A SUPERMARKET giant has axed rewards as part of a new shake-up which affects thousands of loyal shoppers.
Co-op is ditching its points scheme in a massive shake-up to its membership club – sparking outrage amongst loyal shoppers.
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Members received an email today to say they will no longer be rewarded 2p for every £1 spent on the retailers’ own-brand goods.
It read: “By making changes to our membership benefits, we’re giving you more immediate value back.
“From 24 January, you’ll no longer earn rewards for purchasing Co-op products and services.
“Instead, as a valued member, you’ll always save more with exclusive Member Prices across Food, Insurance, Funeralcare and Legal Services, giving you savings on the things you need.”
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It added from January 24, customers would no longer earn 2p for every £1 spent on Co-op products and services.
Those who have money in the scheme will have until the end of this year to spend it.
Co-op members railed against the change, with one saying on X, previously known as Twitter: “So @coopuk has changed its membership awards.
“I rarely shop there any more but when I did, I got points which I can spend on what I do buy there. Now I won’t. Instead I get offers on things I’ll never buy there.
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“And they claim they’re giving “value back to members”. Epic fail.”
Another added: “That’s sickening I usually keep enough for an emergency shop on the member card, so now that’s pointless?”
A third said: “This seems like you’re removing financial benefit when shopping, badged as an “improvement”?
“Hopefully I’ve misread?”
While another shopper pleaded: “Please don’t change from a points scheme to members only prices.
“Member prices often seem to be the same price before a temporary inflation.
“This feels anti consumer when we’re struggling from the cost of living; your local shops are often used by the old/infirm.”
Others feared that member specific pricing was just way to learn more about and exploit people’s buying habits.
Co-op membership costs £1 and you get personalised offers every week based on what you normally buy.
Currently, if a member spends £20 on Co-op own brand products they will get 40p back on their card to spend in-store, but that will end later this month.
Co-op said in a statement: “We know times are tough for our member owners and communities right now, which is why we’ve listened and are making some changes to give more value back to them whilst still supporting local communities.
“From January 24, instead of earning rewards on the purchase of Co-op branded food purchases, members will now benefit from
a significantly increased number of member prices and deals in all our businesses.”
How does Co-op’s scheme work?
Co-op membership currently enables shoppers to earn 2p for every £1 spent on own-brand products.
The pennies earned back are stored in the member’s digital wallet a digital balance is tallied with your spending.
You can then spend the rewards you earn on most products in-store.
But this membership perk will end for good on January 24 and Co-op will solely focus on rewarding members with exclusive pricing.
Right now, customers also get access to personalised offers every week.
Shoppers also get access to the new discounted Member Prices.
Co-op introduced its new “Members Price” offer in April last year.
The cheaper prices can save the average member up to £300 a year on their grocery bills, the supermarket said.
But those who aren’t members of the scheme won’t benefit from the lower costs.
It was launched only days after The Sun revealed that Sainsbury’s was introducing lower prices for Nectar card members to rival Tesco’s Clubcard Prices.
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Those wishing to sign up for the scheme can do so on the Co-op website.
You’ll be charged a one-off £1 fee to join the scheme.
