Boots points - what do you do?

confusticated

Just wondering what everyone here does with their Boots points - do you use them up whenever you've enough for something, or save them for something in particular?

I have a fair bit on my card at the moment, and I like building it up to get something decent, so it's like getting a "free" mascara or whatever...thinking about saving them to get some perfume as I can rarely justify buying it because it tends to be more expensive than makeup.

Novella

I save them up and treat myself to a high-end foundation or something expensive. I love the feeling of something new and sparkly for free!

dee_mc

I usually save them up for Christmas gifts, get a few 3 for 2 offers to give as presents. This year I forgot I had them so it was lovely to be able to treat myself to a few bits a couple of weeks ago even though I was technically broke! Still have about €15 on the card so will probably keep saving either towards Christmas or a nice bottle of perfume as suggested above. It builds up surprisingly quickly, the extra points offers every now and then are a great boost!

xzanti

I'm terrible.. so impatient.. never gets about about a tenner on mine! As soon as I'm told I've enough for such and such, it's gone..

I wish I could save them for Christmas or something.

Mrs W

I save mine for something good, I bought an electric toothbrush last year and bought my Lancôme mascaras a while back too. One is 28 or there's a box on offer and it's 2 for for 35?

on_my_oe

Points offers in the UK are so much better... Why does Ireland get shafted?

Ilyana 2.0

I was in Boots yesterday and I was offered a Boots card. I spend a fortune in there, but I don't think I need the extra temptation of buying more stuff to build up points :pac:

Also I don't live near a Boots, so when I'm not in college for the summer it'll only be sitting in my purse anyway. Just wish I'd thought to get one back in September!

If I had one though, I don't think I'd have the patience to save them for something big. They'd be spent every week.

StripedBoxers

I save mine for Xmas usually so handy for presents.

Might save them up and get myself a perfume instead later in the year though.

Sadderday

it's a bit sh'itty though that you can't use your points to knock a few quid off something good... a good bottle of perfume for 50 blips... having 15 quid on yer card would really take the sting outta it. ah well they want you to spend it a certain way, fair enough

confusticated

Yeah I know what you mean, but then I can see that I wouldn't really get the impact cos I'd probably use it for a few euro off my moisturiser or something, I prefer getting something entirely for free - I know it's the same amount but psychologically! Ilyana it's one of the better loyalty card schemes out there, once you don't fall into the trap of buying stuff just to push yourself over a limit for extra points. Which admittedly is hard!

Novella

I think the Boots Advantage Card is brilliant! I bought myself a Chanel foundation with my points just before Christmas and I have €50 on it already. They send you coupons so you get double points and other great offers. I don't usually advocate these kinds of things or find rewards cards of much value but the Boots one is so worth it!

Sadderday

sometimes I spend the guts of 40 blips.... and think woah ima gonna get loads of points... check the receipt and feel disappointed... as good as it is it seems to take ages to get more than a fiver on the thing!

dublintweety

Find them great for after Xmas when you have no money - I let them build up for the year & usually can get a nice cheap shop.

Sadderday

free tampons woo

Ilyana 2.0

confusticated wrote: »

Ilyana it's one of the better loyalty card schemes out there, once you don't fall into the trap of buying stuff just to push yourself over a limit for extra points. Which admittedly is hard!

That's exactly the kind of trap I would fall into! I might see about getting one, as I do buy so much there.

My purse will never forgive me though, so hopefully it's worth it

Pythia

I just buy things like toothpaste, shampoo etc. Whatever I need day to day!

convert

I usually save them up and treat myself to something nice - usually a bottle of perfume. However, I've also been exceptionally grateful for having them when I had very little cash and I was able to buy the few day-to-day things that I really needed.

bscm

At the moment I have about 12 euro on my card. The vouchers they send out are actually amazing, even if you don't particularly want the loyalty points scheme they give you a few euro/a percentage off certain products.

I've bought a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, a cream cleanser and some other bits and bobs with my points so far... Sickening to think that the list amounts to about 50 euro in the space of 1.5-2 years. Could have bought something high end with it that I normally wouldn't be able to justify paying money for with my student budget.

dee_mc

bscm wrote: »

At the moment I have about 12 euro on my card. The vouchers they send out are actually amazing, even if you don't particularly want the loyalty points scheme they give you a few euro/a percentage off certain products.

I've bought a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, a cream cleanser and some other bits and bobs with my points so far... Sickening to think that the list amounts to about 50 euro in the space of 1.5-2 years. Could have bought something high end with it that I normally wouldn't be able to justify paying money for with my student budget.

What sort of vouchers do they send out?!
I've just realised I was in college when I first signed up for a Boots card so it's possible they've been sending me vouchers to an old address and I never knew time to check address details!

suitcasepink

dee_mc wrote: »

What sort of vouchers do they send out?!
I've just realised I was in college when I first signed up for a Boots card so it's possible they've been sending me vouchers to an old address and I never knew time to check address details!

No Im the same, ive had my boots card since I was 16 and ive never been sent vouchers?? Id like to start receiving them pronto though, I spend enough in boots to feel I deserve them haha

Toto Wolfcastle

I got vouchers last week. €6 worth of points when I spent €30. A double points voucher that can be used twice. 25% off deodorant. 25% off haircare I think. Extra points when I spent a certain amount on vitamins. Those were the ones I used. I was able to use them all at the same time. I also got a fragrance voucher and a sunglasses voucher which I binned.

I wasn't getting the vouchers either until I set up an account online and I must have opted into receiving stuff in the post. Actually, that's not entirely true. I did used to get them but they stopped arriving for a couple of years until I signed up online.

