Shoppers Optimum points

[lekate]

I found it very eye opening, especially the way head office treats the stores/owners. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth...

[SavingKarina]

Great post though now I feel bad for the owners.

[mydusty]

This is an awesome post. Thanks so much for the information. I hope you will stick around SC!

I already suspected about the electronics on bonus redemption days. I called about holding a Wii the day before redemption, they said they would hold it, then when I went to pick it up they couldn't find it. When I kept pressing the issue she went in the back and mysteriously found it (I could see 3 of them in the back when she opened the door. The Wii fit also had a "out of stock" sign on it that day as well.

I understand now why the owners would be annoyed by the program, but I wouldn't shop there anymore without it.

I also suspect there are many many customers who don't even have a points card. I often see people saying no when the cashiers ask for the card. I know that I shopped there for about a year without a card (before I came to SC!!!) So they are still making $$$ from a lot of customers who don't shop sales/coupons/points etc.

Thanks again for your post! Just great!!!

If you want something big like that on a redemption day, go and buy it a day or 2 before the bonus redemption period starts then return and re-buy it on the redemption day. Then you are sure to get it.

[zozo]

thanks for the informations, something is not clear for me. why SDM cashiers kept on asking you to apply for the optimum card every time you shop there if they are loosing because of that. and if so that doesn't give them the excuse to use this bad attitude toward their costumer to fix this problem.
they have took away my points too. this time because I bought too much electronics (when they had the cameras on sale I bought 4) plus 3 ds lite. they considered that as wholesale. that is funny a retailer punish costumers for over buying. the conclusion is they took away my points.

[Divine~Miss~M]

they have took away my points too. this time because I bought too much electronics (when they had the cameras on sale I bought 4) plus 3 ds lite. they considered that as wholesale. that is funny a retailer punish costumers for over buying. the conclusion is they took away my points.

That's just wrong. I hope you get your points back.

[CrazyQT]

thanks for the informations, something is not clear for me. why SDM cashiers kept on asking you to apply for the optimum card every time you shop there if they are loosing because of that. and if so that doesn't give them the excuse to use this bad attitude toward their costumer to fix this problem.
they have took away my points too. this time because I bought too much electronics (when they had the cameras on sale I bought 4) plus 3 ds lite. they considered that as wholesale. that is funny a retailer punish costumers for over buying. the conclusion is they took away my points.

What was the purpose for buying so many electronic items?

Many times people do buy items in bulk to sell at their shady corner stores. They make a profit on the item they buy on sale and also get free optimum points for the purchase.

[Tuktu60]

Great post - thanks for the information. Sheds some light on the recent SDM points issues

Shady corner stores? Where do you live?? lol I know alot of amazing local corner stores that offer personal service and convenience and I would not call any of them shady. I like to support the local economy as often as I can.

It is up to SDM to put a limit on items - if there was no limit, then where is the problem if anyone wants to buy alot of the same item? If it is their choice to purchase alot of electronics - who are you to question it? I think its lousy of SDM to take points away for no reason - they offer the item on sale - you buy it on sale and you get penalized for it? Zozo, I hope you get your points back

[CrazyQT]

Great post - thanks for the information. Sheds some light on the recent SDM points issues

Shady corner stores? Where do you live?? lol I know alot of amazing local corner stores that offer personal service and convenience and I would not call any of them shady. I like to support the local economy as often as I can.

It is up to SDM to put a limit on items - if there was no limit, then where is the problem if anyone wants to buy alot of the same item? If it is their choice to purchase alot of electronics - who are you to question it? I think its lousy of SDM to take points away for no reason - they offer the item on sale - you buy it on sale and you get penalized for it? Zozo, I hope you get your points back

I agree. They should have limits on them and maybe they did and he just went to multiple stores to purchase over the limit? I don't know.

I'm really no one to be questioning it. It was just a simple question. The only reason I asked is because one the points were revoked he immediately wanted to return the item making it seem as if he only purchased it for the points factor. I could be wrong, thus the reason for asking.

I know a lot of corner stores that are VERY shady. In no way did I intend to lump all corner stores into that category and apologize if I have offended anyone.

[Skippy]

Thanks for the info.very informative.I am shocked that they would/could take your points away.
Although there may be a small margin made on big items,I believe they make most money from the prescriptions.

[Justine]

If you want something big like that on a redemption day, go and buy it a day or 2 before the bonus redemption period starts then return and re-buy it on the redemption day. Then you are sure to get it.

I understand your concept, but isn't the idea that you can't buy it on the bonus redemption day because it is oos or mysteriously hidden in the back? How do you avoid this? I am hoping to get ONE wii console during the bonus redemption.

[Divine~Miss~M]

I'm really no one to be questioning it. It was just a simple question. The only reason I asked is because one the points were revoked he immediately wanted to return the item making it seem as if he only purchased it for the points factor. I could be wrong, thus the reason for asking.

I'm thinking returning the items was because of the points being taken away. Kind of a way to stick it to them for taking away points. I know I wouldn't want to give my money to a business that treats me like crap.

[zozo]

thank you guys for the support.
in fact these items were already on sale (DS lite $100 and Canon Camera A470 $80 and kodak C713 ) I purchased three from the first three canon's and one kodak. I prefer to buy these things when they are on sale to give away as gifts on events like Christmas (I still have them) but no intension of returning them (was a good deal anyway). the point is now they cancelled my account that means I can not return the items which is my right I believe. and they should have put a limit for the purchase as a piece of mind instead of making it according to their judgment. even if they are not making much money out of electronics they could have make it exempted from the 20X or 15X deals.

[renegado]

the point is now they cancelled my account that means I can not return the items which is my right I believe.

If you still have the receipts, you should be able to return the items. You don't need an Optimum account to do a return (do you?).

SDM has treated you in an arbitrary and heavy-handed manner. I would send a sternly worded letter informing SDM (not that it is any of their business) that the DS lites were for my three children and the cameras were Christmas presents for my mother and sisters, and demand immediate reinstatement of my account and return of my points. (I would expect an apology and a whack of bonus points as well, frankly.)

Someone who buys 4 cameras might be planning to sell them on, but so might someone who buys 4 chocolate bars or 4 bottles of laundry detergent. SDM cannot say one is wholesale-buying and the other is personal shopping. (Well, they can say it, but they should be called on such BS.)

Maybe we all need to ask ourselves -- if SDM is using Optimum accounts as a tool to spy on customers, judge their purchases, and punish those whose purchases they deem improper for whatever reason, do we really want to belong to this program? Are the points really worth it?

As for "shady" corner stores, I sometimes see a corner store lady stocking up at Zellers or Save-On Foods. (I wonder if she coupons, lol). No different from people who stockpile, except that she sells her stuff straight on instead of stashing it in her basement.

[oogieboogie]

I love the valuable insight. The way this program is structured leaves out one very important component- the customer.

Optimum is a disgrace.....being used for marketing (a.k.a spying). I knew that when I signed up but sometimes you exchange a little privacy for free stuff.

[pippinelkhound]

If you still have the receipts, you should be able to return the items. You don't need an Optimum account to do a return (do you?).

.....

Maybe we all need to ask ourselves -- if SDM is using Optimum accounts as a tool to spy on customers, judge their purchases, and punish those whose purchases they deem improper for whatever reason, do we really want to belong to this program? Are the points really worth it?

As for "shady" corner stores, I sometimes see a corner store lady stocking up at Zellers or Save-On Foods. (I wonder if she coupons, lol). No different from people who stockpile, except that she sells her stuff straight on instead of stashing it in her basement.

You've made some excellent points.

Why can't items with a receipt (you need it for the warranties) be returned. If the points no longer exist, SDM has nothing to loose.

We all know that point programs track our purchases and buying trends. That is a bit of privacy we chose to give up to obtain "rewards".

And are "shady corner store" operators really that different from those who "brag" about selling on their deals at yard sales??