Physical Nectar card still available?

[madeinmanc]

I had a physical Nectar card about a decade ago, no idea where it is and I don't think I ever got any benefit from it. Anyway, now that Sainsbury's have gone down the "clubcard" route (evidently not realising that a large part of their previous appeal was that they didn't make you have one), it seems I will have to get one again to avoid ridiculous pricing.

Is there any way I can still get a physical Nectar card just to avoid them gathering data via my phone?

I'd love to find my old card; no doubt it will turn up as soon as I get a new one 😅

Yes, just phone them and they will send one out. They’ll likely find your old acccount too.

Thanks, I can't believe Sainsbury's have gone down this route tbh but there you go.

Am I actually changing anything by not having the app? 🤔

Yes my mum got one in the shop recently when they started doing the nectar price thing. She doesn’t have a smartphone so needed a physical card.

Get the app - you’ll see your personalised offers/smart prices

It was inevitable that other shops would follow

Aha, personalised offers are good, like the M&S app.

I just don't know what data it is I'm giving away. I can't be the only one?

If you use your nectar card at the till, they're gathering your data. It makes no odds if it's via an app or a card you swipe.

But I thought apps collect information from your phone like internet browsing habits?

I use my card a lot. They do gather information but it's fairly uncontroversial I think. They have clocked that I eat a lot of grapes and their own brand of "Weetabix" but nothing more sinister than that. No doubt I'll be told how naive I am though.

It's more like:
They know I have a cat because... I buy cat food. So I get offers for pet insurance and own brand cat food. They get to know your preferences and you get money off, not just points.

it seems I will have to get one again to avoid ridiculous pricing.

The non nectar prices are the ones they always used to be before they brought this in. I've noticed this on the things I buy regularly.

If you ask app not to track when you install it and they they can't collect data.

I have just got a Nectar physical card today at the shop and the cashier deducted the Nectar discount without me having to register.