Three loyalty programs that you might not have heard of yet
When we think of loyalty programs we think of Flybuys, Qantas or Everyday Rewards.
But there’s a growing trend amongst smaller retailers and local businesses to band together to create loyalty programs for the little guys.
Some claim to save big bucks on things like petrol. But do they provide real savings, or are they too good to be true?
Certified Locals allows its users to earn points at certain local retail shops and spend them at others including petrol stations. They’ve been building up to “99 cent fuel offer,” which was launched today. Whilst we’d never say no to 99 cents per litre for fuel, the offer was only available for one hour (8am – 9am) at a single Sydney petrol station; Budget Petrol Erskinenville. Perhaps a good bargain for the locals if you are willing to join the queue. Begs the question: how long is too long to queue for cheap petrol? We’ll let you decide.
EasyFuel is a similar concept. You collect fuel discounts on your ‘EasyFuel card’ when you shop at participating shops. When you spend a certain advertised amount at participating stores, you accumulate fuel discounts on your EasyFuel card. You then present your card at a participating retail or service outlet to claim your discount. You could save 5c per litre, 10c per litre or even 20c per litre on fuel. You can watch A Current Affair’s report on the program here. Main limitation is the amount of participating outlets. As they’re independents, there’s never going to be as many.
ShopSmall is an American Express initiative that also encourages shoppers to use their local shops for the month of November. Some might argue that it’s just a smart marketing move to encourage small businesses to accept American Express cards. Perhaps, but if you’re an American Express cardholder, you can get a $10 credit when you spend $20 at participating shops. You can find which small businesses in your neighbourhood are involved by using the map online.
ALDI – Who needs a loyalty program when you have ALDI? That’s their motto anyway. In fact, they argue that they keep their prices low by not using expensive merchandising or loyalty programs. Food For thought…
Have you heard of any new loyalty programs that you could share with other members?
