Take Advantage (Boots Advantage Card)

Member Name: x-cupcake-x

Product:	Boots Advantage Card
Date:	21/09/09 (47 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Points soon add up, lots of offers

Disadvantages: Check other shops prices first

I first got an Advantage Card when they were launched by Boots in 1997, as I was only 14 at the time it didn't really get much use unless I was spending some of my pocket money on the Natural Collection range or some wash in wash out hair dye.

The card is a rewards card scheme run by Boots which gives a reward of 4 points per pound spent (1 point per £1 at Boots Opticians) which Boots claim to be the most generous reward schemes.

You can apply in store by filling in a form or online at the Boots website.

You can collect points on almost all of your in store or online purchases although they are not available on prescription items, infant milks (up to 6 months), gift vouchers/cards or postage stamps.

You can also collect them by recycling your old mobile phone or some inkjet printer cartridges. Although for a mobile phone it is only up to 5000 points which is £5 so may not be worth doing compared to the other mobile phone recycling/buying websites out there. You can get up to 100 points for a printer cartridge.

Each point is worth 1 pence and once you have enough they can be redeemed against most things in store, apart from Boots Opticians or online.

In stores points can not be spent on prescription items, stamps, gift vouchers/cards, infant milks (up to 6 months), mobile phone top-up cards and insurance products. If you're unsure the price stickers on the shelf will have a * symbol on them if they can be bought using advantage card points.

Collecting points in store is simple, you just hand it over at the check out when you're paying for your items.
If you have made your purchase online you need to register your card to your account, but this doesn't automatically add the points to your card. You will need to insert your card into a kiosk in store (these look like cash machines), but not all stores have these, for example my local store doesn't as it isn't large enough so I have to remember when I'm in a bigger Boots. You do get twelve months to do this, and points are available 5 days after your order has been despatched.

Your receipt shows you how many points you have collected, or if you're not buying anything you can put your card into one of the kiosks and get a balance there.

I know some people who buy what ever they can in Boots so that they can collect the points for their purchases, but you have to remember that Boots is not always cheaper than other shops, and your points in reality are only saving you 4p in each pound you spend so it's always worth checking if you would be better off buying them elsewhere first.

Boots do however have some really good offers on so it's worth stocking up on things you need during these offers and of course collecting your points while you're at it. At the minute they have a 3 for 2 offers on beauty and skin care products.

If you buy your lunch in Boots they run a meal deal offer (sandwich/salad, a packet of crisps/nuts and a drink) 5 times in one month you get a sixth meal deal free.

Also they often have offers on where if you spend so a certain amount you can collect double points.

At Christmas they also have a 3 for 2 offer on Christmas gifts and this is a great way to collect points as they often have another offer giving extra points if you spend £X during certain times.

They also run a Parenting Club where if you sign up you get double points on Boots own brand baby products as well as some selected manufacturers.

If you happen to see a kiosk in store it's always worth popping your advantage card in as they have special offers on where you can get extra points on specific items, be entered into a competition or receive a money off voucher.

Over the years I've used my card points to by various things from birthday or Christmas presents for people or just a little treat for myself.

The last time I "spent" them I saved up my points for over a year and used them to buy things toothpaste and toothbrushes, cotton wool balls etc... all things that would be needed throughout the year and I would save myself a little bit of cash by using my points to buy them. Most of it was on buy one get one free offers too so I saved twice.

I think the idea of the Advantage Card is a brilliant one and is a great way of getting something back if you were going to buy something from Boots anyway, I wouldn't go out of my way to buy something from there just to get my points but if there's an offer on then it's definitely worthwhile.

Thanks for reading.

Summary: A great card, well worth having in your purse or wallet