Well I'm not going to turn away freebies am I! (Boots Advantage Card)

Member Name: ice_pink

Product:	Boots Advantage Card
Date:	18/07/09 (88 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of good benefits, generous scheme

Disadvantages: Cant part-pay in points

~*~ Boots Advantage Card ~*~

Boots Advantage Card is branded 'the most generous loyalty scheme in the UK'. It is also probably the most popular - so many people have advantage cards!


~*~ What is it? ~*~

Well, funnily enough, advantage cards are a loyalty scheme set up by Boots that allow you to collect points on every single purchase made of £1 or more. You get 4 points for every £1 you spend, and each point is equivalent of 1p. So basically, for every £1 you spend in store you get 4p back in points, which is pretty good going!


~*~ Why should I join? ~*~

Even if you only shop at Boots occasionally, it is still worth joining. I only shop in the store a couple of times a month but over the last couple of years have collected enough points to be able to treat myself a good couple of times to perfume, a Christian Dior mascara and various other little bits. It's nice to have some spare 'cash' that you can just spend on you without feeling guilty about it!

On becoming a member, you will also be entitled to join Boots Health Clubs which are all free, and include a parenting club. These give you information, offers and ideas on a variety of different issues (for example losing weight and stopping smoking). All for free!

Another big bonus of the advantage card is with the meal deal scheme. If you aren't aware already, Boots do a fabulous lunch time deal - a sandwich/pasta/salad, plus any snack plus a drink for just £2.99. The food in Boots is varied and caters for all, with lots of healthy options. When using your advantage card to pay, the system tracks how many meals you have purchased, and if you purchase 5 deals in any one calendar month you get your 6th free. Just another nice little treat there.


~*~ Anything else I should know? ~*~

When you get your advantage card, you will also be able to benefit from the offers avaliable in the advantage card kiosk, which offer extra discounts and points on products throughout the store on that particular day, exclusive to card holders.

You can also gain points shopping online at Boots.com, although you have to visit the store and insert your card into a kiosk to activate these points (a little annoying but very straightforward - just remember to do this or you lose your points!)

Another good thing is you can have friends points! If they dont have a card but have their receipt 'activated' the points can be added on to your card no problem.

There are regular offers of double and triple points on products, and sometimes double and triple points days when you get extra points on everything you buy in store (meaning you potentially gaining 12p back for every £1!)


~*~ Spending points ~*~

Spending points is easy. As I mentioned before, 1 points = 1p, so once you have collected 100 you have £1, 1000 = £10 and so on. Unfortunately points cannot be spent on Boots.com or on gift or mobile phone vouchers or prescriptions. Most other products throughout the store can be easily exchanged for points.

All you do is go to the till as normal, hand over your card and ask to pay with your points. The one catch is is that you cannot part-pay with points, you have to have the full amount on your card. So if an item is £15 and you have 1430 points, you cant pay the extra 70p cash, you have to wait to gain 70 more points. I'm not sure why this is, it seems a silly idea but oh well!


~*~ The verdict ~*~

I love my advantage card! It is definitely the best loyalty scheme I belong to and has given me a good few little benefits. I would definitely reccommend you joining if you dont already have one, even if you aren't a big Boots shopper!

Summary: A very good loyalty card scheme