This week, supermarket giant Tesco announced it would cut the value of its Clubcard rewards scheme. The UK's biggest supermarket said its Clubcard points will be worth twice their value rather than three times as they are now when customers cash them in from June 14 this year.
The move has provoked anger from customers, with many describing it as "disappointing" and pointing out it came as the cost-of-living crisis was already placing pressure on household budgets. By 2021, it was reported that the scheme had 20 million users in the UK alone.
The scheme enables shoppers to collect points for money spent at Tesco and exchange them for vouchers which can be used in store or for excursions such as restaurant meals and day trips. In an email to current Clubcard members, Tesco’s chief customer officer Alessandra Bellini said the move would "make sure we can continue to provide you with a wide range of exciting rewards, whilst keeping our product prices low".
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A Tesco spokesman added: "Clubcard unlocks the best value from Tesco – from thousands of exclusive deals through Clubcard Prices, to money off your groceries and fuel, or accessing double the value of your vouchers with more than 100 Clubcard Reward Partners .
"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." The grocer first introduced Clubcard in 1995 and promptly saw a 28% spending uplift.
The popular scheme enables points to be spent at locations including Pizza Express, Legoland and Alton Towers. With that in mind, we've looked at everything you need to know, including what will these changes mean to you.
How does the Tesco Clubcard reward scheme work?
With the Clubcard scheme, shoppers have been able to collect points for money they spend at Tesco. Consumers can use their Clubcard points for either instore discounts or to exchange for vouchers for things outside the store, such as restaurant meals or family days out.
If a Tesco shopper collected 500 Clubcard points, this would typically be worth £5 to spend in the shop. If points are spent with reward partners, they're worth three times as much as points for spent instore. Therefore, the 500 Clubcard points would be worth £15.
How will the new changes affect me?
The new changes come into force on June 14, 2023. From that date, when you exchange your Tesco Clubcard vouchers for a Tesco Clubcard Reward Partner code, they’ll be worth twice their value rather than three times their value.
So for example, if a shopper had a £30 worth of Clubcard points in the summer of 2022, they could've used them to put £90 towards Legoland tickets. However this summer, the same £30 worth of Clubcard points would only get the shopper £60 towards Legoland tickets.
How long are Clubcard points and rewards valid for?
Tesco Clubcard points are valid for two years. But the points usually expire after six months once they are swapped for rewards.
However, Tesco has announced that they are extending the validity of rewards for an extra six months in the lead up to June 14, 2023. In a statement, a spokesperson for Tesco said: "To give you extra time to decide when to use your Tesco Clubcard vouchers with Partners, we’re extending the validity period on Tesco Clubcard Reward Partner codes ordered until 13 June, so that they’re valid for 12 months, rather than the usual six months".
If you want to find out the expiry date on existing Tesco Clubcard Reward Partner codes, it can be found in your order email or in the 'my rewards' section of the Tesco Grocery and Clubcard app.
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