Take Advantage Of Boots Desire To Be Loved! (Boots Advantage Card)

Member Name: GramiWay

Product:	Boots Advantage Card
Date:	05/08/09 (147 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very rewarding scheme, lots of offers for members

Disadvantages: The discrimination against card holders who shop online

I've never understood supermarket loyalty schemes or in store cards and as I rarely do a lot of shopping on things other than food it seemed pointless to me to bother getting all these cards when they'd probably not be used that often anyway.

However, I have since started getting all of my toiletries from Boots as I love some of their own products. I finally decided to try out their advantage card after my boyfriend at the time was always raving on about how beneficial it was to have one.

- How Do I Get It?-

I'd like to state that the Boots advantage card is probably one of the best card schemes out there. From research on other offers it definitely seems to be the most rewarding. It is free to get your own advantage card and you can sign up either by going in store or via the official Boots website. I did so on-line and had to enter a few details like my name and contact details. Within a week the card was sent to me in the post. It is the size of a normal credit or debit card and is white with the Boots logo in the centre and your name and unique number in the bottom left hand corner.

Every time you shop at Boots, you just hand in the card with your purchase [most times the cashier asks if you have one anyway!]. If you like to shop on-line you can enter the number on your card in a special form at the on-line checkout.


- What Do I Get? -

Buying from Boots stores or the website will give you advantage card points. For every £1 you spend, they will give you 4 points. Each of these points is equilavent to 1p. It may not seem like a lot but say you spend £10 in store. That's 40 points which is the same as 40p. If you're a consistent visitor to Boots then you'll soon find yourself having loads of points! I'd recommend still getting one even if you just visit the store occasionally as it is still very useful.

I do stress that purchasing products on-line will get you points but you will have to go to a store and activate them using one of the 'machines' [explained below]. It's not something I've yet done as the website doesn't sell a lot of the things I usually buy, but my friend is always complaining about how it takes away the supposed convenience of on-line shopping.

Being part of the advantage card club also means you are eligble for a variety of special offers 'normal' customers are not. There are machines located in a lot of Boots stores that allow you to insert your advantage card like an actual cash machine. When this is done you are able to view a number of special offers exclusive to advantage card holders and print them out there on the spot to use if you wish. These rarely attract me apart from one time where there was a 'buy one, get one free' offer on a shaving gel I purchase that wasn't possible without the card...

They also send you vouchers in the post such as a 'double points coupon'. This gives you double points on 2 separate transactions, though all of these vouchers do expire after about a month or so.

There are also in store offers and a parenting club which I have had no need for but from the description of the website it details extra money off vouchers and support for expectant/new mothers on baby products.


- How Do I Redeem My Points? -

You can redeem your points at any time if you wish. Just hand in your card at the cashier and ask to pay with your points. Once you have £5 worth of points for example you can buy something from Boots for that amount and get it free with the card! Your points will be knocked off your total and your receipt will tell you how many you have remaining. This is true of every receipt you get from Boots provided you have handed in your card.

HOWEVER:
You are unable to redeem your points on-line.
You cannot use your points to purchase gift vouchers or top up your
mobile phone.
You cannot have a part payment of points and cash.


- What's The Catch? -

To be honest there are none. This is a very worthwhile and rewarding scheme. I am using all the points I get to buy toiletry sets as Christmas presents. The best part is that even if you forget your advantage card, if you tell the cashier who will activate your receipt allowing you to go back and have the points added on to your current total.

Apart from the rather silly notion of not automatically updating your card with points if you make an on-line purchase and other silly little limitations [which are inconvenient but understandable], the Boots card is a worthwhile investment. You are always kept informed about the latest developments and treated with up most respect. The rewards may not always be right for you but sooner or later a bargain will come up that catches your eye. It really is worth to join the scheme for the money you can save not only when doing your normal shopping but also when it comes to those days when you can cash in your hard earned points!

Summary: A worthwhile loyalty card scheme