They aren't too awful; probably every other week I will get 250 points for buying my regular cheese which costs £4.99. This is equivalent to £1.25 off in Sainsburys or £1.56 worth of Avios. Given that 90%+ of the vouchers are stuff you'd end up buying anyway, it is definitely worth it.
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Supermarkets discussion
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Busaholic
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I must have been doing something wrong! I don't recollect ever being offered more than 125 points off anything I've bought before or might buy, but usually 50 to 100 points. In any case, it's all in the past for me now!
The basic 1 point per £1 point collection is peanuts I agree. But if you play the game with the Nectar app it can be reasonably rewarding.
Case in point - on items I'd normally buy in a weekly shop I get 'bonus' offers ranging from 30 to 180 points (so in redemption terms, 15 to 90p per item). There's currently a promotion where if you earn 500 points you get a bonus 1000 points (redemption value £5). So on my last weekly shop I got a total of around 1500 points on a £40 spend.
Yes, it's only £7.50 but it works out at roughly a 19% cashback bonus without changing my shopping habits.
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The best offers are on the app. I've got no idea how often you get the printed paper bonus points coupons these days if you don't use the app - I got the first one in about 2 years the other day.
dk1
Veteran Member
I also do my Sainsbury’s and M&S shopping now through the Hapi app in association with my employer. That way 5% is saved on all shopping through gift cards. Thought it a faff so didn’t bother but now do it all the time.
ChrisC
Established Member
I use the bonus points sent to me each week on the Nectar app and easily build up a total of £100+ each year. That‘s not with doing all of my shopping at Sainsbury”s but just a small top up shop at a Sainsbury’s Local each week of a few basic items. I get bonus points on things I buy regularly.
Last week the ones I used were milk (30 points), lettuce (50 points), tomatoes (70 points), grapes (90 points), fresh orange juice (20 points) and washing up liquid (20 points). A total of 280 bonus and I only spent just over £12. Therefore with my 12 standard points I got £1.46 worth of Nectar points on just a small shop of items that I buy regularly. Why not take advantage of this when there is a Sainsbury’s Local in the next village where I do some of my other regular food shopping in independent shops there.
When the number of bonus points I’m being given on items I regularly buy starts to fall to only 10 or 20 points there are ways of playing system to get the offers back up to much higher levels. That usually means not shopping at Sainsbury’s for a few weeks!
A couple of months ago on the app I had a fruit and vegetable challenge. All that I had to do was to buy my normal amount of fruit and veg for a few weeks and I received 1500 points. I also get regular bonus points offers on the Nectar app for Esso petrol which also boosts my yearly total. Again my local filling station is Esso so that is convenient too.
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DelW
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Which is all very well except that Sainsbury's is a half hour walk, or an hourly 10 minute bus ride, or 5 minutes by car. The nearest Aldi is two buses taking around an hour, or a 20+ minute drive. Potential savings don't warrant the extra travel, and besides, I prefer the wider range that Sainbury's offers.
DannyMich2018
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Regarding Sainsbury's I noticed the other day that their 600g tubs of Celebrations are more pricey than Asda, Morrisons and Tesco, no Nectar discount either. Also almost everywhere around Terry's Chocolate Oranges are £1.50 but Sainsbury's charge £1.95.
I was really only talking about cases where it's easy enough to go to an Aldi as well. I imagine most people would pick Sainsburys if they could only go to one of the two. As it happens I have an Aldi, Poundland and Sainsbury's virtually next door to each other, which is why the Sainsbury's labelling is so convenient. If they were price-checking against Lidl I doubt I'd walk half an hour in the opposite direction to go there.
dk1
Veteran Member
Countdown to Christmas has also started with nectar for Sainsbury’s. That’ll add another £15 as long as the easy targets are met.
Hit the first one already. Helped by earning 900 points in one day by buying petrol and shopping with extra *2 point vouchers for each and 590 bonus points on the app for items I would have bought anyway.
