SDM Optimum Point Program - Optimizing

[mcminsen]

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.

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.

[Giving-Small]

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).

[mcminsen]

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.

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.

[mcminsen]

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...

---------------

-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

----------------

Do that and you'll do well.

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

[miztia]

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/

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.

[kashren]

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?

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.

[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??/

[gourmetsue]

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

[mydusty]

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??/

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

[mcminsen]

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.

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!

[kashren]

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.

[beachlover]

-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

----------------

Do that and you'll do well.

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

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....

[kerrylj]

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.

[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!!!

[chicoj]

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!!!

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)