Remember when you used to be able to walk into a store because they were having a sale on (insert favorite product here), paid the cashier and were on your way? Not anymore. Most stores, particularly the grocery or pharmacies, require you to present a “loyalty card” to receive sale prices or discounts. And truth be told, when you don’t have one, you are missing out on big savings!
The main argument against registering for loyalty cards is privacy. People don’t want to give out their personal information and have their purchases and buying behaviors tracked. I get that in a way, but I also need to watch my family budget. I figure if Rite-Aid knows that I bought toothpaste at 12:49pm last Tuesday and subsequently wants send me a coupon for my next purchase, fine by me.
In addition to discounts, many stores also offer cash back on your purchases. It’s usually something like 2%, but over the course of a season, that can add up! Many pharmacies also offer deep discounts on prescriptions and some even help you contribute to your children’s 529 Plan.
Still deciding? Here’s a quick pros and cons list to consider:
Pros
- You can take advantage of some pretty great sale prices and loyalty programs
- You can earn cash back or credit over time towards future purchases
- You receive specific coupons or discounts on products you typically buy
Cons
- You have to register using your name, address and phone number (alias and fake info, anyone?). In my personal opinion, anyone asking for more than that (i.e. credit card numbers, social security or driver’s license numbers) is a no-go in my book.
- You need to present your card to the cashier to receive discounts, or give your phone number for easy lookup (another argument for submitting your real information)
- Your wallet is getting stuffed with a million loyalty cards
I personally have a few loyalty cards, and although I tend to sigh loudly when I need to spend way more time than I should holding up the line to excavate it from my wallet, it’s typically worth the savings. Happy shopping!