I save my points for Christmas but never end up buying anything with them then.

dee_mc

Bobblehead Panda wrote: »

I got vouchers last week. €6 worth of points when I spent €30. A double points voucher that can be used twice. 25% off deodorant. 25% off haircare I think. Extra points when I spent a certain amount on vitamins. Those were the ones I used. I was able to use them all at the same time. I also got a fragrance voucher and a sunglasses voucher which I binned.

I wasn't getting the vouchers either until I set up an account online and I must have opted into receiving stuff in the post. Actually, that's not entirely true. I did used to get them but they stopped arriving for a couple of years until I signed up online.

I save my points for Christmas but never end up buying anything with them then.

Hmm thanks for that, my address is correct so must have another look at my profile thingy and see what the story is. I spend an embarrassing amount of money there so extra vouchers would be a real perk!

KGLady

I get great value out of the card at christmas when gift shopping and also when in need of baby supplies! So over the last few years I've bought Ruby & Millie brushes (meh), a whole smattering of make up (usually something new I want to try have a punt on), and my favourite, a super wide barrel curling tongs.
I confess to a moment of smugness each time I use the tongs; Great hair and it was free!

Anytime I am in buying calpol or baby wipes etc and they ask do you want to use your points to pay for it I ask 'Are you MAD, those are strictly for my treats!' and though they probably hear it countless times a day, the staff on till will always have a bit of banter about it

Since I'm full time at home with said babies, I like the absolute guilt free way of treating myself to something via the Boots points.

SusieBlue

I use them to buy all my suncreams in the summer - they're quite pricey and in the run up to going on holidays, I have loads of other expenses besides paying for the actual holiday and spending money, such as getting my hair done, mani/pedi, waxing and a few new outfits so its handy having that sorted without having to drop €30-€40 on creams and after suns.

During winter I use them to buy a from me to me present, usually perfume of some sort.

F1fan

I save them up all year, then in Jan when the 3 for 2 sets are reduced I buy myself lots of treats!

rachblue

This has actually reminded me that I haven't received vouchers from them in ages and im sure it goes to my parents address! Hmm. I find the points build up quite slowly but I don't think I spend as much in Boots as I used to. I should really let my points build up to something good but once I know I have enough for something I cant wait to spend them!

dee_mc

So I called in to a Boots store today and asked why I hadn't received any vouchers through the post in the 10 years since I signed up for the card etc. The assistant rang head office and they explained they have a traffic light type system, where users are coded either red, amber or green depending on how much they spend in store, and only green members (big spenders!) get vouchers. Apparently I was on amber, but the lady asked them to change me to green so I should be getting some offers soon!

Paybel

I currently have €57 worth of points on my card. I forgot to spend them at Christmas.

I don't know what to get but I'm not going to spend it willy nilly. I want to spend it when I want something. My local boots recently got smashbox and benefit in so I want to get something really worth getting that's not as much out of my pocket. Totally agree though, would love to be able to contribute some money to the purchase if you didn't have enough money on your card.

confusticated

dee_mc wrote: »

So I called in to a Boots store today and asked why I hadn't received any vouchers through the post in the 10 years since I signed up for the card etc. The assistant rang head office and they explained they have a traffic light type system, where users are coded either red, amber or green depending on how much they spend in store, and only green members (big spenders!) get vouchers. Apparently I was on amber, but the lady asked them to change me to green so I should be getting some offers soon!

Fair play to you! Although now I'm not so happy at getting points...I clearly spend too much there!

Ilyana 2.0

Paybel wrote: »

I currently have €57 worth of points on my card. I forgot to spend them at Christmas.

I don't know what to get but I'm not going to spend it willy nilly. I want to spend it when I want something. My local boots recently got smashbox and benefit in so I want to get something really worth getting that's not as much out of my pocket. Totally agree though, would love to be able to contribute some money to the purchase if you didn't have enough money on your card.

I don't think this would ever, ever happen to me :pac:

Ihatecuddles

I know ill sound thick....can I just go into a shop, pick something and pay with points?

I've found something online that I like, but would rather check it out instore first! Might go around now and get it

dee_mc

mauzo! wrote: »

I know ill sound thick....can I just go into a shop, pick something and pay with points?

I've found something online that I like, but would rather check it out instore first! Might go around now and get it

Yes just say to the assistant as you hand them the card as usual 'I'd like to pay with my points'. Sometimes they'll offer it if you've enough points accrued to buy whatever you're buying, but sometimes they don't so worth saying it!

Ihatecuddles

Great thanks ooo exciting! Never done this before.

dee_mc

mauzo! wrote: »

Great thanks ooo exciting! Never done this before.

I love doing it, it's definitely one of the better reward systems out there. I buy everything from toothbrushes to tissues there now (instead of in the supermarket) to try to capitalise on the points collection business!!

Twee.

I have just over a tenner at the moment, gonna save it when I'm broke and need a treat! Last time I saved up I got eyelashes, a Real Techniques brush and a nail polish.

carolinespring

I normally wait until I have a couple of hundred euro of points on my car. Built up fairly fast as I was buying my own stuff, my husbands and stuff for my work place. I then hit Boots in Liffey Valley and get Lancome skin care. Nice to have a big treat without the pain.

Ihatecuddles

I got a Ted Baker make up bag for travelling, travel pots so I can bring some coconut oil with me, toothbrushes, shampoo and conditioner, mouthwash, and other bits you'd bring on holidays!

Delighted