Shop loyalty schemes are getting out of hand and I'm wondering if they should be illegal

Brie

I've always wished that there were no loyalty schemes as it would lighten my wallet and in a good way - lots less cards and coupons to carry about.  I'd prefer to just have the lower prices as they wouldn't have the cost of running schemes.  But then they wouldn't get all their marketing data....

And some deals are blatantly weird.  Sainsburys had a product that was not card related where it was 1 product for £2.99 and 2 for £2.75.  Why would you not buy 2?  Even if you gave one away?  And Tesco had olive oil on display showing the price per litre except for some brands which were price per 100 g.  Made it very difficult to sort out which was cheapest as I didn't have a calculator with me.  (no not on my phone either)

born_again

boxosox said:

I went to Superdrug to buy some moisturiser that was at its normal price of £3.49 but only if you were a member of their loyalty scheme.  If not, it was double the price at £6.99.

So I went to Boots where it was exactly the same - to get the normal price I needed an Advantage card, otherwise pay double.

The same seems to be true in Pret, Tesco, Morrisons, Starbucks and loads more I can't remember right now.

But it seems like they're not rewarding you for being in their scheme, but punishing you for not being in it.  Doubling the price of something purely because you don't want to hand over your personal details and get bombarded by marketing seems really underhanded.

Interesting take.

What is the cost of said product elsewhere that does not have a reward scheme?

If being a member gets a discount, then to me that is a bonus. Not a disadvantage. As it is your choice not to join.

This is MSE after all & your data is already out there one way or another on the internet.

powerful_Rogue

Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't care less if Tesco (or any other supermarket) know I buy coffee, milk and eggs.

RefluentBeans

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Just to add the CMA is currently reviewing the schemes:

The review will consider issues such as:

whether any aspects of loyalty pricing could mislead shoppers, for example whether the loyalty price is a genuine promotion or as good a deal as presented

whether any groups of shoppers are disadvantaged by this type of promotional activity

whether loyalty pricing is impacting consumer behaviour, and whether this has an impact on how supermarkets compete with each other

https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/loyalty-pricing-in-the-groceries-sector

I think it’s an interesting situation. It does certainly seem that there are the same 100-300 products on constant special offer rotation. 

I think the reality is that they can’t legislate a ban on membership cards (Costco and other membership only stores have been in the UK for decades now); but I think there needs to be clear pricing, and especially pricing per unit on the special offer prices. It does seem to be a loophole that some have exploited for years to have something not priced per unit on special offer. Tesco have (voluntarily, after pressure) started to do this; and in fact their Clubcard promos are all being revamped due to a clash with Lidl. 

JadedAngel88

I have quite a few loyalty cards. I don't get any marketing emails or letters. I think it's probably because I tick the box for them to send junk mail or I unsubscribe if they send emails. 

user1977

Brie said:

Tesco had olive oil on display showing the price per litre except for some brands which were price per 100 g.  Made it very difficult to sort out which was cheapest as I didn't have a calculator with me.

Bit odd. I'm pretty sure it can only be sold by volume. I wonder if it was actually price per 100ml (which makes the arithmetic a bit easier!).

PHK

I always find it slightly amusing that people who have signed up to MSE (owner MoneySupermarket) that makes money using affiliate links and skimlinks, completely legally, i .e.   You are the product. Have a problem giving their name, and email to a firm they buy stuff from  

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

PHK said:

I always find it slightly amusing that people who have signed up to MSE (owner MoneySupermarket) that makes money using affiliate links and skimlinks, completely legally, i .e.   You are the product. Have a problem giving their name, and email to a firm they buy stuff from  

I very rarely read the rest of the site other than the forums and don't think I've ever clicked on any links.

I have wondered what info they can glean from us posting here and assume cookies tracking activity earn them something? Although the cookies should be set to essential only (at least that what I clicked!). 

The bigger question is why, when we live in a world where your phone tracks everything you do and your TV, Fire remote, modern take on the Hi-Fi speaker and no doubt a load of other tat that exists, listens to what you doing in your home, do things like this bother people?

I think the answer is convenience, we are generally pretty happy to give away anything for a bit of convenience but when with something like this people are (potentially) being inconvenienced and so they make a noise. 

Rather than only making a noise when we are inconvenienced we really should be questioning all of it. 

RefluentBeans said:
(Costco and other membership only stores have been in the UK for decades now)

Not been to Costco for years so might be wrong but don't they require a membership to shop there rather than two tier pricing? 

In town the supermarket is Coop who do the same member pricing lark, I would assume everyone local is a member but when the tourist season hits perhaps many aren't, particularly those from outside the UK. 

Kind of an ethical question of whether those who are "loyal" should benefit at the expense of those who aren't, but of course that assumes the member prices are genuine discounts rather than just the usual offer price we would have got anyway back in the "old days". 

Grumpy_chap

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said: 

RefluentBeans said:
(Costco and other membership only stores have been in the UK for decades now)

Not been to Costco for years so might be wrong but don't they require a membership to shop there rather than two tier pricing? 

Yes, that is correct.
There are some restrictions on membership, so not everyone is able to become a member.
"Trade" members pay a bit more but then get longer opening hours than "Individual" members

born_again

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

PHK said:

I always find it slightly amusing that people who have signed up to MSE (owner MoneySupermarket) that makes money using affiliate links and skimlinks, completely legally, i .e.   You are the product. Have a problem giving their name, and email to a firm they buy stuff from  

I very rarely read the rest of the site other than the forums and don't think I've ever clicked on any links.

I have wondered what info they can glean from us posting here and assume cookies tracking activity earn them something? Although the cookies should be set to essential only (at least that what I clicked!). 

The bigger question is why, when we live in a world where your phone tracks everything you do and your TV, Fire remote, modern take on the Hi-Fi speaker and no doubt a load of other tat that exists, listens to what you doing in your home, do things like this bother people?

I think the answer is convenience, we are generally pretty happy to give away anything for a bit of convenience but when with something like this people are (potentially) being inconvenienced and so they make a noise. 

Rather than only making a noise when we are inconvenienced we really should be questioning all of it. 

RefluentBeans said:
(Costco and other membership only stores have been in the UK for decades now)

Not been to Costco for years so might be wrong but don't they require a membership to shop there rather than two tier pricing? 

In town the supermarket is Coop who do the same member pricing lark, I would assume everyone local is a member but when the tourist season hits perhaps many aren't, particularly those from outside the UK. 

Kind of an ethical question of whether those who are "loyal" should benefit at the expense of those who aren't, but of course that assumes the member prices are genuine discounts rather than just the usual offer price we would have got anyway back in the "old days". 

Nothing to stop anyone joining there & then & reaping the rewards 👍

Costco membership is different it costs. Bit like Go Outdoors.