The Secrets Of Store Cards, Part The First

It seems every store you shop at has some kind of card they want you to register for – from Target to Best Buy.  Are these cards worth your time?  Let’s take a look at the loyalty programs first.  These cards are used to generate repeat business, not to purchase items.  Next week, we’ll look at the store credit cards.

Walgreen’s Balance Rewards:  You earn points when you shop, fill a prescription, even when you exercise.  Here’s what their website says, “You earn points every time you make a qualifying purchase using your Balance Rewards card, key fob, or mobile app.  You can earn bonus points on a variety of items across the store each week and 500 points on every prescription you fill in the pharmacy.  You will also earn 10 points for every mile you walk in the Walk with Walgreens program.”

Membership is FREE, and you can sign up at your nearest store, or log on to Walgreens.com

Bear in mind, your points expire if your card remains inactive for 6 months.  And you only earn the prescription points in-store, not prescriptions filled online.

Point translate into money off your next purchase, in store or online:

For Example: 5,000 = $5.  So for every 10 prescriptions you fill at Walgreen’s, you earn $5.

Best Buy’s Reward Zone:  This program is also free to join, and very straight-forward.  You earn 1 point for every $1 you spend.  For every 250 points, you’ll receive a $5 certificate – which you can spend on more Best Buy products.  Membership also nets you exclusive access to special events and members-only deals.  You also earn points when you spend with Reward Zone partners.  For example, you earn quadruple points – 4 points for every $1 spent, when you rent a car at Avis (offer ends 12/32/12).

However, do the math.  You’re only earning 2% with the program.  You have to ask yourself – is it worth the effort to keep track of these points?  And you can’t “bank” points – you get $5 for every 250 points, period.

Rainbow Foods, Roundy’s Rewards Card:  Based on Roundy’s website, the only worthwhile reward I could find for this card is their Fuel Perks.  Save anywhere from 5 cents up to 50 cents per gallon of gas for every $50 you spend in qualified purchases.  Bear in mind, you need to sign up for the Rewards Card AND Fuel Perks.  Also, I could not find on their website, the Fuel Perks website, or the in-store ad how you go about earning 50 cents off per gallon versus 5 cents.  This program may be a great deal, but it’s hard to get great information about it.

And yes, you need a card for Rainbow’s extremely limited double coupon days.

SuperAmerica SA Rewards:  This is an easy-to-use rewards program that earns you discounts on SA food, drink, and most importantly, gas.  Sign up for the free card either online or at a station, and earn 20 points for every $1 you spend in the store, and 10 points per gallon of gas.  Then, redeem your points once they build up.  For example, save 10 cents per gallon when you save up 1,750 points, or 25 cent off when you save up 4,375.  The more you save up, the bigger the rewards.  You can even use your points to buy gift cards.

Find out how to register at SA’s very user-friendly website: https://www.superamerica.com/my-sa-rewards/