M&S Cancels Popular Christmas Giveaway, Sparking Shopper Disappointment

• M&S confirms the cancellation of its beloved “12 Days of M&S” Christmas giveaway.
• Shoppers are upset over the absence of the virtual advent calendar, which offered gifts like Percy Pigs, prosecco, and discounts.
• The giveaway’s £10,000 prize will not return this year.
• Instead, M&S promises festive offers through its Sparks app, but many customers are not happy with the change.

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has angered its shoppers by axing the highly anticipated “12 Days of M&S” Christmas giveaway. This annual event, accessible through the Sparks app, was a much-loved tradition where customers could open a new virtual door each day in December, with prizes ranging from food and drink to clothing and even a £10,000 M&S gift card. However, the retailer confirmed that the giveaway will not make a return this Christmas.

Instead, M&S is offering a range of festive discounts via the Sparks app, but many shoppers feel that these new offers do not compare to the excitement of previous years. “It’s just not the same,” one customer commented, lamenting the loss of the chance to win big prizes. The change follows a wider shift in M&S's loyalty program, with the retailer streamlining its offerings as part of ongoing efforts to make Sparks more relevant to customers.

A spokesperson for M&S explained: “This Christmas, all of our Sparks customers will enjoy festive offers to add some magic and sparkle to their festive shopping experience, however and whenever they choose to shop with us. This is just one of the ways we’re simplifying the shopping experience for our customers throughout the festive period and continuing to transform our loyalty scheme, Sparks – to make it even better and more relevant to our customers.”

The cancellation of the giveaway comes amid a series of other changes at M&S, including the discontinuation of its Percy Pig chocolate bombe and the axing of benefits for credit card holders. Some customers also expressed frustration with the retailer's decision to introduce “assisted belted checkouts,” which have divided opinion.

Tom Church, Co-founder of money saving community Latestdeals.co.uk commented, "Changes to well-loved traditions like the ‘12 Days of M&S’ Christmas giveaway are bound to upset loyal customers. While the festive offers through the Sparks app may still provide some value, it’s clear that many shoppers will miss the excitement of those daily surprises.