Angry Tesco shoppers have flooded social media to complain about a major change the grocery giant has made to its Clubcard loyalty scheme.
The retailer has sent emails to customers telling them that it is reducing the value of Clubcard vouchers when they are spent with Rewards partners such as theme parks, cinemas and restaurants from June - and the fact that this is the second reduction in value in five years has not gone unnoticed with shoppers. Many have taken to Twitter to condemn Tesco for slashing the rewards, hitting out at the 'ridiculous' change and threatening to go elsewhere for their groceries.
As part of the Clubcard scheme, customers can use vouchers in Tesco stores, but they can also currently triple their value by spending them at more than 100 Reward Partners - including Hungry Horse pubs, Pizza Express, RAC breakdown cover and Legoland. The original scheme allowed shoppers to boost their vouchers' value by either twice or four times, but that was reduced to a standard three times the value in 2018, which also sparked storms of protest at the time.
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But from June 14, Clubcard vouchers will only be worth twice their value if exchanged at any of Tesco's Reward Partners and the move has been met with anger, with shoppers branding the move an insult to customers, saying they are not fooled by the grocer's explanation for the change.
@TheCorm said: "Pretty rubbish to hear that Tesco Clubcard vouchers are dropping in value AGAIN, 3 months and they'll only be worth 2x value for partners. Please don't make out it's still great when it's now worth half of what it was a few years back," and @stowgood saying: "So Tesco Clubcard points are due to be worth half what they used to be a while back 2x down from 3x but I remember when they got you 4x. Maybe it's time to swap supermarkets again like we did during the pandemic."
@MarDenners added "Dear Tesco. Just got your email to tell me that the Clubcard voucher exchange value is now worth only up to 2x as much, not up to 3x the value anymore. Really disappointing, as we love our Clubcard treats. Not that long ago they were worth up to 4x the value," and @collins80105291 commenting: "Tesco Clubcard now only worth x2 - gee thanks Tesco - you really care about your loyal customers - not. Maybe time to shop elsewhere."
@danbobnix said: "Tesco makes it sound like they're doing me a favour by reducing the Clubcard rewards from 3x to 2x," and @JoClode1 stormed: "Outrageous move by Tesco on Tesco Clubcard reducing POINTS VALUE AGAIN now to only x2 value. Disgusting. The worst loyalty scheme of the lot now! De-valuing your loyal customers, will now go elsewhere."
As well as informing customers by email, the retailer also announced the changes on its website. "From 14 June 2023, when you exchange your Tesco Clubcard vouchers for a Tesco Clubcard Reward Partner code, they'll be worth 2x their value. You'll still get up to 3x the value until 13 June 2023. We're making this change to the scheme to make sure we can continue to provide a wide range of rewards that meet the needs of all our Tesco Clubcard members, while keeping prices low for everyone," the announcement said. "Tesco Clubcard continues to have the biggest and most generous reward partner scheme with access to over 100 Partners at 2x your Clubcard voucher value."
More than 20m people in the UK hold a Tesco Clubcard, collecting points every time they shop instore or online or use a Tesco filling station. The retailer has already announced that the supermarket's Clubcard app will be scrapped from April 18, to be replaced by another app - the Tesco Grocery and Clubcard app - which will incorporate extra features.
A Tesco spokesman told This Is Money: "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."
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