Sainsbury’s shoppers slam supermarket as it SCRAPS popular Nectar card offer
SAINSBURY'S shoppers are fuming after the supermarket scrapped one of its most popular Nectar points deals.
The grocer has stopped its popular Nectar Double Up promotion, but it is providing a different offer this year.
The scrapping of the Double Up scheme last year left loyal customers disappointed.
Previously, the supermarket ran a Double Up Nectar rewards program, allowing customers to swap their points for vouchers worth twice the usual amount.
But this year, Sainsbury's is trialling a different rewards scheme using Nectar points for some customers.
To collect the points, customers simply shop as usual through the year and scan their Nectar card at the check out either in-store or online.
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For every £1 spent, shoppers get one Nectar point - each point is usually worth 0.5p when redeemed in store.
So collecting 2,000 points will reward you with £10 outside of any event.
But during the old Double Up event, digital points were worth twice as much, meaning shoppers would receive a £20 voucher for 2,000 points instead of £10.
But that offer is no longer available.
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Though some customers can still make the most of their points in the Big Points Swap event this year.
One customer flagged the new scheme in the group on Facebook, saying: "Sainsbury’s are doing the Big Points Swap instead of Double Up this year."
The post was met with 275 comments, many of which expressed disappointment and confusion surrounding the old scheme's scrappage.
One person said: "I usually spend all my points on the double up and felt the removal of it was very poorly communicated."
And to add to the frustration, not all of Sainsbury's customers are able to participate in the newer Big Points Swap scheme.
One person raised this, commenting: "The event seems to be by invitation only.
"I don’t have it in my app so contacted Sainsbury's live chat who said you can only participate if you’ve been sent an email, and that it’s for select customers - that’s BS and I plan to complain to head office."
So those who didn't receive and email invite won't be able to join in at all.
Sainsbury's told The Sun: "We’re currently trialling a points swap offer with a small proportion of customers and look forward to receiving their feedback.
"We understand that some people were disappointed to see Double Up go last year, but we know that customers are taking advantage of the more personalised offers and lower prices which we’re making available year-round instead."
It also explained that shoppers will need 2,000 points to be eligible for the Swap, and can redeem up to a maximum of 10,000 points.
Customers will see different vouchers available to them within the app as part of the trial, which may explain why some are yet to receive an invitation.
You can find your local Sainsbury's store using the .
Customers can spend the vouchers they receive in store or online.
Each voucher must be spent in one go, but different vouchers can used for different purchases – so a customer can spend one voucher online, and another in store for example.
Shoppers should also check the expiry date of their vouchers on the app, which is free to download, to avoid missing out.
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