You're at an Advantage if you get this card! (Boots Advantage Card)

Member Name: mummy2harry

Product:	Boots Advantage Card
Date:	04/07/07 (1123 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 4 points per pound, build points quickly, spend instore

Disadvantages: None I can think of

Being a mum, I need to join all the loyalty schemes that I can just to try and get a little bit of extra cash, and believe me, I am so glad that I joined the Boots Advantage Card before I had my son!! I will tell you a bit about how many points you can get, what you can spend and earn on, and how it compares with other Loyalty card schemes currently running. So here goes my review of the Boots Advantage Card.

The card itself is the same size and shape as normal credit or debit card so it fits in your purse with every card you may have. The card is white, with a large Boots logo in the middle on the front of the card. Italso has your name and your card number in the bottom left of the card. On the back, there is a signature strip and a chip, which is what processes the points in the machines in the shop.

With the Boots Advantage card, you earn a whopping 4 points for every pound that you spend instore. If you only 50p, you stil get 2 points which is great, as there is no minimum spend, and the points can really add up! You cannot earn points on the following items: infant milks (up to six months), prescription items, gift card/ vouchers, postage stamps, or mobile phone top-up cards. You can collect points in their online store, but you cannnot yet spend them online. You can also earn points at Boots Opticians, but you only earn 1 point per pound spent.

I earn points quite heavily in Boots because I buy a lot of snacks, nappies and wipes for my son, and since Christmas 2006, I have already accumulated £25 in Advantage card points. If you are a parennt, you can join the Advantage Card Mother and Baby Club, which send you regular magazines and coupons to gain you money off or extra Advantage card points if you buy certain items. These are a great way to boost your points balance!

If you aren't a parent, you still regular Boots mailings which usually have a Double or Triple points coupons which has 2 uses so you can get up to 12p back for every pound you spend! At Boots, every point you get is actually 1 penny, so you get 4% back for every pound you spend.

You can check your points balance in 3 ways. The easiest way is on your receipt. At the bottom, it was have an "Advantage Card Statement" which has your previous balance, earnings on your shop, and new balance, and what that is in pounds. You can also check it online on the Boots website www.boots.com, and on their Advantage card machines in-store.

The Advantage card machines are actually very useful! I always check it before I start shopping in Boots. You simply put your card in the machine, and using your finger press on "Show medeals" or something worded similiarly to that. It then lists a load of offers throughout the store to get you money off when you use your Advantage card Another great way to gain some extra points for free!

My only quibble with this card is that you can't make a partial payment with your points on any items, you have to have the full amount of the item in points. This is a shame as I would like to be able to use mine to part-pay for more expensive items such as Perfumes. But when you shop in there as regularly as I do, they add up quickly anyway.

Another great thing about this card is that if you forget your card or you simply cant find it, they can validate your receipt so that you can take it into the store next time you are in, and they will add your points o for you, so you never have to miss out!

I think this card is definitely one of the most generous that are around. The WH Smith card only gives you 1 point per pound spent and I have never heard of bonus points. The points can be spent on anything however, or used as partial payment. The Tesco card also gives 1 point per pound, but this can be quadrupled when used as Deals Vouchers. The Nectar card gives 2 points per pound. So none of these come close to the Boots card.

Apply for a card by picking up a leaflet in store and using the temporary card until you get your proper card through the post, or apply online here http://www.boots.com/microsites/microsite_homepage .jsp?contentId=2915. It takes 3-4 weeks to arrive but all points gained on the temporary card are transferred over to your new card.

A great reward card I would recommend, even if you only shop occasionally. It's worth a try!

Summary: Great cards for Boots shoppers