AIBU to expect M&S 12 days of treats not to be this?

[Whatmeagain]

So I've been unlocking the M&S 12 Days of Sparks and after getting a bottle of bucks fizz on day 1 - pretty good compared to some others on another thread - I've had nothing but rubbish since. However today being the last day I hoped for something decent and instead got 20% of nightwear - which is a standard offer already available in store and online. Am I being unreasonable to think the offers through the 12 days of sparks should be something different to things available to everyone else already?

No freebies for me, just 15% off things. I'd have been delighted with a bottle of bucks fizz.

Today I got 20% off Nobody’s Child, the other day it was Jaegar. I have never bought either of these. I do buy kids stuff including pyjamas and underwear but didn’t get those offers despite other people getting them. I was holding out for a deal to buy dc some pyjamas but am going elsewhere instead as it’s been awful and even my free sweets offer didn’t work, I was charged for them when I looked at my receipt back at home.

I've only opened the last two days. 20% off socks, 20% off dressing gowns.

Did you actually expect it to be anything else? Reward cards are designed to create customer brand loyalty and to get you back in their shop. This is all this is. Giveaway random bits to random people and at least some of them will be swayed to switch and spend, or pop in to collect prize and end up picking up extras.

It’s like marketing 101. As a consumer you play the game and work out what actually gives you the best deals/experience.

I'd rather just build points up and then use them for discounts on what I choose, like with Boots or Nectar. Who has the time or patience to remember you have a voucher for 20% off socks or you get extra points if you buy sausages on a Wednesday? If there are no real discounts or freebies it's a load of bollocks.

I don't think people need to be eternally grateful to M&S for giving them a free bag of Percy Pigs or a tube of hand cream. It's not like they're doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. Sparks is a loyalty scheme, and one that doesn't give out points. We scan our cards every shop and hand over our data, they give us freebies. That's the deal. I buy food from M&S three or four times a week and I usually get two freebies a month, worth around £5 in total. So to only get a £2 net of chocolate footballs this month is a little disappointing, seeing as this is meant to be an extra special promotion.

I enjoyed my chocolate footballs and I still think it's worth being a Sparks member (although it's a lot less rewarding than the likes of Nectar, I still very much enjoy getting a free loaf of bread, smoothie or pack of apples etc). But this 12 Days Of Sparks thing hasn't been amazing (so far, I'm still waiting for my bonus reward). Particularly for the people who couldn't even claim their free gift as it was out of stock/not sold in their local store.

My free prize was a tree ornament that I can't get locally. Yesterdays was 20% off vests ... vests fgs!

I missed a few days but all of mine were rubbish. I won't have used anything at all. I'm not that fussed about free alcohol but anything else festive would have been nice.

Our freebie was a pack of chocolate footballs. Would've liked some booze of course but the footballs came in handy for filling the kids advent calendars! Everything since has been % off certain departments/ items. Nothing we would use.

@TangledBlue
And where has anyone said that people have to be eternally grateful? 🙄

I missed the first day so didn't even get a gift! It was all rubbish. I actually bought the gin last year thinking it would look nice lit up on the shelf. But the light only stays on for a few seconds so I wouldn't have even wanted another one.

All mine were underwhelming too

Has anyone had a golden key gift today? I opened all 12 offers (all very underwhelming and only used 2 of the % off offers) but there is nothing today…

I thought I might finally get a free packet of Percy pigs or something

Sparks card is a rubbish loyalty card in the first place.

I haven't had the golden key gift either and opened all doors, it was probably 15% off something or other anyway.

No, it’s completely disappeared. I’ve tweeted them and waiting for a response.

No golden key gift here either, but to be honest I'm not surprised following the calibre of the 'rewards' this year.

I disagree with this, but I suppose it depends on what customers tend to buy in M&S. The offers I get usually tie in with my shopping habits, and I always appreciate the free gifts, whether it’s grapes, Percy pigs or a croissant. The 12 days of Sparks this year has been spectacularly rubbish for me though. I know I shouldn’t “expect” more having spent thousands of pounds with them this year (including a sofa and other furniture), but I admit to being jealous of people who have had free Prosecco, gin or even Percy pigs over the 12 days.

You are paying for this stuff though. You’re paying by giving them your personal data to use in various ways. That is valuable to M&S.

It’s also getting you through the shop door to pick up your free pack of chocolate coins or whatever. Which substantially increases the likelihood that you’ll buy other things while you’re in there.

Just because you aren’t handing over money, doesn’t mean that M&S are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. Let’s stop pretending it’s simply a freebie and no one has any right to complain that the rewards are rubbish.

"M&S 12 Days of Sparks" ? Grow up

Only on Mumsnet...and possibly an old ladies luncheon. Buy your own shit...then you can't be disappointed.

No. I don't think I will.

Just seen on M&S Facebook that the 13th day reward is some Irish cream hot chocolate.... Snore.

Free hot chocolate? It's just not good enough is it. Maybe if you stamp your feet hard enough and scream "I want I want I want" until you're sick they'll give you a lolly?