Anyone else disappointed by the new M&S Sparks rewards changes?

[Nikki3009]

Hi,

Has anyone else noticed the change to the M&S Sparks Cards Rewards? I've previously often had 20% off clothing etc, but under the new system you have to spend money on certain items to earn money off future spends.

Before anyone comes at me, I know M&S don't have to offer a reward card in any shape or form. But the way the new rewards are going to operate seem highly biaised towards high-spending customers rather than all customers.

As an example...under the previous rewards I might have had 20% off dresses which, if I bought a dress for £50 would mean £10 off. Under the new scheme, I may get a £6 reward for spending £30 on a dress. So, as a customer I'm not really gaining anything - in fact, it'll end up costing me more, because I will no doubt have to top up that £6 reward in order to buy anything!

Obviously this has been done to be beneficial to M&S and it's a business decision but does anyone else feel it's a bit of a shame as a loyal customer?

Also, the influencers shilling this as a 'Fantastic Upgrade', need to start being transparent about their partnerships with M&S. You only have to do the maths to realise for the average customer, it's anything but 🙄

You have to get a security code texted to your phone to ‘load’ it! Wild!!

@Davros that’s so annoying. Mine just has it at the top of the sparks page, either pending or added. I think pending is clothes.

I don’t think I got the security code. It’s a £1 ffs but that’s not the point! I’ll have a go at it later

I recently had £1 and it was slightly complex adding it to the wallet, had to add password/receive a code etc.

Then I had to return an item so the amount went down to 82p

I’m now finding I cannot add that amount to my wallet and it expires on the 30th June…another £14 bonus is coming…but not until 3rd July I don’t understand why it makes you wait rather than just give the reward!

Definitely a whole load of faffing compared with how it used to be!

Late to the thread as only just noticed it, but agree with the general consensus that the new Sparks scheme is rubbish.
Just browsing my offers and it's all psychology but 20% off trousers would have been far more likely to encourage me to buy than the 'spend £25 on trousers and earn £5 reward'.

I hope M&S rethink this.

I think the rewards themselves are confusing. What does this mean? Pending implies it’s not available, but earned implies it is available. Why do we have to get a code texted to our phone to move it from earned-pending to earned-available? I’m so confused!

You’ve purchased in clothing or home which are refundable items so once the refund period ends the £2 will become available for you to spend.

Food offers give you immediate access to your money you can spend it or save them up for a bigger shop I’m saving mine for a food shop at Christmas.

But you still have to transfer them to the card don’t you? I don’t understand why that step is necessary and trying to monitor what’s gone on the card and what has gone out is confusing too. I feel like the money I have managed to transfer and use has been down to luck

I suppose because it’s because of the cybersecurity attack they had they want to try and protect those that still have a plastic card maybe. Plus it gives an opportunity to spend the money when you choose to. I might want to buy a top for £15 and save the rest for another time. Money added has to be spent in one go so if you’ve added more than needed you won’t be able to use it unfortunately.

I agree, I do not like the new Sparks rewards. If anything it puts me off buying things! I

The new system is useless since it started I've earned £1. I am 73 yo and spend 70 -75£ per week in the foodhall. The offers ask you to buy, for instance, £9 of soft fruit to gain £1. I wouldn't spend £9 on soft fruit as it would be a waste and I try my best to reduce food waste. It's biased against older people who really are on a tight budget.

I really like it but I do use it for the main shop and also have an M&S card - in the last 6 weeks alone I have built up the best part of £55 in sparks/credit card points which il use off my next shop