Tesco Clubcard Redspottedhanky offer going down from 3x to 2x on 01/12/11

[All Line Rover]

I don't understand this point. If they were fully subsidising it, why would it make any difference to the companies whether it was 4x or 3x? Seems more likely that for 3x they receive a greater proportion of the face value of the vouchers from Tesco than for 4x. The rest of the value is probably written off as the advertising/marketing benefit RSH gets by being associated with Tesco (which is probably quite huge).

For companies with a large profit margin and perhaps selling leisure-based or "occasional treat" goods and services, or simply things that people don't buy every day, only getting 50% of the tripled vouchers may be sustainable, especially if they factor in the advertising benefit.

For a company like RSH that presumably has a very small profit margin and sells something that people can and do use every day, it was probably unsustainable. In fact double points is probably unsustainable too IMHO.

A few months ago (at the end of last year, I think) Tesco sent out an e-mail (and plenty of postal correspondence) saying that they were reducing the value of "rewards" from 4x to 3x. Why? According to Tesco: "To attract new businesses who do not find the 4x rate sustainable." Surprise, surprise, many new companies join at the 3x rate - including Redspottedhanky! All of the companies have stayed at the 3x rate, except Redspottedhanky!

If Redspottedhanky intended for the 3x to be an "introductory" offer, they should have made this clear at the start. Many companies have done this in the past. For example, Goldsmiths are currently advertising a 4x rate as a "temporary" offer, clearly stating that it will go back down to 3x from January. (http://www.tesco.com/clubcard/deals/product.aspx?R=2219)

Why didn't Redspottedhanky do the same, with 3x going down to 2x? It would still have attracted an awful lot of customers.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

My ones expire on 31/12/11.

What bothers me more is that they reduced the ClubCard accumulation rate last month. So we've suddenly gone from £1 spend = 6p of RSH vouchers to £1 spend = 2p.

I understand Tesco does not pay the ClubCard Deal suppliers the full face value of the vouchers (Pizza Express and several other retailers will not accept Deal vouchers to pay for any of their own special offers, only for full-price menu items) so what's probably happened here is that Tesco offered ATOS the choice of a worse conversion rate or paying ATOS a lower percentage of the face value of the vouchers while maintaining the ×3.

Any vouchers ordered in the past month or two expire 31/12/20. Clearly Redspottedhanky expect to be around for a LONG time!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

He does have a point though. You go around claiming it is like it's a human right, but it isn't.

It is not a human right for me to be able to exchange my Tesco vouchers into Redspottedhanky e-vouchers at a 3x rate. I will still be shopping at Tesco since plenty of good deals remain - Eurostar in February, for example.

I am annoyed at the manner in which Tesco have gone about this. They said "rewards" were going down to 3x to entice more companies to join. Redspottedhanky joined. They never said they were going down to 2x! Then, in September, they said that some "rewards" were going back up to 4x. Did they say any were going to go down ever further? No! They've done it completely on the quiet, and had I not been reading www.moneysavingexpert.com, I might not have realized the change before December!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The best conversion for Tesco vouchers is probably now Avios, if you've got a lot of them. 20,000 Avios can have value of £1,627 in the right circumstances (by upgrading a British Airways World Traveller Plus ticket from London to Chicago to Club World).

Avios will, in February, be 1000 points per £2.50 (instead of 600 points per £2.50). An excellent deal - I'm now accumulating all of my points for that offer.

 

[island]

Avios will, in February, be 1000 points per £2.50 (instead of 600 points per £2.50). An excellent deal - I'm now accumulating all of my points for that offer.

That's a good point (temporary, for the record, but good). I already have around 75,000 Avios just now so I may or may not be adding to them.

 

[Paul Kelly]

If Redspottedhanky intended for the 3x to be an "introductory" offer, they should have made this clear at the start.

Oh I wasn't disputing whether they have been sneaky or not. Possibly even a bit inexperienced in dealing directly with consumers rather than business-to-business stuff. But I do think that they will have been losing money on this promotion - and probably will still lose some at the 2x rate. I think if you really wanted to spite them, it would hurt them more financially if you keep on converting your vouchers even at the 2x rate, rather than taking your business elsewhere

 

[flymo]

The e-vouchers are valid until 2020! I would have liked to stock up on e-vouchers for a bit longer!!

Just curious really but on the Tesco website it mentions that

• redspottedhanky.com e-vouchers are valid for 6 months from registration. Remember to think about when you plan to travel, to ensure it is still valid and that tickets are available.

Are these the e-vouchers you mention or are there more than one type? I have no idea, hence why i'm asking.

 

[hantsman1205]

Hi all,

first post so be gentle.

My 2p worth on this is that offers are just that and can be withdrawn at anytime. I have £30 on RSH and considered that a great offer from Tesco, esp when used on advanced fares.

 

[All Line Rover]

Are these the e-vouchers you mention or are there more than one type? I have no idea, hence why i'm asking.

The Tesco T&C's have not changed since the promotion started, but Redspottedhanky have since said that all new e-vouchers will last "forever."

When I log into my account, all of my recent e-vouchers say: "Expiry Thu, Dec 31st 2020."
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Hi all,

first post so be gentle.

My 2p worth on this is that offers are just that and can be withdrawn at anytime. I have £30 on RSH and considered that a great offer from Tesco, esp when used on advanced fares.

I accept that offers can be withdrawn or downgraded at any time. I have seen plenty of my favourite offers "withdrawn" in the past, although almost all of these were advertised a temporary offers. I have never since any offers "downgraded," apart from the "mass downgrade" from 4x to 3x last year. (Some offers have, as I've said already, gone back up to 4x).

