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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646
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 Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:12 pm Post subject: The Curse Of The Loyalty Card |
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The major retailers who run loyalty cards always say in defence, when it is pointed out to them that most people would rather have lower prices than a tiny amount of cash back every six months, that they are able to use the information on our shopping habits garnered by their systems to send us information and offers tailored to our needs.
I've just received a mailing from Boots, in celebration of 10 years of their Advantage card. In addition to the usual trick of offering so many extra points if I spend an amount that is higher than I have ever spent with them before in one transaction, they supply coupons for points or money off preparations for cold sores, haemorrhoids, diarrhoea and eye patches - none of which I have bought from them, or anyone else, in the past, or have any plans to so do.
I just wondered whether this was the 21st century equivalent of the old gypsy's curse.
Has anyone else had similarly inappropriate offers thrown at them?
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Ron |
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gfloyd
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 4861
Location: Here, There, Everywhere.
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:33 pm Post subject: Re: The Curse Of The Loyalty Card |
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| RockitRon wrote: |
Has anyone else had similarly inappropriate offers thrown at them? |
The whole point of loyalty cards is that they enable shops to build up a picture of what you spend with them by item & thus offer you appropriate "special offers". Boots must not be very good at it so!
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His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west..... |
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Shaky Fan
Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 628
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:44 pm Post subject: Re: The Curse Of The Loyalty Card |
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| gfloyd wrote: | | RockitRon wrote: |
Has anyone else had similarly inappropriate offers thrown at them? |
The whole point of loyalty cards is that they enable shops to build up a picture of what you spend with them by item & thus offer you appropriate "special offers". Boots must not be very good at it so! |
Either that or Ron's haemorrhoid problem is worse than he is letting on! 
On the subject of loyalty cards what is happening with the WHSmith one? I went to use my card in their Liverpool store the other week and they said that it had been replaced by a new email scheme. Yet in their Belfast store the cards are still being accepted and when I asked no-one knew anything about the change? |
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Ian Robinson
Site Admin
Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 3609
Location: Chorley, Lancashire
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:05 am Post subject: |
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| The WHSmith card was still working in Wigan last week. But they've never really had their hearts in it - the name should be a clue to the lack of imagination. And since they changed the rewards to make it "better" for me, I've not really used it (same thing happened at MVC and look what happened to them!) |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:39 am Post subject: |
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WHS's is still working here, but they have not promoted it for some time - they won't proactively ask you if you've got one when you pay for something at the till - and they no longer mail cardholders with bonus points offers.
| Quote: | | Either that or Ron's haemorrhoid problem is worse than he is letting on! |
Actually, I do remember one occasion, some 45 years ago, when my mother asked me to go to the chemist (those were the days when you had a personal, independent chemist shop in every little local parade) for something along those lines, and being so embarassed about it I tried to pretend they were shut at the time. If Boots have tracked that purchase down they are truly impressive!
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