What is the point of an M&S Sparks card?

[WWGD]

It’s starting to really get on my tits. The offers are rubbish and there seems no benefit in scanning it. Am I missing something?

It is rubbish and in a way I can't wait for the 12 days of Christmas thread again when we all complain about the rubbish offers.

It's ages since I got free Percy, bread or apples. All is used in our house though.

I may have the odd moment where I use 20% off clothing, knickers, bras.

I link my card to a youth mental health charity, the only reason I scan the stupid thing each time as I have seen DD going through mental health issues and we are lucky to be able to pay for her treatment.

Looking at the M and S credit card, as mentioned earlier, you need to spend £200 to get £2 worth of vouchers. Paid out quarterly.

Although, for the first six months they give you 5 x points.

Frankly, I couldn't be arsed with getting a credit card I don't want and linking it with my Sparks card, for not a lot in return.

I find the boots one really annoying because to redeem, the amount has to fully cover your entire purchase. It's a faff if you're ordering a few things and want to use the points to cover just one product

I've been homebound recently, using Ocado from necessity. So lots MnS food etc, ignored by Sparks. Had nothing at all for years, since 4 pears, and they'd sold out of them.

Housebound, daft predictive text.

That made me laugh as I look forward to that thread
Nothing beats a good competitive whinge about the day 12 prize of 1% off cashmere when we all long for a bag of sweets 🤣🤣

People saying they never get any discounts and freebies you do know you need to activate the offers?

Last month I got 20 pc off a coat I wanted and 15 pc off some already reasonable knitwear.

Yeaterday I got 15 pc off 3 dresses and some knickers, and 2 quid off a £12 food spend with various offers.

re freebies I’ve had room sprays, Percy pigs, gin, tea, biscuits over the past couple
of years and I’m not a big spender.

For those moaning about freebies not being to their taste : so what? Can’t you give them to the school raffle, charity shop or similar?

You are missing something. The card is for M&S to track your spending and thus target you for various stuff they want to advertise or move. This is the point of all 'loyalty' cards, which is why I don't have one and do not shop e.g. in Tesco's where having a card means you pay the proper price, not the inflated one they put up so they can give 'loyalty' discounts.

For their own marketing purposes, tracking consumer behaviour. Do a withering review of it online or on their Twitter.

I’m only interested in money back loyalty schemes like Nectar, so if you’re doing your weekly shop anyway, your points accumulate monetary value that you can use to reduce cost of future shop or buy stuff in Argos.

Once I pressed the wrong button when scanning my sparks card and I could pay with a balance? Check the screen next time you go scan it on the self scan till one says sparks card and one says sparks pay. I never clicked it though as thought oh I’ll save it

No, you're not missing anything. M&S Sparks card is the crappest of all the loyalty cards, and a total waste of time.

I don’t feel it’s a total waste of time. Have you used it for the 12 Days of Christmas promotion? Most people get a few freebies in December.

I did 'win' last Christmas, a candle I think it was, but when I went to claim it there were none left in store 🤷‍♀️

I’ve been given an offer for some cookies or grapes as it’s my birthday this month . Do get some occasional money off vouchers worth using but generally it’s not great .

You don't have to have one, I sometimes get quite good offers on mine for food and clothing so use it but like all loyalty cards it's not compulsory

It's coming up to the M&S 12 days of Christmas soon, I got a few freebies on it last year.

I love mine. Have it on my phone. Get good discounts.

Forgot to mention what I got!
Free Percy pigs and a free bottle of the light up Christmas gin, which I gave away as a present which they loved.