Even before my family left Australia to move to Singapore, I remember every time we went to our nearby Coles supermarket we'd be asked if we had a FlyBuys card. I think it was the same with Myer, Kmart and Target too. Good afternoon, do you have FlyBuys? Hello, do you have your FlyBuys today? Hi there, are you a FlyBuys cardholder? Do you have FlyBuys? Good morning, is that a FlyBuys card? FlyBuys? FLYBUYS?! I'll show you FlyBuys, it's right next to my STOP ASKING ME THAT card!
When I started studying here and living part time in Mawson Lakes I got used to walking to the Woolies down at Mawson Central, and fortunately up until last year they didn't have such a loyalty card programme, but now they do. Good afternoon, do you have an Everyday Rewards card? Hi there, got an Everyday Rewards card? ARGH!
Call it caving in or succumbing to pressure, but decided to give up and sign up for a Woolworths Everyday Rewards card. I figure when I make it to the checkout I can show them this piece of plastic which is akin to a giant sign asking them not to ask whether I have an Everyday Rewards card. It's like being a lightning fast ninja, but without all the physical exertion and mental training.
They'll no doubt keep track of what I purchase and use it for advertising purposes, but it's a small price to pay for my sanity. Heck, I might even get a couple of free things after I've spent money at that same Woolworths every week for fifty years or however long it takes.
I think I also got a Qantas Frequent Flyer account too. Can I transfer them to Singapore Airlines you think? ;).
[...] latest post about getting a Woolworths “Everyday Rewards” card got me thinking about the way people are so adverse to loyalty and reward cards in general. I’ve [...]
Spare a thought for the poor Woolworths Employees, who are forced to ask every customer for the Rewards Card. Woolworths employees are required to ask each customer for a Rewards Card, regardless of how much they spend. Even though one doesn't get any points if spending under $30. Some customers complain about not being asked & then the employee is asked by the management as to why the customer was not asked for their Rewards Card & also told by management to ask. Therefore the Woolworths Employees jobs are threatened by not asking customers, as a written warning can be issued to the employee if repeated offenses if not asking customers for the Rewards Cards continues. This can result in termination of employment. It's definitely a rort, when spending under $30, since no Fuel Points nor Qantas Frequent Flyer Points are earnt under $30, it's just to have all that person's personal information about who they are, where they live, what they buy, etc... It's undersandable that it annoys some customers by being constantly asked for their Rewards Cards, but if their jobs were also threatened by not asking & they understood the employees' position in this matter, then they would have some sympathy for the poor Woolworths Employees.
That was a very long paragraph!
You're right though, employees suffer as much as customers under this scheme. Makes me wonder if the managers of these supermarket chains actually frequent their own establishments. Probably not, they probably pay someone to do that for them.