Sainsbury’s Could Be Making Huge Changes to its Nectar Scheme
- Trialling a new scheme for Nectar cards
- Customers could lose points
- New app to collect loyalty points
- Can opt in to trial it in stores
Sainsbury’s is trialling a new Nectar card scheme that could result in some customers missing out on loyalty points.
Customers who opt in to the trial, which is taking place in one store, will be able to choose offers and collect loyalty points through a new app.
The supermarket said that the changes will offer loyal customers more rewards but experts fear that some will end up losing out.
Tesco was criticised earlier in the year for changing its loyalty scheme, although it has now postponed those changes.
Sainsbury's has been a member of the Nectar reward scheme since it launched in 2002, but last month it bought the scheme outright.
At the moment, millions of shoppers are rewarded every time they scan their Nectar card when they go to pay for their Sainsbury’s shop, but it also applies to 500 other brands, including BP petrol stations, British Gas, and eBay.
Tom Church, co-founder of Latest Deals said, "I have been a big fan of Nectar for a while, and Sainsbury's is traditionally very generous. In particular, the run up to Christmas normally sees your Nectar points doubled in value, if not more. Many families save up their points just for this moment, so I hope Sainsbury's remembers this and remain loyal to their customers, just as their customers have been loyal to them."
Once customers have collected points, they can spend them on the Nectar website, or use their points to spend at Sainsbury’s
But under the new scheme, customers will be offered personalised reward deals based on their previous purchases.
They will need to pick these deals, either online or via the new app before they can use points, and the deals have to be used within seven days.
This means that customers won’t be rewarded on how much they spend any more, but instead for how often they shop, and how long they’ve been shopping with the retailer.
So the new changes will basically mean that the more you shop at Sainsbury’s, the more value you’ll get from the scheme, as you’ll only get points on the reward offers Sainsbury’s sends you.
But less frequent Sainsbury’s shoppers could miss out, because they won’t be rewarded for every time you shop, it’s only on the offers that Sainsbury’s offer to you.
And if you aren’t buying items that they offer you rewards on, then you won’t be able to collect any loyalty points.
It’s similar to the My Coupons scheme the supermarket scrapped last April, and the pick your own offers scheme at Waitrose, which was also ditched.
How much each point is worth is the same in the trial system.
The trial is just running in the supermarket’s Isle of Wight store, but if it is successful then it will be rolled out nationwide.
Some customers aren’t happy about the potential changes, and have taken to social media to vent their frustrations.
Twitter users John said, “This is a real disincentive to shop at Sainsbury’s. Poor as the Nectar scheme is, at least I get a few points on what I buy, not what the marketing department wants to push. Will definitely scrap my card if this goes nationwide.”
Another user, Will, said, “Good for Sainsbury’s, but bad for the majority of Nectar customers who will get less points. There will be less incentive to go to Sainsbury’s now.”
What do you think of the change? Let us know in the comments.
what happens to the money/points that are already on my card?Will I lose the money value?
Waitrose has better offers now, they send coupons for registered customers and some of their prices beat the others.
I am not a big Sainsbury's shopper, but will spend the points we have now..
also Tesco done something like this, reducing the value of the points.
Point's on what you want to buy and you get coupons for extra points based on products you have bought encourages people to shop there. Change to an app and people will shop elsewhere. Not everyone has mobile phones or uses apps.
Sainsburys is one of the more expensive supermarkets so if they only give you nectar points on what they think you want, may as well shop at Aldi and Lidl snd make greater savings than what a few nectar points can offer
This is rubbish. I save up my points and buy holiday clothes for my daughter each year. Might start shopping at Tesco instead.
Don't shop there a lot, it's too expensive but I will be going less if they roll this scheme out
They are not thinking about their customers just about themselves. I save my points for Xmas
Hmm...so by going away and out of the country for periods of time or working in an area of the country where no Sainsbury's is present, equals being effectively 'victimised' and losing out?
In addition, I hope Sainsbury's remember this when one has to another supermarket, because Sainsbury's can't be bothered to stock it!
I can remember when nectar points came out was OK at first then thay 1points 00.05 then I stopped going to sainsburys there's better bargains on money saving at different supermarkets like spend £100 at sainsburys and getting 25p or getting £12.00 savings at different supermarket if you want to save shop around and have a jam jar put any money that you save and see what you have at Xmas
I don't understand why Sainsbury's would risk this when other supermarkets have tried very similar schemes and failed! Better to learn from the mistakes of others rather than one's own. 
Bad decision! You will loss your customers in the long run and people will ditch there cards as now there's no incentive to be loyal to Sainsburys.. most of us like to save our points for Xmas. I also work for Sainsburys on the Online Department. makes me feel very disappointed for there decision
I think this will be the end of me shopping at Sainsburys, Asda, whilst they don't offer rewards are much cheaper overall. No supermarket will everpressurise me to shop with them by blackmail, and really this is a form of blackmail.
Surely a loyalty scheme is just that - rewarding customers who choose to shop regularly at Sainsbury's? If you only receive points on selected products, then unless these are part of your regular shop, you lose out. If the pre-selected products are basic items such as fruit and veg, then why bother changing the present scheme, which works well? No doubt someone in marketing is looking to receive a handsome bonus for this 'innovative' Idea - but the fact will be that Sainsbury's will lose loyal customers like me....
The main reason for this is the massive security breach that just happened last month where loads of customers cards were cloned and defrauded - its been going on since 2014 and they have only now cottoned on to the fact that Nectar security is non-existant - A ten year old could do it , its so easy its disgraceful they havent fixed it for 4 years! An esitmated 1 million quid has been nicked from Nectar card holders since last year!