Co-op membership card.

[Poppy]

How does the Co-op's membership card compare to other supermarket loyalty-incentive schemes?

We have recently moved to an area with a large Co-op and it's far more convenient to get our shopping there, calling in each day rather than get a 'big shop'. I'm trying to weigh up the pro's and con's. For instance I'm sure it's more expensive than say Asda etc (though I make good use of their special offers which are very good). Also I'm wasting far less food...
... but I'm very interested in the card. Are the benefits tiny? Or by being loyal could I get large rewards which will equal the savings I'd make if I shopped at Asda/Tesco etc.

Any views welcome.
Thanks

Poppy.

[Androcles]

Poppy,

I always used to have a Co-op card and collect my "divi"!

You need to look at: http://www.co-operative.coop/membership/yoursh areoftheprofits/ and I think you will find the answer to some of your questions there. Essentially points are converted to cash twice a year and it gives the most recent rates of payback, so all you need is an extimate of how much you would spend there.

Hope this helps a bit!

[Buenchico]

All of the major supermarkets give loyalty card points (other than when special promotions apply) at a rate which (nominally) gives you back 1% of what you've spent. The actual figure is slightly lower because they don't give points on 'parts of pounds'. For example, if you spend �0.90, �1.76, �4.78 and �10.96 in successive transactions, you'll get 0p, 1p, 4p and 10p (= a total of 15p) back. Whereas if you buy all of the goods in one transaction (�18.40) you'll get 18p back.

Each cooperative society divides out its profits between its members annually, so dividend rates can vary. In their most recent dividend statement, my local society (East of England) paid back 2.5% of what each member spent during the preceding year. Their system doesn't allocate 'points' (or pennies) for each transaction; it simply adds up all of your purchases and pays out 2.5% of the total. So, unlike the major supermarkets, 'parts of pounds' still earn money.

Chris

[NiceCupOfTea]

I remember, whilst perusing the Metro a month or so ago, reading what the dividend being divided amongst all the co-op members was and then calculating that it equalled about �15 per member. Considering that their prices are not cheap, at least in the one I go to sometimes, it was definitely not worth using it as a regular shopper even if you don�t take into account other stores� awards schemes.

[Poppy]

Thanks everyone!

[tell-me-more]

I would also consider the cost of getting to supermarkets. I could live quite happily without a car in many parts of my city because of the number of co-ops within walking distance. Most supermarkets in the area are a bus ride or car journey away. The fact that I have a co-op so close to home means that I can easily shop two or three times a week, rather than do one big weekly shop, which means I'm less likely to buy more than I need with 3 for 2 offers etc. and waste half of it. Are you considering how much of the stuff you currently buy is wasted?

I believe the co-op were thinking of ending 2 for 1 offers etc because of food wastage. It hasn't happened, but I don't think it would ever be considered by the other supermarkets.

Another advantage I find in shopping in my co-op is that it's open 7am til 10pm every night and takes a fraction of time to go round compared to tesco. If you value your time, that's a saving.