I can't understand why anybody shops at Boots- the prices are way higher than the supermarkets! The "loyalty scheme" is effectively being paid for by the inflated prices.

Ok, I actually like the Boots scheme, principally because it lets me buy random forgotten toiletries at airports without having to spend any money :D The 4% is a reasonable rate of return as well, making it worthwhile for even small amounts.

The points kiosks are great if I'm doing a pre-trip shop (although the get xxx points for a £10 shop seem much harder to come by) so likely to be spending a significant amount. More offers on the shelves, rather than having to go through the kiosk would be easier though - but I've also done all my address changes at the kiosks so it is a very useful thing to have around.

And kosky, I shop at Boots because they have a better selection of more medical and protective things than even the big supermarkets - and because I love their suntan/protection brand.

LOL ok i think that Soltan is possibly the must disgusting smelling suncream I have ever smelt!!! I'ma Nivea man myself. Still, each to his/her own.:p

The 4% cashback is good, but I effectively get this with Tesco, so most toiletries are bought there, which is handy for conversion to BA Miles.

If Boots bettered Tesco's offer to convert points into miles or other things (a-la Tesco clubcard scheme) then I'd definitely reconsider buying all toiletries from Boots. I guess it would also come in handy when buying gifts.

Not higher than Waitrose (unsurprisingly!)

Working at Heathrow, Boots is the cheapest way to buy lunch. Sandwich, crisps and a bottle of coke all for the grand total of £3.49 using the meal deal option!

Being a FTer i have worked out that to get most bang for your buck you should go for the:

Triple/Quadruple Sandwich pack £2.90
Chocolate Brownie £1.25
can of red bull £1.80

so you get £5.95 worth of food for £3.49! + 4% cashback!

and before i forget, buy 5 meal deals and get the next one free!

i dont think theres much you can buy £3.49 nowadays at the airport so kudos to Boots and the meal deal!

Are airport staff allowed to use WorldPoints cards? - that ups the cashback even more!

And don't forget the "buy 5 in a month, get 6th free" on the meal deals. That drops the price even more!

I've just logged on and thought somebody had discovered a way of converting Boots points to miles, or AAt leAAst AA miles. :(

I've used my Boots card for some time and have about £150-worth, having never redeemed any. Registering the card online at http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stor...&storeId=10052 produces regular points coupons in the post, a little like Tesco except they are useful. :eek:

Retail margins are high. If stores can offer what is claimed as 20%, 50%/up to 70% off, there is room to manoeuvre, so 4% is a reasonable way to seek repeat business.

General: there is no way that we will see a combined loyalty card across the majors for competitive reasons. The Nectar card had one supermarket chain, one fuel chain, one department store etc.

Specific: re Nectar - just think of accrued points as payment for travel and the like that you were going to do anyway.

Ive got a Worldpoints card which gives me double points so every £1 i get 3 BMI miles. I give it to my entire team when they go and buy coffees and lunch. Also comes in handy when buying some big items from HMV, Dixons, swarovski for the missus, etc. i bought a Nintendo Wii for £200 and i got 400 worldpoints which comes to 600 BMI miles!

i generally average around 50 worldpoints per day!

Tangental point - consider setting yourself up as an Amazon Affiliate. For the time it takes to log out, get the stock code and paste it into the browser you'll get 5%-7.5% rebate. Paid for my Amazon Prime and much, much more last year.

I see where you're coming from, but this is probably like years gone by where Fenwicks, M&S and John Lewis all said "We won't take anyone's credit cards - if you want to pay on credit, you have to use our store card".

'cos that one held up well, didn't it!

And to refer to an earlier post, perhaps that's where the government is getting it wrong. Incentivise people to have their privacy destroyed with a few premium flights each year and they would be onto a winner. :p

i'd like a Boots scheme which has quirks where you occasionally get the chance to buy 2000 tubes of toothpaste which equates to 2 longhaul First returns on BA.:D

We most definitely are, though like most of my colleagues half the time I forget to hand it over. I could get so many more £5 vouchers than I do :rolleyes:

As for Boots - I mainly use mine at the airport. I'm ashamed to say I rarely look at the prices as if I need something I need it, and at the airport especially there's nowhere else that sells the things that Boots do.

The cashiers there are pretty good at reminding you to use your card and their points are easy to use.

Would be better if I could get BA miles with them though ;)

Simple really, I would like a second card.

My wife has an advantage card and rather than have to go through the faff of getting a 'validated receipt' each time I shop without her, I would like a second card linked to her account.

Why not run two accounts? - Because you can't use the points as part payment.

You can of course get bmi miles (750 per £5) and VS miles (500 per £5) :).

Useful for non-regular BD and VS fliers who need to extend the life of existing miles - one points redemption every now and again keeps the miles from disappearing.