TESCO has announced it is to cut the value of its Clubcard rewards scheme in a move that has provoked anger from customers.
The UK’s biggest supermarket said its Clubcard points will be worth twice their value when customers cash them in, rather than three times as they are now, from June 14.
The scheme enables shoppers to collect points for money spent at Tesco and exchange them for vouchers which can be used in store or for excursions such as restaurant meals and day trips.
In an email to current Clubcard members, Tesco’s chief customer officer Alessandra Bellini said the move would “make sure we can continue to provide you with a wide range of exciting rewards, whilst keeping our product prices low”.
A Tesco spokesperson said: “Clubcard unlocks the best value from Tesco – from thousands of exclusive deals through Clubcard Prices, to money off your groceries and fuel, or accessing double the value of your vouchers with more than 100 Clubcard Reward Partners .
“We are making a change to how members can use their vouchers with our Reward Partners, but they will still be able to unlock great value in the same range of ways as before.”
The grocer first introduced Clubcard in 1995 and promptly saw a 28% spending uplift.
The popular scheme enables points to be spent at locations including Pizza Express, Legoland and Alton Towers.
Customers took to social media to express their disappointment with the changes, pointing out it came as the cost-of-living crisis was already placing pressure on household budgets.
One shopper posted: “Tesco #clubcard now only worth x2 – gee thanks #Tesco – you really care about your loyal customers – not. Maybe time to shop elsewhere.”
A second Clubcard user wrote: “We were always grateful for the @Tesco Clubcard X4 when our kids were younger, it helped out massively on days out, we used our vouchers to buy towards Merlin passes which saved us so much money.
“We use it now for ourselves and X3 is good, but what an insult #X2 is to customers!”
Meanwhile, a third person chimed in: “Dear @tesco Just got your email re clubcard voucher exchange value changing to 2x, not 3x the value.
“Really disappointing! Not that long ago they were worth 4x the value. Are you not making enough profit already?”
One woman tweeted Tesco that its Clubcard scheme had “kept me shopping with you but now with your prices soaring and the announcement about the points changes I’ll be looking elsewhere”.
“I bet a lot will do the same. It really helped us all out. Disappointed in you Tesco,” she added.
Sainsbury’s and Boots also cut the value of their loyalty schemes recently.
From May, Boot’s Advantage Card holders will get 25% less for every £1 they spend in store, earning 3p rather than 4p.
In November Sainsbury’s Bank cut the amount of Nectar points customers could earn by 75%, from two points for every £1 spent, to one point for every £2.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel