Six million people have rewards accounts at Starbucks, but it might not be accurate to call them loyalty cards. Yes, Starbucks uses cards and apps to store gift card balances and keep track of what customers buy, but don’t look for them to start handing out more discounts as they collect more data on you. If someone is already coming in five days a week, the goal isn’t to charge them less: it’s to make sure they don’t stop coming. [More]
Why Should Starbucks Give You A Loyalty Discount? You’re Already Addicted
By March 26, 2013
You Can Qualify For Elite Status At Hotels Without Staying There A Million Nights First
By February 17, 2012
The perks of being loyal to a hotel chain can make someone feel like George Clooney in Up In the Air – rolling in and out of locations with the greatest of ease and the least amount of hassle. But what if you’re not the kind of person who can rack up 75 or 100 nights per year at a hotel to qualify? There are ways around that hurdle. [More]
When You Hard Sell Customers Too Much, They Sort Of Leave
By September 15, 2011
Aggressive sales pitches are a delicate balance between selling customers on what you have to offer and pissing them off so much that they never return. When AMC theaters recently changed their loyalty program from free to paid, employees began to sell memberships too aggressively for AgentG2′s taste. He found the experience off-putting enough that he doesn’t plan to return to AMC. He wonders: did he overreact? [More]
Getting The Hotel Bed You Ask For Is Only For The Elite At Hyatt
By August 23, 2011
When Rosalie and her husband reserved a room at a Hyatt Place hotel, they thought that by requesting two queen-size beds, they were reserving two queen-size beds. This is not so: they were requesting two queen-size beds, and the couple learned this the hard way. This wasn’t just a case of travel preferences and first world problems: Rosalie suffers from severe back problems, and needs a nice, immobile bed to herself in order to prevent Even More Pain. [More]
GameStop Beefs Up Loyalty Program
By May 25, 2010
Perhaps in response to game publishers undercutting the value of its used games by stripping them of online play, GameStop is rolling out a new PowerUp rewards card that gives customers points for used and new game purchases, giving them discounts as well as coupons for food and movies. [More]
Visa Snuffs Out Credit Card Scam
By April 28, 2010
In an attempt to stop a scam in which third parties make unauthorized charges to credit cards thinking they were signing up for a loyalty rewards program, Visa is putting up a roadblock meant to keep information safer, CNet reports: [More]
Brian Got His My Coke Rewards Points Back
By January 18, 2010
Brian complained to us last week that Coke had zapped away his My Coke Rewards points while he was on vacation, but Coke has returned the points, thanks to advice from reader Fox Mulder: [More]
Coke Threw Away My Rewards Points While I Was On Vacation
By January 14, 2010
UPDATE: Coke gave Brian his points back. [More]
Senator Wants Investigation Of Frequent Flyer Programs
By November 23, 2009
Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) is calling for a probe of frequent flyer programs to determine whether they deliver the value that they promise. In particular, he wants the Department of Transportation to look into the issue of evaporating miles, a relatively new phenomenon brought introduced via expiration dates in recent years.
Reader Gets 162,000 Vaporized Hilton Points Reinstated
By October 7, 2009
Rikki is happy to report that her 162,000 Hilton points that disappeared without notice or warning are reinstated!
Royal Caribbean Scuttles Crown & Anchor Society
By April 5, 2009
Royal Caribbean is gutting the Crown & Anchor society that lavishes loyal cruisers with perks like discounts, priority boarding, and a concierge lounge stocked with complimentary cocktails. The free booze will now be available only to cruisers who have sailed more than 25 times with Royal Caribbean. Many loyal passengers who don’t spend their lives on Royal Caribbean ships are understandably pissed.
T-Mobile Customers Can Take Advantage Of Cheaper Plans Starting Today
By March 2, 2009
The rumor was true—T-Mobile has started offering cheaper unlimited voice plans to existing customers. Matthew wrote to us, “The TMO loyalty plans are showing up on the site as of today…we just moved to the Unlimited Loyalty Family Plan at $89.99, which is $10 cheaper than the 2000 minute Family Plan we’d been on.”
A More Helpful Big Brother: Grocery Store Loyalty Programs Used To Notify Customers Of Salmonella Recall
By February 9, 2009
According to Consumer Reports, some grocery stores are using their loyalty card registrations to get in touch with customers who bought recalled peanut butter products.
American Airlines Does Its Best To Make Sure Frequent Flier Miles Are Totally Worthless
By August 8, 2008
American Airlines is revamping its frequent flier program to include a fee to upgrade economy class tickets to business and first class. In addition to 15k frequent flier miles, AAdvantage members will, starting Oct. 1, have to pay between $50 and $350 for an upgrade.
