Scrooge is alive and well and running our Optimum Program....

[Nova Scotia Coupon Lady]

Thank you so much Silk for your early post about the Christmas Redemption this year. I am very disappointed about what they have decided to do this year. Brilliant on their part. Give a top level redemption with no extra value; and then later return us points when the chance of them selling their stock at retail prices is much lower. Having points returned to me later in the Christmas season after stock has been picked over and you can be sure just before markdowns begins is a slap in the face to all who spend the entire year planning and dreaming of what we might be able to do at Christmas.

I was told that within two years all SDM's would be phasing out photo/electronics to put in a fresh produce section. The owners have been sold this notion that because the profit margin on electronics is so slim that they would make more money on selling produce and fresh goods. Guess what? If they eliminate electronics then the incentive to shop there and get points is greatly reduced. The beauty department is amazing and very large but if it is the only department that offers premium gift items I think they will lose a lot of business. I happen to know that me and a few thousand of my friends will look elsewhere for a place to do our business. After all it is regular, devoted customers that spend the most at their business. Shame on you Shopper's Drug Mart for putting the almighty dollar ahead of your faithful customers. PC points is one of the worst rewards programs in Canada and if that is the new wave for Optimum I am out. They have made a grave mistake changing a program with so many loyal followers.

Shoppers prices are very high; with the exception of weekend specials. Often the flyer has 2 or three different "sale" prices for the same item, they manipulate the prices to insure that when there is a redemption "spend your points event" we pay top dollar. They track all of our spending habits and now cross reference between the two programs. Now they have decided to not give us a bonus redemption this year. Who knows what will happen in the new year to our beloved Optimum program. Pretty hard to put a basket of produce under the tree for our kids.

This is a very sad end to something that made many Christmases at my house. I have earned one million points per year for the last few years. I spend my entire year shopping, strategizing, planning and dreaming of Christmas. RIP Optimum....I will miss you dearly.

[Anna Michele]

I agree with you 100% we have a few stores with produce I often see things marked down to still over priced too much that it is not convenient I never noticed if they have electronic but I do know many stores carry way less electronics.
They have raised the price of milk yes even higher than Fortinos who has also recently frozen way low prices on Butter and eggs
With the devalued offers getting worse and worse every week I really have no Eason to shop there.
This week I got this

I used it now I have to wait til Dec 3 for my points yah um thanks in 3 weeks

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[Anna Michele]

See that 10x wus 75 really 7500 I'll take 18500 or I'm not spending 75 I don't buy cosmetics so that is a joke to me
They've been giving me 8000 wus 75 it's really sad
I used to get 8000 wus $30 regularly I could use this 3 or 4 times a week if they let me

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[dagney]

A few years ago, SDM always gave you back 30,000 when you did a maximum redemption. I miss this promo. The reason being once you spent your points, to start back at near zero points was disheartening. If you get a lump sum to restart your saving it makes me more apt to want to get to the next redemption level. AND in my experience during a bonus redemption there are seldom sale prices on what I want to buy. I have done the redemptions on cameras 3x and TV's 2x (only one tv currently working) and one computer (very, very slow) so not really a good deal even for the price after redemption. This is just my opinion as a long time SDM addict.

[DeViLzzz]

Well with Real Canadian Superstore slowly getting out of the electronics sales hearing that Shopper's Drug Mart might be going that route is extremely disappointing. I also ran into a Giant Tiger that told me they were no longer selling video games because people were constantly stealing them and yes they had them in a glass cabinet that was locked eventually but it was stupidly placed behind the checkout on a wall where nobody could see what was there and what the prices were so of course nobody bought anything. So .. anyway .. with all that said I am in agreement with the original poster in that there is less and less incentive to shop at some of these places if they are going to do this. I think posting on social media and emailing them letting you know how you feel is something to do. Also going to other stores for items will be another way to make a statement. Tough to do but at times I will do it.

