30th Jun 09
The Tesco Clubcard: What Can You Get For All That Effort?
by Adam Dunning
Although there are plenty of different loyalty cards where you can get points or discounts for using your card in store, one of the most well known is Tesco’s Clubcard. Tesco has the longest running loyalty card of all the supermarkets. Its been around for a few years and it offers some of the best rewards. Why do stores have loyalty cards? The benefits to the store are easy to see – not only do they get an increase in sales but they also build loyalty from the customer because of the incentive. They also have a way of tracking what the consumers are buying. But what can you expect to get from all that effort, and is it really worth it?
Do you have a clubcard……?
Registering for a card is really simple and you can earn points as soon as it’s activated. You can pick up a card in one of the many leaflets around the store and fill out your details there and then. You can also phone up or get a temporary card, register it on-line and start earning straight away. If you choose to get a temporary card, you’ll get a permanent card sent in about three weeks. Obviously people are always worried about giving details out about themselves, and rightly so, but Tesco assures you at the time that they won’t misuse your details. Registering for your card is absolutely free but as far as I’m aware you have to be 18 to have one.
Even if you have a silly name, you’re in
Now let’s get to the good stuff. For every pound you spend, you earn a point. The great thing with the Tesco’s Clubcard is you aren’t limited to just earning points when you shop in the store. You can get points when you fill up with fuel at a Tesco pump, when you use a Tesco’s credit card, for reusing shopping bags or even paying for your gas and electricity if you’re with the energy supplier, Eon. There are a few exceptions where you can’t get points, for example by purchasing lottery tickets, prescriptions, tobacco and baby milk.
It sounds like a lot of work just to get a few points, doesn’t it? But when you look at all the everyday ways there are of getting those points, it’s really not that much effort. Every three months you receive a Clubcard statement, with your vouchers and other discounts or offers. For every 100 points you earn you receive a £1.00 voucher. Again it doesn’t seem like very much but you can then redeem these points in-store, on-line and even on your petrol card. If you’re a regular shopper at Tesco, the points will add up relatively quickly.
Is it a lot of effort?
The statements are really easy to read. You can see how many points you’ve earned in that quarter and how many have been carried over from previous statements. You can see how much you’ve earned in vouchers and how many will be carried over onto the next statement. I think the best part about the statement is it shows you exactly where you’ve earned your points in a handy little chart. This is great because you can see where you’re earning the most points – not to mention also where you are spending the most money.
Tesco also does special offers with their points where you can earn double or even more points. This is the best time to make the most of your card and the points because you can spend the same amount of money and earn more for it. If you forget your card, you can always keep your receipt and then have the points put on the card the next time you do your shopping.
Is it a ‘pointless’ systems
Tesco is also trying to introduce more rewards for your money. Now you can double or even get 4 times the amount on selected offers. Offers not only include money off in-store items but you can also put vouchers towards activity days for the family, air miles, annual memberships, book sets, cinema tickets, film and game rental and much more. To get these sorts of deals you need to be a Keyholder or a Premium Keyholder. Again if you’re a Premium Keyholder you get even bigger discounts on deals. With these deals you have to pay entirely with your points.
If you shop at Tesco on a regular basis, or fill up with fuel regularly, you could do pretty well with the points. A lot of people seem to be switching over to the 4X deal as you have a large variety of deals not related to Tesco that you can take advantage of without having to spend more money to get them. If it was a choice between being able to pay for a weekend break through your points or getting some extra toilet paper, I know which one I would choose.
I know what I’d prefer!!!
Points vouchers are redeemable for up to two years, so you have plenty of time to save up. If you can’t wait that long, you can always use them towards the purchase and pay for the rest yourself. A word of warning though; if you pay with a voucher that is more than the value of the item being purchased, you won’t get any change. I think this is a bit petty, as that is money you have earned through your loyalty to the store.
In the words of Tesco, “Every little helps” and there are very few disadvantages to having a Clubcard – and plenty of advantages. There isn’t that much effort involved in getting a card or redeeming points, especially if you do most of your shopping there or use their other products like insurance or mobile phones. When you look at all they have to offer you’re getting great value for money, especially if you do the 4X deals. We all need some pampering, or to spend more time with the family and I believe that Tesco is encouraging this with these deals, making it a great idea to get a Tesco loyalty card.
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