SDM Optimum Point Program - Optimizing

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Originally Posted by bdidol

gr8 post...the math would be totally different for province like BC, NL where no points on prescription drugs and 75/170$ bonus redemption. Can you give an optimizaton for that?

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Actually, we get points on prescriptions here in BC. It's great because between Save On and Urban Fare and Safeway and Shoppers Drugmart there's usually a pretty good competition going on for our prescription business. :-)

When you achieve PLUS status by accumulating 10,000 REGULAR points in one calendar year, it's effective immediately and then through to the end of the NEXT calendar year. Always make sure you're getting those regular points, though. If you use the SDM gift card trick, then you would only have to spend about $9.62 per week on average.

I use my Shoppers Optimum Mastercard to buy Shoppers Drugmart gift cards all the time. The points are coming in so fast I can't keep track of them. BTW, I wish I could see an accounting of how all my points are accumulated on the Shoppers Optimum website.

It's hard to distill all this info down to something that is easier to understand because you have to pay attention to myriad details like the difference between regular points and bonus points and the differences between the provinces and then there's the inconsistency with the way the SDM staff deal with things and apply policies. I applaud any effort to wade into this and try to make it more understandable. :top:

***edit*** It now takes 15,000 REGULAR points to get PLUS status. :( So, if you use the SDM gift card trick, then you would have to spend about $14.43 per week on average (to get to PLUS status in one year).

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Originally Posted by mcminsen

Actually, we get points on prescriptions here in BC. It's great because between Save On and Urban Fare and Safeway and Shoppers Drugmart there's usually a pretty good competition going on for our prescription business. :-)

When you achieve PLUS status by accumulating 10,000 REGULAR points in one calendar year, it's effective immediately and then through to the end of the NEXT calendar year. Always make sure you're getting those regular points, though. If you use the SDM gift card trick, then you would only have to spend about $9.62 per week on average.

I use my Shoppers Optimum Mastercard to buy Shoppers Drugmart gift cards all the time. The points are coming in so fast I can't keep track of them. BTW, I wish I could see an accounting of how all my points are accumulated on the Shoppers Optimum website.

It's hard to distill all this info down to something that is easier to understand because you have to pay attention to myriad details like the difference between regular points and bonus points and the differences between the provinces and then there's the inconsistency with the way the SDM staff deal with things and apply policies. I applaud any effort to wade into this and try to make it more understandable. :top:

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:) thanks....

Regarding plus membership, I am pretty sure I had more then 10,000 points at the end of last year, but did not see anything mentioned in my receipt. Is there a way to verify it?

in my province SDM doing a very bad business....only couple of stores and just one of them occupy a bigger space with grocery shelves. Also I frequently noticed there sale price of many items still higher then WM/Zellers. I asked them about the points for prescription drugs and they mentioned its a provincial pharmacist regulations..whatever that means!

For milk and egg, I always found SDM very handy!! The regular milk price outside anywhere is 3.77 they sale it for 3.44 and 12 egss 2.99 and offer frequent sale of 1.97.

I was factoring in the point you get back, because really it's only costing you 35,000 points if you redeem 40,000 and get back 5,000 right away. For example, if you have 100,000 points and redeem 40,000 and get back 5,000, you will still have 65,000 points.

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Originally Posted by mellyskater

i dont get it, you state plus member for bonus redemption are 35, 000 and 65,000 points but really you have to redeem 40,000 and 75,000 and you get 5, 000 and 10,000 back respectively imeediately upon redemption

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Originally Posted by bdidol

:) thanks....

Regarding plus membership, I am pretty sure I had more then 10,000 points at the end of last year, but did not see anything mentioned in my receipt. Is there a way to verify it?

in my province SDM doing a very bad business....only couple of stores and just one of them occupy a bigger space with grocery shelves. Also I frequently noticed there sale price of many items still higher then WM/Zellers. I asked them about the points for prescription drugs and they mentioned its a provincial pharmacist regulations..whatever that means!

