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Original poster

in suggesting that the Marks and Spencer Sparks card is the worst loyalty scheme ever

308 replies

JackandDiane · 11/04/2016 13:18

  1. YOu have to activate offers - requires WAY too much thought and planning
  2. I just want money off things I buy fgs
  3. that fucking ' have you swiped your sparks card' is surely mitigation for murder?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
Poikjhvcx · 15/04/2016 16:12

NicknameUsed. Yup, you do sound judgey. Hmm Do you normally go around giving unsolicited dietary advice. Confused

Toxicity · 15/04/2016 16:17

The Boots Advantage card is the best loyalty card IMO. I also like the Space NK N:Dulge card.

The Sparks card could definitely be better, as a previous poster said, a lot of M&S customers are older and may not be online so they are going to struggle to load the offers.

I got a fiver off a top the other day because of a Sparks 20% offer so I was happy with that but I think they could make a lot of improvements.

memyselfandaye · 15/04/2016 17:10

NicknameUsed That's just my Marks grocery shopping on a Monday. I also buy cakes on a Friday and Saturday in Sainsburys.

Chocolate is an everyday thing not an every week thing. I work odd hours and loves me a sugar fix, today's delicious treat is a Thorntons Alpini bar, some Brannigans Roast Beef and Mustard crisps and a can of full fat heavenly coke.

Now if only my boss will piss off home instead of hovering around my office I can get stuck in.

Oh and I've just found some Cadbury Coffee Eclairs in my desk drawer, the sweetie gods are smiling on me Grin

Suprisingly I have nice white teeth and my bp and cholesterol are what they should be.

As Poik has pointed out, you do sound terribly judgey.

It would never occur to me to pull anyone up on what they eat or spend their hard earned on, unless I was asked for advice.

I guess I just have better manners. Cake and love to you.

notamummy10 · 15/04/2016 17:16

Toxicity I totally agree! also their double points coupons come in handy... My other favourite loyalty card is the Costa Coffee card, especially as they have a points promotion event every month. Up to now, I'm due to get 90 extra points after this month's promotion (triple points on the toasties) so that'll take me up 720 points (£7.20) plus any other visits I'll have in between!

MidnightVelvetthe5th · 15/04/2016 17:30

I used my Sparks card for the first time today, there were 20% off Percy Pigs! First time I'd used it in months...

I get the feeling that I'm not its target audience though, I don't have time to shuffle slowly around fingering the polyester & oohing over the beige shoes before queueing for 20 mins to get a wobbly tiny table & join the sea of white cauliflowery heads in the cafe. I don't buy eggs at M&S! I don't buy milk or teabags there, but thanks Sparks for your half price offer! I don't use it for grocery shopping & never have. If I go in then its for a hurried hare around to pick up what I've forgotten to get for dinner & maybe some fruit for work. That's it. Yet week after week I get offers for mundane bollocks that I just ignore.

Thymeout · 15/04/2016 18:57

Am I the only one hoping that next time MidnightVelvet is haring round buying Percy Pigs one of the white cauliflowery heads puts her stick out and sends her flying?

Poikjhvcx · 15/04/2016 18:59

I've got my imaginary stick ready Angry Wink

Lucsy · 15/04/2016 18:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 15/04/2016 19:21

I can have 20% of sandwiches if I want to drive a 26 mile round trip ;D
NEXT.

annabelcaramel · 15/04/2016 19:25

Lovely staff member in my local M&S was EXTREMELY vocal, at length, in agreeing with me yesterday about what a bodge job it is. The staff in that store are embarrassed by it.

Clayhead · 15/04/2016 20:25

I've given up logging on only to find rubbish offers - mine always seemed to be for sushi which I've never bought Confused. I can't believe anyone's designed something so convoluted and clunky.

On the other hand I love the Waitrose one and regularly enjoy the coffee (I get it black, take it off the machine before it gets watered down) and love the free papers.

BennyTheBall · 15/04/2016 20:30

God, it's pants isn't it?

My latest offer is £5 off 'fine' wines, i.e. wines that are over £20 each.

StealthPolarBear · 16/04/2016 15:35

I got one! Just been shopping and could only remember sushi from my offers. I needed lunch. However they had no veg sushi Angry
But just looked at my receipt and I seem to have got 20% off blue berries, which must have been another offer.
woo hoo! Going to eat one fifth of the blueberries exactly as they were free :o

MuddhaOfSuburbia · 16/04/2016 15:40

I got the 'fine' wines

twenty QUID??

fuck that marks, it's not Christmas yet!

Kreacherelf · 16/04/2016 15:46

I worked in Marksies as a student. The management there is the worst I have ever seen. It was a mix of 'glamorous' graduates wearing Jimmy Choos and creepy old men who thought they were Alan Sugar.

I'm not surprised this is shit.

StealthPolarBear · 16/04/2016 15:50

I didn't get fine wines
they obv know me well

ouryve · 16/04/2016 16:03

I got fine wine s the other week and couldn't find anything to use it on in the store I visited. They only had the amarone, which I got for Christmas dinner and don't rate.

Of course I was in the Newcastle store today and would have been spoilt for choice, but no discount. I did save a quid on sarnies.

Nanny0gg · 16/04/2016 18:50

as a previous poster said, a lot of M&S customers are older and may not be online so they are going to struggle to load the offers.

I do wish that the myth of 'older' people not being online could be permanently debunked.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 16/04/2016 18:54

It's rubbish. I got 20% off jeans once - that's the only thing I've used it for, in all the time I've had it.

BennyTheBall · 16/04/2016 19:00

And when you go to self service checkout, the voice saying 'have you scanned your Sparks card?' before you've done anything is REALLY annoying.

NicknameUsed · 16/04/2016 19:30

"I do wish that the myth of 'older' people not being online could be permanently debunked."

Because for a significant number of older people it is still true. My late uncle, who was born in 1927 was internet savvy, but that was because he was well educated and recognised the benefits of being online.

My MIL, at two years younger, left school at 14, has never used a computer, doesn't understand how beneficial being online could be and wouldn't know where to start.

MuddhaOfSuburbia · 16/04/2016 19:42

yy what Nickname said

I'd say the number of older (say 65 and up) folk I know who aren't online is greater than the number who are

I know that's just anecdotal -would be interested to see any stats

NicknameUsed · 16/04/2016 19:50

I would say 75 and up rather than 65 and up.

CombineBananaFister · 16/04/2016 19:56

Come to the party a bit late but having read most of the thread it highlights how hard it is for any loyalty scheme to be personal, which is what the Sparks card is meant to be - probably its downfall. Some people were happy for 20% off jeans, percy pigs, cheese, balanced meals while equally some would be miffed at these.
The lady in our local store was really articulate explaining how the more it reads your shopping habits, the more you'll get targeted relevant offers, at first its generic.
Yes, there's a cynical element to this, am sure, of offers on stuff they want you to try etc but I do find this British gleefullnes at being able to stick the boot in to m and s a bit spiteful, it doesn't happen to other stores with such contempt. I love the foodhall and would miss it if it wasn't around anymore due to poor decisions in other areas. Be careful what you wish for and all that.

NicknameUsed · 16/04/2016 20:00

"The lady in our local store was really articulate explaining how the more it reads your shopping habits, the more you'll get targeted relevant offers, at first its generic."

Tesco do that, but they make a better job of it. They will send me vouchers with money off things I actually buy, but without me having to spend a minimum amount.