I doubt there'll be so with the new scheme. It's just a data collecting exercise. Stay away and hopefully they'll drop it.

I seem to have managed to turn all email off from M&S. I just open the App or website occasionally to check what offers are available. I only got a couple of recent emails about the changes to the scheme, no general ones ever.

jon81uk

ootzrootz said:

As I don't have a smartphone or a tablet I spent ages on the phone yesterday to Marks and Spencers to ask if there was any way I could get my £10 Sparks reward without downloading the App. I was told I could come into the store - or send someone in with my card. Great! I'm not using public transport, I'm not willing to spending money to get to the store to get the reward or to risk my health or anyone else's.
When I asked to register a complaint I was put through to someone who told me I could borrow a smartphone or ask someone else to put it on for me. So now I have to find someone and my friends don't have Smartphones either, even better. I told this to the lady and she said she has no access to the Sparks hub, and no-one else does either (?). I asked to register a complaint as I've been a customer for a very long time and I've had a Sparks card almost from the beginning. I was told my 'comment' would be noted!!!!!!
So much for customer service.
Sorry for the rant - just had to get it off my chest

You don't need a smartphone if you already have a Sparks card. Nothing has changed in that respect.
Sign in here to view the offers https://www.marksandspencer.com/joinsparks
Scan your card when instore to redeem offers chosen on the website. Just keep using the card you already have and then access the offers on the website, same as you have always had to do. Nothing has changed.
Lots of answers to the questions here https://www.marksandspencer.com/c/help/sparks

I'm really not sure what your problem is? If you checked the offers on the website and then scanned the card instore, you carry on doing the same thing. If you don't want to shop instore at the moment then you don't get the discount, most Sparks offers have always been redeemable instore only.

MalMonroe

Deleted_User said:

The old scheme was totally useless and in fact put me off M&S for some time. I joined and was innundated with mail. I ceased the card within weeks but could I stop it? No. It took ages and numerous phone calls to finally stop it. And you get the loud "Have you used your Sparks card" request at the check out. And all for what, there are no useful benefits for the shopper and I doubt there'll be so with the new scheme. It's just a data collecting exercise. Stay away and hopefully they'll drop it.

WHAT??? I love my Sparks card. Always used to get discounts, notification of sales, priority shopping sales online, fabulous! Absolutely nothing wrong with Sparks card, great thing to have and very beneficial for anyone who shops at M&S.

Just because you didn't get along with it doesn't mean you should try to discourage others!

MalMonroe

Raine_E_Day said:

Brie said:

I have missed crucial information about my M&S credit card as I get so many M&S emails for Sparks - up to several a day.  Very annoying.  And now they are going to only give me stuff if I have a Sparks app?  What a disadvantage for those of us who are Neanderthals and don't have phones capable of such things.  Great way to discourage a major portion of their customer base.

I totally agree.  Constant emails and useless offers, yet along comes a decent one and I cannot benefit! I have a six year old tablet (will not install updated app) and a 'dumb' phone.  So I guess that's no £25 offer for me either, despite 1000000 points.  They will probably alienate a large section of their customer base (or what's left of it after their decline in decent clothing).  I only buy occasional food, shoes and a few household items these days, and I had my eye on some cushions but I'll be switching to Waitrose and John Lewis and ditch their credit card too.  Thank you for nothing M&S!

Exactly, thank them for nothing!! They don't HAVE to make offers of anything to anybody. Everything they offer is just an incentive to use their shop. If you don't want to or don't have the right equipment, it is NOT their fault. With Sparks I've often got something for nothing. And that's great. But you can't DEMAND that they give you something for nothing! That's just crazy talk. You switch to JL and Waitrose (who are closing their stores hand over fist) and enjoy their perks instead. 

MalMonroe

ootzrootz said:

As I don't have a smartphone or a tablet I spent ages on the phone yesterday to Marks and Spencers to ask if there was any way I could get my £10 Sparks reward without downloading the App. I was told I could come into the store - or send someone in with my card. Great! I'm not using public transport, I'm not willing to spending money to get to the store to get the reward or to risk my health or anyone else's.
When I asked to register a complaint I was put through to someone who told me I could borrow a smartphone or ask someone else to put it on for me. So now I have to find someone and my friends don't have Smartphones either, even better. I told this to the lady and she said she has no access to the Sparks hub, and no-one else does either (?). I asked to register a complaint as I've been a customer for a very long time and I've had a Sparks card almost from the beginning. I was told my 'comment' would be noted!!!!!!
So much for customer service.
Sorry for the rant - just had to get it off my chest

But you DO realise that Sparks is a concession and not a right? You can complain all you like, but that's just totally ridiculous because it's all a free offer anyway and nothing to do with actual buying and selling of any goods. If it puts you off buying from them that's a shame but not all shops offer such incentives. Now they've decided to change the way it operates, it's up to them because it is ALL FREE anyway!!