Coles shoppers have been confused by a new checkout notice offering them $10 off their bill. The supermarket giant changed the way Australians can redeem their Flybuys points in June.
Now, you can get a $10 discount once you reach 2,000 points, a spokesperson said Yahoo Finance. Previously, all points were stored and had to be converted to Flybuys dollars through the Flybuys app and accessed using a PIN.
This has caused some confusion with shoppers trying to figure out if getting the discount is the best value.
One woman was left wondering how many points she would collect if she cashed out $10, while others were unsure if they would lose their points altogether if they refused to take the instant discount.
“I was talking to the checkout lady at Coles yesterday. She said you got $10 off. Do you want to use it? I said ‘no thanks’. She said most people don’t realize that if you use the $10 discount, you won’t get any Flybuys points,” one shopper wrote.
Will I still get Flybuys points if I redeem a $10 Coles discount?
A Coles spokesman said Yahoo Finance that shoppers will collect points in their store if they get the instant discount.
But it won’t apply to the whole store.
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“When customers choose to take $10 off their store, they will still collect points on their store value, but after the $10 discount and any other discounts and savings,” the Coles spokesperson said.
For example, if a shopper’s total is $100 and they use 2,000 points to remove $10 from their store, they will receive points for the remaining $90 they spent, assuming no bonus point offers apply.
The $10 instant discount can be used at Coles supermarkets and selected Liquorland and First Choice Liquor Market stores, but is not available anywhere else Flybuys.
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Finder Flybuys expert Angus Kidman said Yahoo Finance it was common to have some problems when making changes to large programs like the Coles loyalty scheme.
But it is likely to better meet the needs of the end buyers.
“Now they’re throwing that question in your face a lot… I understand that for some people it’s annoying. Conversely, there are people who say, ‘Yeah, thanks, I’ll take the $10,'” he said.
“From Flybuys’ perspective, they’ve done their consumer research and found that most people probably want to spend it this way.
Can I turn off the Flybuys $10 rebate claim?
If you are not interested in the coupon program and prefer to keep your points, you can disable the request in the settings and preferences section of your account partner or Flybuys online application.
How can I get the best value from my Flybuys points?
The best way to cash in on your Flybuys points may depend on your needs, but Kidman recommended against accepting Coles’ request.
“The best way to use your Flybuys points is to not use the $10 rebates at all,” he said Yahoo Finance.
“Your best bet is to convert them to Frequent Flyer Points quickly. If you do that, you can usually get more value than you would from the standard $10 discount,” he said.
Coles Flybuys points can be instantly converted into points for members of Velocity, Virgin Airlines’ loyalty program if they activate the automatic transfer option and link their accounts.
A total of 1000 Flybuys points will then be automatically transferred to 500 Speed Points. Those who have accumulated Flybuys points can also make a one-time transfer.
Both Coles and Woolworths have loyalty programs, while the evil favorite Aldi does not.
“The vast majority of people who use Flybuys or Everyday Rewards join it because it’s free and we all have to buy food, so if you’re going to one of those two supermarkets then you might as well get something from it. “, he said.
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