For milk and egg, I always found SDM very handy!! The regular milk price outside anywhere is 3.77 they sale it for 3.44 and 12 egss 2.99 and offer frequent sale of 1.97.

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Remember, BONUS points don't count towards PLUS status. It's just the REGULAR points that will get you to PLUS status. When you have PLUS status it will tell you on every receipt.

I called SDM customer service a few days ago to find out about prescriptions in Ontario. Some provinces don't allow points for prescriptions. It's the law. :-~

One way to get points for prescriptions in Ontario is to buy a SDM gift card and then pay for your prescription with the SDM gift card. I had this confirmed by SDM customer service over the phone. Always ask your SDM pharmacist if you can pay for your prescription with a SDM gift card. :-)

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Originally Posted by missbobloblaw

To redeem you HAVE to have 40 000 or 75 000 points. The benefit of being a plus member is that they give you 5 000 or 10 000 points back upon redemption. Makes sense to me.

And technically, you can earn points on tax by purchasing a SDM gift card to cover the total with taxes. You earn the 10 points per dollar of taxes based on that.

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You truly are a Shoppers Guru! My hubby thought I was nuts to buy a Shoppers GC but now he'll understand...TAXES make anyone understand!

Wow! Can’t believe all the great ideas I never even dreamed of for reaching optimum status and maximizing point value. Will definitely be getting some SDM gift cards in the new year to help towards attaining plus status in 2011 and earn points on tax and other stuff you don’t normally get points for!
Also got some nice reps from a few people. Wanted to send a thank you for them all, but can’t seem to figure out how to get back into the list – can anyone help?
Had a few question from members about the calculations for the discount value of the points, so I will do my best to explain.
For regular optimum cards holder:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
If you purchase $200 worth of product during 20x points events, you will receive 40,000 points, which can be redeemed for $100 in free stuff (Ontario and some other provinces) on bonus redemption day. Therefore you are getting $300 for spending only $200 – a 33.33% overall discount on non-taxable stuff.
If the product is taxable you will have to pay tax on $300. Assuming 13% tax (GST & PST), that’s $39, so it is costing you $239 for product that would usually cost $339 without the points benefit. $239/$339= 0.7050, so a 29.5% discount.
For regular optimum plus cards holder:<o:p></o:p>
If you purchase $175 worth of product during 20x points events, you will receive 35,000 points, which can be redeemed for $100 in free stuff (Ontario and some other provinces) on bonus redemption day. Therefore you are getting $275 for spending only $175 – a 36.36% overall discount on non-taxable stuff.
If the product is taxable you will have to pay tax on $275. Assuming 13% tax, that’s $35.75, so it is costing you $210.75 for product that would usually cost $310.75 without the points benefit. $210.75/$310.75= 0.6782, so a 32.18% discount.

Ah, that's what I thought you were doing by looking at the overall picture. My hubby has to drive me so I'll stick with the 65ish% theory ...he'll never go if I tell him the REAL truth.

I need a through study of this thread! now after my first redemption...........................got the taste of blood!{points}

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Originally Posted by missbobloblaw

=SDM cannot reverse back points when you do a return but they do a gift card for the amount of the purchase. .

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They can return the points. They messed up on Saturday and they had to do it for me. I got my redemption points back and then did it again properly.

[quote=mcminsen;1515225]
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When you achieve PLUS status by accumulating 10,000 REGULAR points in one calendar year, it's effective immediately and then through to the end of the NEXT calendar year. Always make sure you're getting those regular points, though. ......

Can you confirm this thing?------Suppose I reached PLUS today(Nov29,2009), Can this PLUS status be effective till Nov28,2010 or just the last day of 2009?

[quote=aimeee;1515510]

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Originally Posted by mcminsen

......
When you achieve PLUS status by accumulating 10,000 REGULAR points in one calendar year, it's effective immediately and then through to the end of the NEXT calendar year. Always make sure you're getting those regular points, though. ......

Can you confirm this thing?------Suppose I reached PLUS today(Nov29,2009), Can this PLUS status be effective till Nov28,2010 or just the last day of 2009?