[sirandrewr]

The reason why the stores aren't selling electronics is due to a giant shipping company going bankrupt and all its goods are deadlocked. It's actually causing a global shipping crisis because it's the 9th largest worldwide with 45 ships holding 500,000 shipping containers stranded at sea since September.
With the decreasing of points offers I've also found I'm shopping less. I just had a conversation with my shopping buddy on how we need to change strategies and reevaluate each week. One bonus is the cashier allowed me to stack coupons. She let me use my printables along with the manu coupons attached to the item. The down fall is the milk offers which we never use but have been getting for the past month or so. Someone stated that Canada as a whole has increased the number of cattle being produced which is all being sent to the States due to the decrease in the Canadian dollar and the American drought.

[super807]

I'm sorry that this style of redemption is not what you were wishing for. But many shoppers, including many here on SC, loved the points back offers and have missed them the past few years and will be happy to see this.

Not everyone shops the same way. So not all promos work for everyone. Some will be happy with this one, others will be disappointed.

Am sorry to hear this will affect your plans for your Christmas shopping

[annedougherty]

I love the points back lol. Sorry to see you are so upset about it.

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[peachies]

I love the points back especially if your not buying an expensive item. Look at it this way...For every 3 redemptions at $170 your almost getting back 1 free redemption (95.000 get 30,000 back) For some people thats turning 3 redemptions into 4 (just need to get 5000 more pts) It makes your points more valuable as oppose to the extra 30-40$.

[torontogal12]

The Optimum program is still one of the most generous in Canada and I'd rather they keep it and scale it back than ditch it all together

I am ok with Shoppers selling more food. The locations are convenient for me to get too and the produce isn't as old as some of the Loblaws in the area lol. You need food all the time, but electronics only once in a while. If you don't like the fragrances, they do bring in toys and scarves and other items for Christmas gifts

They are probably also ditching electronics because they can't compete with Amazon. No one is really buying electronics in stores anymore, and that's why BestBuy is moving away from electronics itself and now selling cosmetics and furniture and watches on its website too. Sorry that it's not what you were hoping for, but hopefully they will try out different types of redemptions in the future, to please everyone

Maybe you can redeem for food and other houshold items you need and then put that equivalent value of cash aside to buy christmas gifts

[Bargain Seeker]

I, for one, still love the Optimum program. Where else can you get 7x $170 free shopping sprees for Christmas (with points back as an added bonus) and many others during the year. My spending at Shoppers is very strategic and I don't spend just to get the points. Lately I find that my personal offers are better than the weekly offer. Love the 20x on milk that we have been getting on our cards for the last few months. Couple that with a 20x day or offer and that makes for almost free milk.

I am sorry that this was not what you were expecting and will make things difficult for you. I think it will make things easier on me because I am not planning any big purchase and the carts are soooooooo small.

[jkcouponer]

i refuse to buy electronics at shoppers. the brands arent the best and the return policy is even worse. They do not specialise in electronics so you can not expect much.
As far as the redemption. I like it. Its hard spending $170 let alone $210. I like the fact the we will be getting points back instead. After christmas there should be a good range of clearance items.

[EvilTofu]

Let's be fair, they have to make a profit too. They have mouths to feed too. If Best Buy can't survive selling electronics, what chances a drugstore has?

I too have reduced my spending at SDM significantly for many reasons. We do whatever makes sense to us, they do whatever makes sense to them. It's free market. Whichever direction they take, you don't have to buy from them. There are always other options. No use getting upset at changing times.

Besides if you optimize your spending at the current program, you could still earn $170 on spending $475, that's still a 35% return! If you have a business where all your customers demand 46% reward and get pissed at 35% reward, you'd just shut it down.

[macw1960]

I am not fussy either way as I very rarely go to SDM as it is 30 minutes away.

[Mich649]

I have never really participated in a spend event when you get points back. I am relieved that I will still have some points left as I do feel a little anxiety when I spend all my points and have to start over. I agree with whoever posted that we will just have to strategize differently and maybe with the money we save at SDM, use that saved money to buy electronics and whatever else we need for Christmas somewhere else. As long as SDM keep selling milk, eggs and paper products (my addiction!) and offer such a great return on our spending there, I will be a loyal customer.