Optimum points!

[Justine]

hmm, or just spend the $34 on makeup!

I got a $20 gift card today for spending $100... so I can use that and then spend another $14 right? and get the plus status!

[Insane]

hmm, or just spend the $34 on makeup!

I got a $20 gift card today for spending $100... so I can use that and then spend another $14 right? and get the plus status!

Yuppers!

[Justine]

niiiiiiice, is plus status that super cool? will I like it?

[mcminsen]

If a product has BONUS points for purchasing you do actually get those points for the item. Just not the regular points.
Last bonus day some chocolate bars were buy three get 200 bonus points. I got them! And I've noticed this other times I have redeemed.

That's good news! So, it seems product specific bonus points will still be awarded on stuff acquired from a redemption. Man, there are so many little exceptions and variations it's hard to keep track of. Thank goodness we can get together here and compare notes.

[mcminsen]

niiiiiiice, is plus status that super cool? will I like it?

Hyacinth Bucket (the character from the British comedy "Keeping Up Appearances") would be a PLUS status Optimum points collector, even if she didn't take advantage of it. She'd just love those words! PLUS! STATUS! OPTIMUM!

The practical benefit is that you get a points kickback when you do redemptions. 5,000 points immediately given back when you do a 40,000 point redemption anytime, and 10,000 points given back immediately when you do a 75,000 point redemption anytime. Also, they send out bonus points coupons to SOME members who have PLUS status but they're a bit inconsistent about that. In about 18 months of having PLUS status I've only once gotten any mailout about it for these coupons.

[Justine]

Cool, ya I wasn't striving for plus status cause frankly I don't care,but somehow I ended up spending more money than I thought I would and am so close now, so why not just get it right?

[Insane]

niiiiiiice, is plus status that super cool? will I like it?

oh, you'll like it. Everyone is doing it . Just give a try!

Point when you redeem like was said. And you get the plus offers too.

[Justine]

I don't know, maybe I am not cool enough for plus status.

[Sunraven]

Plus status is nice, you'll like it, especially when you redeem for $200 worth of stuff and they give you back an immediate 10,000 points.

I REALLY want them to do that Esso GC promo again this year.

[mcminsen]

Maybe people get so many points by paying bills on their shoppers optimum mastercard. I don't have one of these (YET!) but for example if you set it up to auto pay your utility and other monthly bills, that would easily be over $400 a month! And thats just for paying things you would have to pay anyway!!!

Yup! I have it set up so the monthly charges for my cable TV, household insurance, phone bill and gym membership all go on my Shoppers Optimum Mastercard. I even pay my lawyer and dentist with it. And don't forget prescriptions and transit tickets. When I talk about the transit tickets I have to add that that's one thing you don't get points on directly but I pay for the transit tickets with the SDM gift card that I paid for with my Shoppers Optimum Mastercard. And all that really does add up!

Keep in mind that the charges to your S.O.MC from outside SDM only get 5 points per dollar, whereas the stuff charged to the card at SDM can generate as much as 35 points per dollar when you do the SDM gift card trick.

[Insane]

I don't know, maybe I am not cool enough for plus status.

Well, it is a rigorous process to get it. It requires serious dedication to the SDM way of shopping!

[julie.leeds]

You are so cool enough ....IF you do it I will do it....and I'm $79 away *lol* (going to go get stocking stuffers tonight, and if my hubby comes he will find a couple of books and magazines *grin*

[Woofy]

You are so cool enough ....IF you do it I will do it....and I'm $79 away *lol* (going to go get stocking stuffers tonight, and if my hubby comes he will find a couple of books and magazines *grin*

I hope you are using a SDM giftcard to buy your stocking stuffers, Julie!

[julie.leeds]

*lol*

I only need 80 points now *giggle*

[Saving Moola]

niiiiiiice, is plus status that super cool? will I like it?

Yes, you'll like it. Let's put it this way, in a strange way, but think about the first time you went to the spa or did anything fantastic - did you like it??? You probably did. Look we're all trying to convince you to get to the plus status level. You won't know how great it is until you get there.

I wasn't that big on collecting optimum pts, although I had the card for about 15 yrs & only redeemed @ 40,000 pts once a few yrs ago. Let's put it this way, I only had about 1000 reg pts @ the beginning of this year. When I joined SC in the summer, I learned about how great optimum pts are. Let's put it this way, I earned over 12000 regular pts to reach plus level for next year & also earned about 240,000 bonus pts from various programs. I did a redemption in late November (Early Dec???) this year & am almost back up to 220,000 pts. again - can do 3 redemptions if I was allowed to.

In September of this year, I got dh a card, my signature on it of course since I do the pts collecting for him. I needed another Optimum Card for transfers on bonus redemption days. I'm only about 650 regular pts ($65.) away from him (Me) getting optimum status as well. I know that I can definitely get him (Me) to that level with boxing day specials coming up. Before the end of the year, I still have to buy about another $25. worth of groceries (2 or 3 jugs of milk, catelli pasta, cheese & a few other basic items) and the rest will be in meds & a few boxes of chocolates & (3) 1/2 priced stuffed animals I need for New Year's Day.

So, the bottom line is that it doesn't take long to get to the plus status, depending on how you shop, but if you are that close to it, you should give it a try. Realistically, do you really need the make-up? I would go & buy a small sdm gift card & then use it with the $20. you just got & use it to buy the basic grocery items (milk, pasta & cheese perhaps).

Just a thought. Good luck with your decision / procrastination. If it helps your decision making, I will personally "send you $34. in coupons" for shampoo, razors, toothpaste, food products etc. so there won't be a big problem if "you don't have money laying around."

Merry Christmas!!!