To not know why M&S have introduced a Sparks card that does nothing.

[HamletsSister]

I recently got one of these beauties. Yay! I thought. Free knickers. Dutifully, I purchased t shirts and tights, bras for DD, even a couple of large boulder slings for myself.

And then, after some months, I asked. Apparently, the weird e-mail offers you get where you seem to pick one, are all you get. No discounts online. No preferential deals. Nothing.

I thought it would be like my Boots card, or my Co-op card where I clock up "money" and can then buy something.

Why do they make it so complicated?

Will they read this thread and sort it out?

I didn't know M&S had a card? Sounds like a data collection activity if there are no realised benefits

I got an email the other week saying I had £5 off a £25 food shop.

Was in a day or so later and spent £48. I handed over the card, no £5 off. When I asked the cashier got the supervisor who gave me £5 off my bill. All good in the end but with a Boots advantage card you don't have to ask and also the points actually mean something.

Also, we live fairly remotely so only really go to an actual shop about 3 times a year. So most offers are useless and wasted on us.

It keeps pestering me to pick offers in the app, which is easy enough.

I've had 20% off various food things, that I actually buy, free extra side on the Dine in Deal, £5 off when spending £30 on clothes, it's OK.

Because they're incompetent at everything besides the food side of the business.

I got 1 too i think its a data collection card to see what you are buying it has to be ive had no offers as yet it is as useless as the superdrug beauty card

Ooo ive not got the App maybe thats why iveheard nothing from

Yeah I think this is a bit shit too tbh. Someone mentioned this in my office a few weeks ago and everyone seemed to agree.

The super drug one is fine! You just clock up points and when you're next in there paying they ask if you want to use them. Simple.

Rocky bird - did you put the £5 on your sparks card? When you get the email with offers you have to select them so it goes on your card. Sorry if that's obvious, but it took me a while to realise that .

I've had one for ages and think it's absolutely crap. No idea what the trillions of points I've accumulated are for. The offers are generally pathetic and you've got to remember what they are when you go shopping.

My favourite card is my Boots Advantage card which steadily accumulates points I can then use to treat myself with.

I've found mine quite good. I've had a couple of £5 off including one for my birthday and I often get 20% off my shopping. I spent about £50 a few weeks ago and it dropped down to about £35 when my Sparks card was scanned. Can't moan at that.

I am starting to think im not that good at points cards

It's very clunky as you have to go to account and choose and add offer rather that it just being there. You get £5 for your birthday.

I got a free fiver on my birthday. 20% off stuff I buy there like chocolate

stonecircle no I didn't

Cashier must have thought "oh look another stupid person"

I didn't get a free fiver on my birthday

Best card imo is the co op card - 5%cashback when you purchase their branded products... easy to clock up the cash

it is rubbish. You have to add the offers and they only last normally for a few days. I dont live near an M&S so cant get there every week. Look on Mumsnet - plenty of other threads about how crap it is. They get sent to M&S on a regular basis!

I didn't get £5 for my birthday either and I spend a goodly proportion of my net income in M&S!!

I just don't understand the card at all

I love my sparks card!

You do have to pick the offers but they regularly have 20% off childrens clothes and school shoes so it's worth having for me (as it's free) and it did give me a free coffee and cake in the cafe once. You have to combine it with the &more card to get free pants now though.

Nectar is also crap. Has anyone had anything good out of that?

It's shit. Even M and S staff think it's shit.
I think they tried to be clever and different and it's failed.

I have an M&S near me so works well for me. Quite often get offers on free from foods which helps a lot, and I've had a few on gin too. Some offers not so good for me. But it works on a build up points to unlock extra offer slots, so probably only works if you are a regular.

It's not brilliant but it's not completely useless. I get early sale preview before all the good stuff are gone. I get £5 off if you spend £35 on food. 20% off here and there for clothes. But yeah it's annoying that the points doesn't mean much, and I spent a lot at M&S especially when we moved house.