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Original poster

Is it worth getting a Nectar card?

36 replies

fallablemoi · 01/02/2023 17:14

I only shop at Sainsbury's occasionally, mainly for non-food items, so I've never bothered with a nectar card. Last time I looked it didn't seem worth it for the hassle of carrying an extra card and the loss of privacy in having my shopping habits tracked. But I know these things evolve - Tescos has started doing significant discounts for its loyalty card holders recently, so maybe Sainsburies does the same Can anyone summarise the benefits for me?

OP posts:
LakeTiticaca · 01/02/2023 17:31

The nectar app gives some really good bonus points on your regular items. Yes it tracks your shopping habits but who cares when you can earn 800 bonus points a smallish shop 😀

NanTheWiser · 01/02/2023 17:37

Nectar does give cheaper prices on some food items in Sainsbury - ONLY if you use the Smartshop scanner (similar to Tesco club card prices). Also extra Nectar points on selected items that you normally buy, which change weekly. If you were to do your weekly shop there, you might find it an advantage.

Cileymyrus · 01/02/2023 17:45

I’d say it’s always worth it. Not much hassle to scan and builds up over time.

it’s not just sainsburies, you can get nectar at a lot of places. there’s also fuel, Argos, eBay etc.

it builds up relatively quickly.

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General shopping
FallonofDynasty · 01/02/2023 17:48

Yes it's good, easy to use and at a self service till - probably also at a normal till - you can choose to use nectar points to pay or part pay for your items.

emmathedilemma · 01/02/2023 17:49

If it’s somewhere you shop regularly then you might as well get the points for it. You can download the app to save carrying another card.

Needmorelego · 01/02/2023 17:50

I used to save up my nectar points throughout the year and spend them at Argos for Christmas. A few years back we essentially got a Nintendo 3DS half price doing it that way.
(I don't tend to go to Sainsbury's these days so don't do that now)

reluctantbrit · 01/02/2023 18:02

I only use a small Sainsbury for top ups if we run out of something before we do the weekend shop, maybe £10-15 and not weekly.

While I get the extra bonus points for the stuff I buy regularly like milk, eggs, the odd vegetable, it's not enough to get me to drive double distance to a larger Sainsbury for a weekly shop so I don't earn a lot, I think I had £3 in points over 2 years.

But, I have the nectar app with the card details and just add the offers and also use the smart shopping thingy if we are at a larger one. I don't think I have any physical cards anymore.

Q2C4 · 02/02/2023 06:48

You don't need to carry the physical nectar card once you've downloaded the app. The card is stored virtually there.

Crunchymum · 02/02/2023 06:55

I save my points for Xmas too. I shop in Sainsbury's almost everyday and do my online food shop there too (top up shops daily, once a week online shop. Spend at least £100 a week there) and I barely had £40 in points this Christmas? What am I doing wrong? I've never got 800 points for anything.

Pashazade · 02/02/2023 06:58

Crunchy I do wonder if physically going in gets you more points, it's my once a week shop and I probably had £80 in points over the year, spent on a couple of items from Argos (ours has one in store) and then the Christmas shop. Also worth using the app and updating your offers every week. But not so sure I'd worry if I didn't shop regularly.

bookish83 · 02/02/2023 06:58

Crunchymum · 02/02/2023 06:55

I save my points for Xmas too. I shop in Sainsbury's almost everyday and do my online food shop there too (top up shops daily, once a week online shop. Spend at least £100 a week there) and I barely had £40 in points this Christmas? What am I doing wrong? I've never got 800 points for anything.

Do you add the extra bonus points weekly? Not just points for your shop total bill

thinkponk48 · 02/02/2023 07:01

Crunchymum · 02/02/2023 06:55

I save my points for Xmas too. I shop in Sainsbury's almost everyday and do my online food shop there too (top up shops daily, once a week online shop. Spend at least £100 a week there) and I barely had £40 in points this Christmas? What am I doing wrong? I've never got 800 points for anything.

Download the app. You get loads of extra points

Whycanineverever · 02/02/2023 07:06

I use sainsburys for most of my shopping and get quite a bit back. I live 5 minutes walk from a biggish one so go few times a week. The extra nectar points are pretty much always on stuff I buy regularly so I will always ensure I use them.

They also do smart prices if you use self scan and again it's stuff I will buy anyway - I like those because it's not a once only think like the nectar points.

I do rack up a lot of points and often just spend in argos on bits I need from there.

Yesterday I did a £60 click and collect and got £3.75 of points and £6 off over £60.