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You would have plus status until December 31,2010.

I didn't do bonus redemption because I am only 1550 pts away from plus, and I figured that I will buy gift cards (depending how much I need by then) and use them boxing day and hopefully score a bunch of stuff half price, and pay for it with the gift cards taking me to plus then when I do a redemption I will be able to get points back.

I dont use a credit card, but can you use the SDM credit card to pay for groceries at other stores, and also use the other stores points program? Would I get SDM points per dollar spent plus airmiles if I shopped at Metro or Rexall? If that was the case, I may consider getting one.

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Originally Posted by miztia

I dont use a credit card, but can you use the SDM credit card to pay for groceries at other stores, and also use the other stores points program? Would I get SDM points per dollar spent plus airmiles if I shopped at Metro or Rexall? If that was the case, I may consider getting one.

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http://www.shoppersdrugmart.ca/engli...est/index.html

• Earn 25 points for every $1 in purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart (15 points^‡ for using your credit card, plus 10 additional points^♦♦ just for showing your Shoppers Optimum Card^®)
  
• 1.99% Introductory Annual Interest Rate^† on Cheque Cash Advances and Balance Transfers* for 6 months
  
• Feel secure with around-the-clock fraud protection
  
• Enjoy free online access to your credit card account
  
• Access unparalleled 24-hour customer service
  
• No Annual Fee

sorry check this link instead: http://www.shoppersdrugmart.ca/engli...card/info.html

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Originally Posted by julie.leeds

I didn't do bonus redemption because I am only 1550 pts away from plus, and I figured that I will buy gift cards (depending how much I need by then) and use them boxing day and hopefully score a bunch of stuff half price, and pay for it with the gift cards taking me to plus then when I do a redemption I will be able to get points back.

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Very sensible! There's always another bonus redemption day coming. Just make sure you get that PLUS status before the end of the year, which you should easily be able to do with the plan you described. :top:

Some other tips to maximize your point collection. It can be tricky to reach $50 or $75 on a 20x day.

1. Create an MIR (mail in rebate) coupon stash and pick one for the 20x day. This can sometimes gain you $10 or $15 towards your $50. You can use more than one MIR IF you can attach a photocopy but most require the "original" receipt
2. Offer to pick up groceries for a friend -- such as milk. Two jugs of milk gets you close to 1/5 the way to $50
3. Save up your vitamin purchases for 20x day if you usually make them at SDM
4. Still a wee bit short of $50 or $75, consider picking up some of the "great items" for donation if they're basically "free" after coupons. For example the Glade Fragrance small candle was $3 - $2 coupon which is $1. If it's 20x the points it's 600 points (more than the $1).

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Originally Posted by miztia

I dont use a credit card, but can you use the SDM credit card to pay for groceries at other stores, and also use the other stores points program? Would I get SDM points per dollar spent plus airmiles if I shopped at Metro or Rexall? If that was the case, I may consider getting one.

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I shop at Safeway and Save On Foods (here in BC) and pay with my Shoppers Optimum Mastercard and also show either my Airmiles card or my Save On More Rewards card and get those additional points. Heck, I get Shoppers Optimum points for paying my cable bill, my phone bill, my home insurance, my YMCA membership, my prescriptions, my lawyers bill... you name it. Anything that you can put on a Mastercard.

When you use your Shoppers Optimum Mastercard at places other than SDM you only get 5 points per dollar, which is okay. But the place you really score on the SDM points is (of course) SDM. And it's especially handy for buying those SDM gift cards. By doing the "SDM gift card trick" with a Shoppers Optimum Mastercard then you end up with 35 points per dollar spent (25 points for using the MC and then the other 10 when you spend the gift card), and that's BEFORE you tally all the bonus points from the other deals and coupons. There was a thread started in the "Discuss and Request Deals and Coupons" forum about the Shoppers Optimum Mastercard:

http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/113317-shoppers-mc-canada/