Pound Lane also your local?
dk1
Veteran Member
Sure is mate. Occasionally Queens Road or Longwater. They are such easy tasks to achieve.
dk1
Veteran Member
An unbeatable combination
Our Sainsbury's has installed ANPR* and now you must pay for your shopping, ask for a QR code for free parking (up to three hours free if you spend £10), queue up again at one of two machines that are next to the trolleys (so you get in the way of people trying to get one) and scan the code, enter your plate and then go to your car and drive out.
The queues were long, and loads of people didn't know to ask for a code so had to go back to a till or customer services to ask for a code, then queue up again. Some people ended up just paying as they couldn't be bothered to go back.
Elderly people were really struggling to use the machines (anyone remember that recent campaign to help the elderly and disabled not have to use ticket machines at railway stations.. I think it made the news...), and lots of people didn't remember their plate.
It added about 5 minutes on to my quick shop, and that was midweek. Good luck this weekend and the run up to Christmas.
* Before you got a ticket on the way in, got it validated at the checkout, and just chucked it in the barrier on exiting - nice and quick. If the barriers were open, it was free to park (lack of staff in the car park) but anyone parking now will get a penalty in the post!
The queues were long, and loads of people didn't know to ask for a code so had to go back to a till or customer services to ask for a code, then queue up again. Some people ended up just paying as they couldn't be bothered to go back.
Elderly people were really struggling to use the machines (anyone remember that recent campaign to help the elderly and disabled not have to use ticket machines at railway stations.. I think it made the news...), and lots of people didn't remember their plate.
It added about 5 minutes on to my quick shop, and that was midweek. Good luck this weekend and the run up to Christmas.
* Before you got a ticket on the way in, got it validated at the checkout, and just chucked it in the barrier on exiting - nice and quick. If the barriers were open, it was free to park (lack of staff in the car park) but anyone parking now will get a penalty in the post!
People will get used to it eventually. One of my local shops (although I don’t think I’ll ever have to return to that branch now Wilko has closed down as there was another one more convenient) has had this setup for years, however the amount of free parking has slowly decreased meaning shoppers are now more likely to need a ticket. A few years ago it was 2 hours, was reduced to an hour about 18 months ago and is now only 30 Mins.
GatwickDepress
Established Member
Still available at Sainsbury's Locals as the Nectar Prices rollout hasn't begun there yet. Should be coming either next year or 2025 though.
If you buy on eBay or Argos a lot, that tots up the points too.
The charges and free time is the same as before. It's just that now you go to checkout, pay, then have to join a new queue. The busier the store, the longer the queue as there's no way to avoid it given ANPR means you must sort things out before you go.
I couldn't see a code to let you pay on your phone if you didn't want to queue and pay later, nor any autopay feature in case - again - you wanted to just pay.
They could move the machines so those queuing don't block those coming in (and add more), but really they should have integrated the car park system into their own IT equipment so when you pay, you just enter the reg number at the till. The machines really ought to be there only for those who need to pay.
Busaholic
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I've had this, 'personalised' with my first name as though I should be considered a favoured one. For me, unlikely to use the chocolate box or Christmas wrapping points, it amounts to £10 spread over two months and unlikely to draw me in considering my recent experience. Thank heavens I have a Tesco nearby, even a Morrison's for the odd occasion.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Nothing showing on my nectar app regarding Christmas Countdown yet, I presume it might pop up on the next update.
That parking system sounds like a complete and utter mess, no doubt the parasite parking company will be waiting to pounce if you accidentally input the wrong registration number or they want a bit more cash with the system failing to register. Best to complain and take your custom elsewhere until the parasite gets given the boot.
That parking system sounds like a complete and utter mess, no doubt the parasite parking company will be waiting to pounce if you accidentally input the wrong registration number or they want a bit more cash with the system failing to register. Best to complain and take your custom elsewhere until the parasite gets given the boot.
I'm guessing that's Welwyn Garden City?
