Nearly two-thirds of UK adults say loyalty cards are just to get shoppers to spend more, rather than reward them.

Almost two-thirds (62%) of shoppers feel that loyalty cards only exist to get them to spend more money, rather than to reward them, according to new research.*

The figures are based on a representative survey of UK adults commissioned by MyVoucherCodes. They suggest that many Brits currently hold negative perceptions of such schemes, despite their potential to provide significant savings.

Yet, based on the findings, some shoppers now feel they’re being pushed into using loyalty cards in order to keep on top of costs, rather than signing up just to claim additional benefits. Two in five shoppers (40%) admitted that they feel pressured into joining these programmes to make their shopping more affordable.

Men and those from the Greater London area were the most likely to feel this way, according to the data. Around two in five (42%) men agreed that they feel pressured into using such programmes, alongside almost half (48%) of those from Greater London.

A similar percentage of all shoppers (38%) expressed concerns with how their personal data is being used when signing up to rewards schemes, indicating a potential lack of trust among shoppers.

Those who don’t have any of the listed loyalty cards are more likely to feel this way, with 46% of these shoppers stating this, suggesting that this is a major deterrent against loyalty card use for many Brits.

Not everyone agreed with this though, as over half of all shoppers (58%) said that they’re more likely to shop somewhere with loyalty schemes in place.

Sarah-Jane Outten, shopping expert at MyVoucherCodes, has shared how shoppers can ensure they’re getting the most out of these programmes, alongside alternative ways to save. Sarah Jane said:

Sarah-Jane went on to say, "Of course, these schemes often encourage you to make more purchases, and they will collect some personal data, but that doesn’t mean your data is at risk, and you can still use them to your advantage to maximise your savings. These are my five top tips to get the best out of loyalty cards, alongside some other ways to save:

• Only Get Cards for Places You Shop at Regularly – Most schemes incentivise consistent, long-term spending. If you use the store regularly, you’ll build up savings on top of your normal purchases, so it’ll essentially give you discounts for doing nothing.
• Avoid Spending Just to Earn Points – Be careful about making purchases purely for the sake of earning points, as you could end up spending more than you save anyway.
• Utilise Apps – Many loyalty schemes now have their own apps with exclusive discounts. If you’re already signed up, it’s worth downloading these in case there are any extra deals you could take advantage of.
• Redeem Rewards Tactically – You can get the most out of your points by building them up and redeeming them when they benefit you most.
• Try Voucher Codes – Loyalty cards aren’t the only way to save. You can often take advantage of discount codes to get extra savings on your purchase. It only takes seconds to check, so it’s well worth exploring if any codes are available before you buy.”