Points mean Prizes!! (Boots Advantage Card)

Member Name: Whizz11

Product:	Boots Advantage Card
Date:	29/10/08 (335 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of points of purchases, free advantages

Disadvantages: None

The Boots Advantage card is probably one of the best points clubs out there in my opinion.

Boots is the high street pharmacy store as well as being, in my opinion one of the best shops for all your health and beauty needs. I go in there regularly because they seem to stock every product you could really ever want from toothpaste, to designer fragrances and the best bit is for every purchase you make, you collect bonus points.

You collect the points by being a member of their Boots have a customer loyalty programme called the Advantage card. They actually market it as "The UK's most rewarding loyalty card" and I have to say I find it very good. I have been a member for years now and enjoy the benefits to this day. For every pound spent you collect 4 loyalty points. Each point then equates to 1 penny so obviously it does take time for them to add up but they often offer extra points when you buy a certain product which can help to boost your total. So for example if you have 499 points you can buy something that is priced at £4.99. I believe you can buy any product in the store you wish with your Advantage card points but you have to have enough points to cover the cost, you cannot for example try and buy something for £5.01 with only 499 points, even if you substitute the rest for cash. If you only buy something for £2.99 you will then have 200 points left on your card.

Apparently the Boots Advantage card is Europe's largest loyalty scheme with over 15 million cardholders. I basically view it as free money in a way. I buy all my repeat products in Boots such as toothpaste, deodorant etc and just keep on collecting the points.

It's very easy to sign up to the scheme, you can either fill out an paper application form in store or sign up via their website at www.boots.com. Once you have applied you will receive a plastic advantage card which is the size of a credit card. This is handy because you can then store it in your wallet and always have it when you pay for your goods. You must present this when you purchase your goods as they put it into their machine like they do a credit card to register your points on. However, if for whatever reason you don't have it one day you can keep your receipt and then redeem your points later once you have your card.

Being a member does gain you quite a few free benefits during the year too which is nice.

Boots have a bi-monthly health and beauty magazine that has lots of product ideas, tips, articles etc and some coupons in the back. It normally costs £1 but is free to Advantage card members.

Another great benefit if you like food is during any one calendar month if you buy 5 meal deals you get the 6th free. I think this is quite a easy target to reach because even if you have just over one meal from them a week your total will add up.

In certain Boots store, mainly the larger ones, they have a kiosk where you can insert your Advantage card and check your balance but you also have access to lots of extra points offers that are not available in store.

You can also use your Advantage card when you shop on line. When you get to the check out screen you will be prompted for your advantage card number which you type in and then your purchase points will be credited to your account.

All in all, if you are fans of free products then you definitely need to sign up to this Advantage card scheme.

Summary: The Boots Advantage Card