If this is your first credit card then make sure you use it and it doesn't use you. Always pay off your balance every month! Credit card use shouldn't have to cost you one cent, and you should actually get a little reward for using it. And there are the other benefits which you can read up on. It's easy to keep track of what you've spent. I keep all my receipts in an envelope and occasionally check my credit card account online to keep an eye on things. Just don't get too tempted by some of the add ons that you will be offered. It can be simple and cost free. :-)

I'm cutting and pasting a post I made in the "Shoppers Question" thread:

kt_9333 said:

"thanks so much too bad they dont price match, you could get so many more points that way! lol
i've checked out the recent post about tricks/tip on shoppers points, but im embarassed to say that it makes no sense to me
maybe googling it will give me a better idea on how to optimize my point collecting"

I said:

You're probably not alone in wanting it short and sweet. ARRRGH... let's see if I can do this in a couple hundred words or less...

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-use your Shoppers Optimum Points card as much as possible

-get hubby a card (for strategic use, like with the "Tell a Friend Event" or transferring points back and forth)

-get Shoppers Optimum PLUS status (for at least your card or hubby's)

-pay for EVERYTHING at SDM with a SDM gift card

-pay for the SDM gift cards with a Shoppers Optimum Mastercard

-use your Shoppers Optimum Mastercard for as much as possible everywhere else

-shop at all bonus points events (if you can)

-save up your shopping for the bonus points events

-use coupons and mail in rebates to ramp up your "spending" and points

-buy products with bonus points (look on the shelf tags)

-redeem points on bonus redemption days at maximum redemption level (75,000 points)

-shop for someone else

-buy other retailer gift cards at SDM with your Shoppers Optimum Mastercard

-be patient, don't get tempted beyond what makes sense and practice practice practice

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Do that and you'll do well.

P.S. - If anyone else has more SHORT, SWEET and BASIC hints, please add. :-)

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Originally Posted by mcminsen

I shop at Safeway and Save On Foods (here in BC) and pay with my Shoppers Optimum Mastercard and also show either my Airmiles card or my Save On More Rewards card and get those additional points. Heck, I get Shoppers Optimum points for paying my cable bill, my phone bill, my home insurance, my YMCA membership, my prescriptions, my lawyers bill... you name it. Anything that you can put on a Mastercard.



http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/113317-shoppers-mc-canada/

:-)

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Thanks. Now Im just debating whether or not I want to change my spending. I pay cash/debit for everything, and my visa hasnt seen daylight in years, but I supposed just in bill/grocery paying it would probably amount to 1 redemption a year or close to it, not including the points you'd rack up at SDM.

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Originally Posted by mcminsen

You go back to the starting line on January 1st. :-(

It's actually how many regular points you get in a calendar year. You need 10,000 regular points to get Plus status. Remember, you can get REGULAR points for purchasing a SDM gift card and then REGULAR points again for spending the SDM gift card. Bonus points do not count towards your Plus status.

I don't know how many regular points short you are from Plus status based on what you've said. If you are 3310 regular points short of Plus status then you can achieve Plus status immediately by just buying $331 worth of SDM gift cards. Or... buy $166 worth of SDM gift cards and spend them before the end of the year. Got it? :-)

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For once, I'm glad that I couldn't get back to sleep early on a Sun morning! With your advice, I was able to get to both a 2nd redemption AND I made Optimum Plus for next year by buying a Shoppers Card before my redemptions etc. Thanks again as I wouldn't have paid attention to the cut off. I normally do 2-3 $200 redemptions per year so Optimum Plus means $60 to $90 min extra value to me each year.

HOW DO I GET TO KNOW HOW MANY POINTS I AM AWAY FROM BEING PLUS MEMBER.i DO NOT SEE ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON MY RECEIPTS...PLZ ANYONE??/

I think they start to tell you on your receipt when you're about 2000 points away. I didn't see anything on my bill before that, if memory serves me.