RNBrie · 02/02/2023 07:10

If you get a nectar card and switch to a sainsburys credit card then it is absolutely worth it. You accrue nectar points as you spend on the credit card as well as shop in Sainsburys.

I used to have a John Lewis card and shopped at Ocado but switched to Sainsburys/Nectar when I realised Sainsburys was 15% cheaper even before the nectar vouchers.

I probably wouldn't bother with nectar unless I either shopped at sainsburys regularly or used the sainsburys credit card as my main card. Just be aware that sainsburys credit card customer service is terrible, I've only had to deal with them once and it nearly made me switch back!

Whycanineverever · 02/02/2023 07:11

Crunchymum · 02/02/2023 06:55

I save my points for Xmas too. I shop in Sainsbury's almost everyday and do my online food shop there too (top up shops daily, once a week online shop. Spend at least £100 a week there) and I barely had £40 in points this Christmas? What am I doing wrong? I've never got 800 points for anything.

They do fruit and veg offers - you get points for portions. Also do Christmas ones. I got about 1800 points in the count up to Christmas reward I think.

Lsquiggles · 02/02/2023 07:19

We do our weekly shop and one top up shop per week at Sainsbury's and had just over £110 worth of points saved up at the end of 2022. We use the app and make sure to save all the offers on there as some give 200 bonus points, make sure it's linked up to your Argos account so you can receive points for purchases on there etc. I think even if you don't shop there that regularly it's worth having. We put ours towards Christmas presents or our food shopping in January when things are tight.

Oblomov22 · 02/02/2023 07:21

I might not bother now. All cards are worse than they used to be. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, all of them. I have both. For 15 years plus. Usually save my points for Christmas and pay for my say £150 shop for free. All that hassle, for one free shop. Now I've written it down I've finally realised how little it is worth. (I know £150 sounds good money, but blimey 52 weeks of scanning, vouchers, hassle, etc, for that?)

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 02/02/2023 07:23

You're over thinking a non issue imo, get the app on your phone, scan when you shop and you'll get the points

Why would you not , unless you're someone who objects to big super collecting your data why does this need any thought?

Franticbutterfly · 02/02/2023 07:23

My app NEVER works so I don't bother.

MaverickGooseGoose · 02/02/2023 07:30

Oblomov22 · 02/02/2023 07:21

I might not bother now. All cards are worse than they used to be. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, all of them. I have both. For 15 years plus. Usually save my points for Christmas and pay for my say £150 shop for free. All that hassle, for one free shop. Now I've written it down I've finally realised how little it is worth. (I know £150 sounds good money, but blimey 52 weeks of scanning, vouchers, hassle, etc, for that?)

There is no hassle! Everything runs through the app.

dexterslockedintheshedagain · 02/02/2023 07:37

Cileymyrus · 01/02/2023 17:45

I’d say it’s always worth it. Not much hassle to scan and builds up over time.

it’s not just sainsburies, you can get nectar at a lot of places. there’s also fuel, Argos, eBay etc.

it builds up relatively quickly.

My nectar card paid for my Christmas grocery shop last year! I shop there regularly though, for groceries and fuel.

Cherry60 · 02/02/2023 07:40

It used to be better, especially when they did their double up promotion and you could spend double the value of your points on home stuff.

These days they just bombard me with vouchers I have to use to build up points, requiring me to spend more than I can afford on certain items so I don't do it. It takes ages to build up a decent amount even if you shop there regularly, Sainsburys is so tight. 🙄

mondaytosunday · 02/02/2023 07:43

Where's the hassle? One extra card snd every once in a while you get a few pounds off. Couldn't care less if they know I like Kellogg's cornflakes or Rachel's yoghurt! Tesco vouchers can be great - I buy air miles and have managed to bump my family up to business once and premium economy a few times!

lbnblbnb · 02/02/2023 07:46

I have an app called Stocard that stores all my loyalty cards so I always have my 'card' on me. I am sure I don't maximise the points I could get and I understand your point about data, but honestly, if they want to know I like Halloumi I am not too bothered.

AuntieMarys · 02/02/2023 07:46

Oblomov22 · 02/02/2023 07:21

I might not bother now. All cards are worse than they used to be. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, all of them. I have both. For 15 years plus. Usually save my points for Christmas and pay for my say £150 shop for free. All that hassle, for one free shop. Now I've written it down I've finally realised how little it is worth. (I know £150 sounds good money, but blimey 52 weeks of scanning, vouchers, hassle, etc, for that?)

Scanning is no hassle! Saves you time at the checkout.

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