To be honest I don't understand why they can't just make do with an ANPR system that enforces a max stay of something like 90 mins. Our local Asda (in a town centre) used to have a daft system where you had to put a 50p coin into a parking machine and got somebody to credit you with 50p off your shopping when you paid. I say daft because the machines only accepted 10, 20 or 50p coins and didn't give any change. Given that I hardly ever had the exact change needed I just didn't bother going to the store as it was too much hassle. Finding somebody near to the self checkouts to actually apply the credit was another hassle. They've since moved to an ANPR system and it's much better.
We had the QR code parking at Sainsbury's Norwich Queens Road. Installed just before covid to replace people at the exit. Covered during covid, presumably because the machines were touch screen, and never switched on again before being taken away.
I believe the free parking period was reduced a little recently but still at least 90 minutes.
I believe the free parking period was reduced a little recently but still at least 90 minutes.
dk1
Veteran Member
Yes it’s two hours now. Just enough time to walk to Jarrold’s for lunch & get a few bits & bobs in the city centre before time elapses.
dk1
Veteran Member
As I usually walk there to shop I don't feel so guilty parking there at other times, and there's usually plenty of spaces available.
And the family know there is a time we have to be back by rather than continue shopping
Yes, pre-pandemic when the barriers used those codes (and before that those plastic credit cards) you had to spend £10 which seemed fair.
Kite159
Veteran Member
The Asda in Andover has a council run carpark where you get the parking fee back (max of £1 for 2 hours) when you spend over £5 (I think). You get a second ticket from the machine which needs trying to track a member of staff down to get it refunded.
The issue with ANPR systems is the "No return within X hours" rule some impose due to the limitations of the system matching the entry photo from the 1st visit & the exit from the 2nd visit and generating an invoice.
They've taken down the old signs so currently it isn't clear if you'll still get 30 minutes free. If you do, I guess you don't need to ask for a code and queue up, as long as you keep an eye on the time.
But until they put up new signs, I wouldn't take the risk.
But until they put up new signs, I wouldn't take the risk.
Freightmaster
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Looks like one supermarket chain has finally realised that trying to browbeat their (predominately elderly)
customers into using self-checkouts is actually counter productive to their bottom line...?
www.bbc.co.uk
MARK
customers into using self-checkouts is actually counter productive to their bottom line...?
Self-service: Booths supermarket puts staff back behind its tills
Booths says removing its self-service checkouts is the right thing to do and what customers want.
www.bbc.co.uk
MARK
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Blindtraveler
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The correct decision.
GusB
Established Member
Long may it continue. I don't mind self-service tills being provided for those who are able and willing to use them, but I absolutely object to the removal of choice. I'm not awfully convinced that removal of staffed checkouts is that cost-effective, either.Looks like one supermarket chain has finally realised that trying to browbeat their (predominately elderly)
customers into using self-checkouts is actually counter productive to their bottom line...?
Self-service: Booths supermarket puts staff back behind its tills
Booths says removing its self-service checkouts is the right thing to do and what customers want.
MARK
A good checkout operator is able to process far more items in a given period of time than a bunch of amateur numpties trying to process their own shopping. Checkout operators can scan items one after the other without having to worry about the weight on the bagging area; they can sell age-restricted products there and then without having to wait for someone to turn up to authorise it*. A decent checkout operator will also be able to assist you with packing your bags without calling for additional assistance and still get you through the till in a fraction of the time that it would take you to do it yourself.
A good checkout operator knows their customers well enough to determine if additional assistance is required and will call for someone to assist the customer to their car/taxi/bus stop without the customer having to ask.
It's utter madness that we've gone from the situation where customers were previously offered bag-packing help, assistance to the car park etc., to the stage where they have to fend for themselves.
My dad, sadly no longer with us, had a stroke and went from being someone who was completely independent and able to use self-checkouts to someone who struggled with technology that he'd previously had no issue with. I'm not convinced that the drive towards self-service is such a good thing.
Anyone who believes the nonsense that such measures are saving money and that those savings will ultimately be passed on to the customer is living in cloud-cuckoo-land; there will be savings, but it'll be the shareholder who will benefit.
* Staff who are under 18 will always require authorisation