Discount supermarket customers rejoice – PC Plus has finally arrived at No Frills! For over a year Loblaws customers have been enjoying the digital rewards program. Those who have been enjoying free groceries with the PC Financial MasterCard and no-fee debit card will have a new way to save money.
What is PC Plus?
Unless you’re a regular shopper at Loblaws, you probably don’t have the slightest clue what PC Plus is. Dubbing itself the smart rewards program, PC Plus makes it even easier for customers to earn points towards free groceries.
PC Plus is no ordinary rewards program – the digital rewards program sends you weekly personalized offers based on your shopping habits – you’ll save money, while still buying the same food you enjoy! PC Plus is smarter than the average rewards program – the more offers you load, the more personalized offers become.
How Do I Join PC Plus?
Joining PC Plus is easy! To start earning points, all you need to do is pick up a free PC Plus card at No Frills. If you have a smartphone, you can download the PC Plus app for iPhone, Android or Blackberry 10. Alternatively, you can register online at www.pcplus.ca.
If you already have a PC Financial MasterCard or no-fee debit card, you can link up the PC Plus card with your existing account. Once you’re registered, all you need to do is visit the website or access the app to view the latest offers. No Frills is the latest Loblaws-owned supermarket to join PC Plus – it’s also available at Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, Extra Foods and Your Independent Grocer.
“Using points to take dollars off my grocery bill is an easy way to save money on all the things I already buy for my family,” says Kathy Buckworth, chief family advisor for PC Financial and PC Plus. “No Frills stores already have a Won’t Be Beat* pricing guarantee, but the PC Plus program sends me personalized offers to save me even more.”
“More than six million Canadians are already engaging with the PC Plus program, but bringing the program to a discount store like No Frills is special,” says Uwe Stueckmann, senior vice-president, Marketing, Loblaw Companies Limited. “This rewards program is custom made for customers who want value on the items they already buy. Personalization is the unique driver of the PC Plus program.”
How to Benefit from Digital Reward Programs
PC Plus isn’t just about Loblaws saving money by printing less paper flyers. PC Plus takes advantage of a growing trend towards “gamification.” More and more businesses are combining games with business. Gamification has been around for years, but only recently has it gone digital. Examples of gamification include promotions like Tim Horton’s Roll up the Rim to Win and McDonald’s Monopoly.
One of the pitfalls to digital rewards programs is the urge to overspend. It’s so easy to get caught up in these promotions disguised as games and lose track of your spending. You shouldn’t let reward programs shape your shopping habits. Spending an extra $10 a week by buying brand name products just to earn points won’t save you money; it will only put a dent in your budget.
To make the most of digital rewards programs like PC Plus, only buy the products you were going to buy in the first place. Make a grocery list and then check the digital rewards program for offers. You’ll be less likely to overspend by buying items you don’t really need just for the sake of earning points.
Will you be joining PC Plus? What are your favourite rewards programs?
Sean Cooper is the bestselling author of the book, Burn Your Mortgage: The Simple, Powerful Path to Financial Freedom for Canadians, available now on Amazon and at Chapters, Indigo and major bookstores, and as an Audiobook on Amazon, Audible and iTunes.