M&S 12 days of Sparks - it's back!

[IconicKitty]

Can't see a thread, please correct me if I'm wrong.

M&S has brought back its 12 days of Sparks offers. It was notoriously bad last year, but day 1 and I have a free hand cream to pick up in store. Not sure if I'll get the chance, but seems a stronger start than last year at least.

Mine is the kids pass access to discounted days out. I haven't got kids.

I got the KidsPass offer too .
My kids are 246 months and 276 months respectivly ( 20 and 23 )

I'll pass on that one !

Kids pass too. Kids are 22 and 21. We are also in Scotland where there are only, as far as I can see, there is not much doing.

Honestly, M&S near me is full of 50+ women. Many are 70+. This is NOT for us.

The only 2 new offers on my Sparks are 15% off bras and 15% off skirts. I can guarantee I've never bought a skirt there as I don't wear them.
I could have used the £5 off £40, whether it was food or clothes.

Looking for info on sparks days out and found the holiday buried in Sparks FAQ, having not been notified of it. Competition opened 8th Dec and closed yesterday so missed that.

Kids pass as well, said "kid" is 28 so, meh...

About Sparks ( from an M&S blurb ):

"After listening to our customers we relaunched Sparks in July 2020 as a digital first loyalty scheme, with the customer promise that good things happen every time you shop. It replaced the old fashioned points based system with an all-round more personalised, more relevant, and more rewarding experience.

Customers receive personalised offers and discounts based on their shopping habits, including money off their shopping, exclusive offers from M&S partners, and regular product giveaways.

Customers also have the chance to win their shopping for free. M&S surprises and delights one Sparks customer per store per week by gifting them their entire shopping basket - from. a sandwich to a sofa. To date, over 120k customers have won their shopping in this way.

Sparks also allow customers to donate to the causes they care about with M&S donating 1p to each customer's chosen charity every time they complete a transaction......."

Words in bold were bolded in the spiel from M&S.
it sounded like a good pitch in the boardroom but the reality........ 🙄

Give me an old fashioned loyalty card over Sparks please.
However the charity donation is a nice touch.

Just had the email about the kids pass. But it needs my address etc, before I can access the details, prefer not to go there. My youngest is 18 in a couple of months.

Although as a pp mentioned, I do like the charity aspect. I do always use the Sparks card as I know it will benefit my chosen charity and I get to see how much M&S donates, which is nice. Although the cynic in me knows that they earmark funds for charity as a tax break regardless of whether I flash my card. But still, a good cause that I support benefits.

I got the days out thing. I did get free hand cream on the first door, which they gave me even though my stupid Sparks card never loads in the store anyway!

I kinda admire how steadfastly shit the Sparks card is.

The one thing that was worth it to me was when they gave customers who shopped there more priority access to the sales. Since that stopped I don't know if they give me enough incentive to give them my data.

Who is “us” @Cismyfatarse?

I got a 20% off skincare and I was ogling some of the Formula the day before ..... so I don't know if it was tailored or just a lucky guess ?

M&S in my branch's actual customers. My branch is admittedly shit and under constant threat of closure. But those in there are all 50+ whenever I go in, which is fairly often as it is my nearest lunch shop when at work.

If it were actually tailored, I would have got free sandwiches and shapewear!

@Cismyfatarse - sorry - are us over 50s not allowed in M&S? I hadn’t realised.

@Peridot1 I think all @Cismyfatarse meant is that a free kids pass is not much use to women in an age bracket that are unlikely to have young kids. I read it that she's over 50 too.

Yes maybe I misunderstood @KimmySchmitt. Sorry @Cismyfatarse!

So you had to open it every day, to get 30% off Christmas decorations?! Oh my!

I had queried the delay in getting the "Golden Ticket" on Twitter. I had previously received 20% off decorations as one of the days offers that I am not going to use. On day 13, I got 30% off decorations.
I mentioned in my DM to Marks & Spencer that I was under the impression that the Sparks offers are personalised (as they say that they are on their website) and that they will be based on the things that they know I love (none of these offers are things I love). I suggested that they pass this up to their marketing department and they replied that they are grateful for the feedback and will pass the information to Marketing.

I doubt that they will do that but sure what the hey, I've passed my feedback on.

Fingers crossed!

It's not the best loyalty card but they sometimes get it right and to be fair I've benefited from free food items and useful discounts throughout the year. The non personalised '12 days' thing was a pointless exercise aside from the amusing chat we've had out of it.

They were supposed to send me an email about the days out but I haven't received anything. It doesn't matter as I won't be using it anyway.

In store yesterday they were giving 30% off all Christmas decorations so i’m surprised they are offering that as a Sparks bonus offer. Terrible offers this year 😬

We are the majority of customers. Thus, a stupid Sparks thing offering 20% off rollercoasters and soft play is not a reward at all.

I want free gin and comfy knickers.