So if you're not seeing anything, you're probably a couple of thousand away

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Originally Posted by sidrah

HOW DO I GET TO KNOW HOW MANY POINTS I AM AWAY FROM BEING PLUS MEMBER.i DO NOT SEE ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON MY RECEIPTS...PLZ ANYONE??/

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Call 1800shopper, after you punch in your card number it will tell you how many base and bonus points you have. OR call and push 0 to get a person and ask them

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Originally Posted by miztia

Thanks. Now Im just debating whether or not I want to change my spending. I pay cash/debit for everything, and my visa hasnt seen daylight in years, but I supposed just in bill/grocery paying it would probably amount to 1 redemption a year or close to it, not including the points you'd rack up at SDM.

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The way you handle your money is a very personal thing, of course. I just think that if possible, you should get something back for it. I don't do the debit thing but I've heard you can get points or Airmiles for that. Any loyalty points program will give you the most benefit if you really throw a lot at it. It should go both ways... it can be a tricky dance sometimes but you can get a lot.

If you're not used to using a credit card then just keep on top of it and ALWAYS pay off your balance every month. Don't give those credit card companies one penny! They make a huge amount of money by the fees that each merchant has to pay for a credit card transaction. If it's a big change for you then maybe just do it incrementally, a little at a time. Good luck! :-)

BMO is the bank that offers airmiles for debit tran. 1 airmile per $40. One thing I do, is I use Options Mastercard for the 1% and then I go into the store to pay the bill with debit. That way I get the cashback and airmiles. A win win....just be careful tho as CT seems to take a day or two to process even though it's done electronically right in the store (just a tip to avoid any interest). Plus CT Options offers some great balance transfers at 1.99% to exising card holders.

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Originally Posted by mcminsen

-use your Shoppers Optimum Points card as much as possible

-get hubby a card (for strategic use, like with the "Tell a Friend Event" or transferring points back and forth)

-get Shoppers Optimum PLUS status (for at least your card or hubby's)

-pay for EVERYTHING at SDM with a SDM gift card

-pay for the SDM gift cards with a Shoppers Optimum Mastercard

-use your Shoppers Optimum Mastercard for as much as possible everywhere else

-shop at all bonus points events (if you can)

-save up your shopping for the bonus points events

-use coupons and mail in rebates to ramp up your "spending" and points

-buy products with bonus points (look on the shelf tags)

-only redeem points on bonus redemption days at maximum redemption level (75,000 points)

-shop for someone else

-buy other retailer gift cards at SDM with your Shoppers Optimum Mastercard

-be patient, don't get tempted beyond what makes sense and practice practice practice

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Do that and you'll do well.

P.S. - If anyone else has more SHORT, SWEET and BASIC hints, please add. :-)

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I'd only disagree with two points....always buying SDM gift cards might get you an "abused the points system" label, then games over......and I think the small amount you lose by redeeming at the second bonus level makes sense because of the limits on multiple product purchases. Such as the Royale T.P limit, tissue limit , etc. I find that sometimes it's hard enough to get $100 and to get to $200 means your buying items that aren't really needed and overpriced......

One vital trick, if you don't have Plus status, is to use a friend or family member who does....just borrow the card, transfer the points,shop, redeem, and transfer the bonus points afterwards back to yourself....

Be careful using some else's card. It is in the terms and conditions and you could get your card terminated because of it.

As for someone who doesn't use a credit card and does debit or cash that AMEX deal is a good one for come of the purchases because you basically get paid back for the cost of the service fees and a little more. It is not usable everywhere but is good for SDM, Walmart and alot of gas places. Promos like that can rack up some nice points as well.

Got my plus status today thanks to all your great tips on here.. woohoo.. went in bought 200.00 of SDM G'C then bam that put me into Plus status.... now to keep getting the points!!!

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Originally Posted by watergirl73

Got my plus status today thanks to all your great tips on here.. woohoo.. went in bought 200.00 of SDM G'C then bam that put me into Plus status.... now to keep getting the points!!!

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with those $200.00 SDM GC's get 2x$100.00 Amex plus $11.90 charge and you get 12100 more points ( 2x 1050 regular points plus 2x5000 bonus points)