Do you have any of these store “reward” cards? Do you think we are living in an era of being inundated with them? I do. Almost every store uses them. When a salesperson asks me if I would like one, I want to decline, but then I accept and sign up for one, anyway. What could it hurt to get another reward card? Only to add to the stack of cards that I already carry around. At the check-out, do you hastily search for the right store card to hand to the cashier. I do. And for what purpose? To save a dollar on detergent, or a few cents on an eight ounce block of cheese? I guess all of the discounts add up, but keeping up with these reward cards are more trouble than I care to deal with. I barely use half of them. Some I only use once or twice a year. When I want to throw one away, this nagging voice inside my head reminds me that I might need it someday. UGH!
Recently, I upgraded my Borders Rewards card. I didn’t want to upgrade it, but it was the second time the same salesperson questioned me about why I haven’t upgraded because I have spent X amount of dollars, and I would really benefit from the upgrade, blah, blah, blah… In addition, I would get a $10 gift card in my email (which I have yet to see), and the total upgrade would actually only be ten dollars. Wow! I would also get a coupon booklet. Ooooo!! The thought of ALL the deals I would get reeled me in, but my gut told me no. I did it anyway. I paid the extra twenty dollars, upgraded my card, saved several dollars on our purchases, and walked out feeling somewhat OK about what I did. It has been over a month, and I have not returned to Borders. I am sure those coupons will expire soon, if they haven’t already. Always my luck. Besides, the only coupon I know I will use is the one for a free cup of coffee.
There have been other missed benefits with using the reward cards:
- I recycle my printer ink cartridges at Staples, and get a $2 rebate for each cartridge. The rebate coupon always expires before I can buy new ones.
- I applied for a Teacher’s Card at A.C. Moore for 10% off all my purchases, but realized I saved more when I made a purchase using their 50% off coupon.
- We went out our way to stay at a Best Western Hotel to participate in a promotion (stay 2 nights get 1 free), only to find out later that our stay didn’t qualify because the promotion ended three months ago!
- I always forget my Big Lots! reward card, and I just give my phone number to the cashier to look it up. I’ve done that so many times, she remembered my phone number.
- I lost a grocery store reward card, and now I am concerned about identity theft. It actually might turn out to be a good thing. Whoever uses it will give me points on my account. Hey! That isn’t so much of a miss!
- My Ollie’s card gives my kid nightmares.
- And being a VIP Lego card holder isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Now that I’m looking at the photo above, I am missing my PetSmart card! Good grief!
What are your thoughts about store reward cards?
Do you use them, hate them, love them?
well they play into our need to be part of a group…being part of a club makes us feel that we ___?
they bug me
I got rid of most of mine and carry maybe 3 with me, there are just too many.
Them along with all of our PIN numbers and passwords are just a bit much!
Ladyberrington, thanks for the comment. I agree with you. I wish I could narrow mine down to 3.
I forgot about PIN numbers and passwords. Yikes! Too much! Hope I don’t get amnesia anytime soon.
Love this post Tammy!!
I agree with everything you’ve said. Stores urge me at checkout to sign up for their card – if I don’t shop there more than a few times a year I always decline. At Staples, for instance, I just say Sorry, I hardly ever shop here. Same at AC Moore, etc. And as for paying for an upgrade — HAHHAHAHH!! These stores get me only if it’s FREE! Otherwise… LOL
I am not a cheap person, but I am thrifty and economical. If the card will truly benefit me through savings, I am there. I use the card for a local supermarket (Shaw’s) all the time, also the one at the Kennel Shop (our pet food store) — and I do very well savings wise. But CVS? I used to have their card and got SO ANNOYED having meters long strips of receipts I tossed the blasted thing. I never shop there anymore anyway – only for prescriptions, and that’s only once every 3 months!
Great post!!
Christy, I get annoyed with the long receipts, too. I kind of regret upgrading the Borders card. Thanks for rubbing it in. j/k LOL
I like being thrifty and economical, but in the wrong eyes, I’m plain ‘ol cheap. I disagree. I don’t like to pay full price for anything, other than food items. If I can’t buy something at a reduced price, I will talk myself out of buying it.
I feel so accomplished when I can buy a lot for a little. It’s sort of a high for me. Maybe it’s actually a shopper’s high validated b/c I saved money.
I don’t use point cards, but I enjoy the free gyoza stamp card given out at a local ramen restaurant: for every 3 ramen sets bought I get free gyoza.
I’ve probably had 100 stamp cards filled over the last 4 years, but I never use them: I give them to students.
note: I’m sure the restaurant staff think I’m a nut … and wonder where all these 10-12 year old kids got their free gyoza tickets from.
planetross, some restaurants here do the same thing. The give out a card to punch each time you purchase a meal. After a number of meals, you get one free. I never eat at a restaurant enough times to benefit from it. Or I lose the card.