The manner in which Redspottedhanky have gone about this is almost as bad as Loch Fyne. (The restaurant which suddenly decided to stop accepting all coupons - even those that had already been "purchased" and were in date! :roll 3 hours trekking around Bank and Covent Garden for nothing. :roll:

 

[Mike395]

ALR, with respect you dont seem to be understanding that this is not RSH's fault in any way, so boycotting them will not do a thing to get your point across. It's highly likely they got offered revised terms by Tesco which they could take or leave (and if they left those, they'd have gone altogether). It's simple economics

I'd much rather 2x value than 0x value, as numerous others have already said!

 

[All Line Rover]

ALR, with respect you dont seem to be understanding that this is not RSH's fault in any way, so boycotting them will not do a thing to get your point across. It's highly likely they got offered revised terms by Tesco which they could take or leave (and if they left those, they'd have gone altogether). It's simple economics

I'd much rather 2x value than 0x value, as numerous others have already said!

I highly doubt it is Tesco's fault - Redspottedhanky agreed to the 3x deal and if they intended for it to be a temporary offer, they should have said so.

I have had problems with one or two companies in the past, and after complaining to Tesco, they refunded my vouchers, gave me extra points as compensation, and made it quite clear that they never seek to revise the terms of any "rewards" - it is the companies that offer these rewards who frequently complain.

 

[bengolding]

So now we know why All Line Rover spends all day travelling First Class with Virgin, using Clubcard points to fund his free travel . Here I was thinking he secretly worked for Virgin, given he never has a bad word against them!

 

[Pumbaa]

Here I was thinking he secretly worked for Virgin, given he never has a bad word against them!

No - they wouldn't trust him with that. Or their finances. Or tying their shoelaces. Or organising all their first class travel arrangements. With a table of 4. Per person. Actually what the heck, a carriage each. Carriages for everyone!

Apparently its a basic human necessity these days? Especially when you get rewards up to 4x their translated value! Oh wait...

 

[All Line Rover]

Or organising all their first class travel arrangements. With a table of 4. Per person. Actually what the heck, a carriage each. Carriages for everyone!

Apparently its a basic human necessity these days?

:roll:

I've had a carriage to myself in Standard Class on numerous occasions, so it is pointless to only criticize First Class. :roll:

Yes, I'm sure that the Virgin Trains department who arrange charters are adamant that every single First Class passenger must have a table of four to themselves. Of course! :roll:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Or tying their shoelaces.

I didn't know a company could have shoelaces. :roll:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

So now we know why All Line Rover spends all day travelling First Class with Virgin, using Clubcard points to fund his free travel . Here I was thinking he secretly worked for Virgin, given he never has a bad word against them!

Virgin Trains are not perfect, but I've never seen a better TOC, so I don't feel the need to criticize them very often. Most criticisms against Virgin are unfounded, and the ones that are justified are often about problems caused by the DfT, rather than Virgin.

It's not just Clubcard points that fund my travel arrangements. Redspottedhanky has only been around a few months - and I've been travelling for much longer than that!

 

[Pumbaa]

I didn't know a company could have shoelaces. :roll:

Have they not taught you the meaning of a metaphor yet in school?

 

[bengolding]

I knot this is going on a tanget here but ALR does seem to be very mature for his age (if he is under 18, that is). Perhaps a future railway entrepeneur is amidst us!

 

[Tom]

I am rather amused by this thread. It is absolutely hilarious. Pretty much everything RSH do seems financially unstable - I bet the only way they stay alive is the fact that it's run by Atos.

Companies can add and withdraw offers whenever they want - unless it's against their T&Cs. But seeing as you're redeeming, effectively, a non-tangible currency (although it can purchase tangible products) to another one... LOL.

It should be noted by ALR that with regards to the Avios offer of 1000 points per £2.50, this is only a compensatory move as Avios (ex-Airmiles) has been diluted fairly significantly with the recent move by IAG to merge all their FFP programs (IB, BA & Airmiles) into one currency. During this, some routes that you can redeem on have gone up and some have gone down. But the overall value of an Avios point is lower on most routes (although higher on all the routes I travel on - which is just groovy).

 

[Hydro]

. Perhaps a future railway entrepeneur is amidst us!

Christ, I hope not.

 

[rmt-driver]

I was upset when Tesco made the restaurants 3 times instead of 4

But after a few months it is back as 4 times, presumably because everyone boycotted it when it was only 3 times. If everyone boycotts this too it will be back as 3 times soon problem solved..

I agree that 2 times isn't worth the bother, may as well get some Cafe Rouge vouchers and get some decent food

 

[WillPS]

I want one of these high horses ALR is rocking.

 

[robertbishop]

It's quite disturbing reading this thread. I think I am the same age as ALR, as I heard he uses child tickets. I've just turned 16, so it's close enough, and I think I'll give my 2p.

He sounds very, very spoilt. And sounds like he throws the toys out the pram whenever something goes wrong like this. No other 14/15/16 year old I know gets first class travel all the time, and All Line Rovers. (Yes 'gets', he can't be funding this himself)

Frankly I think he's an embarrassment to the age group, and makes it look like we're all spoilt and get what we want.

This isn't an older person criticising him, this is a 16 year old, therefore its not just adults having a stab at teenagers. So please, Mr ALR, get what you're given and be happy. I revel at the chance of spending £20 going somewhere by train, and any discount is appreciated.

 

[WillPS]

Well said that man.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

It's quite disturbing reading this thread. I think I am the same age as ALR, as I heard he uses child tickets. I've just turned 16, so it's close enough, and I think I'll give my 2p.

He sounds very, very spoilt. And sounds like he throws the toys out the pram whenever something goes wrong like this. No other 14/15/16 year old I know gets first class travel all the time, and All Line Rovers. (Yes 'gets', he can't be funding this himself)

Frankly I think he's an embarrassment to the age group, and makes it look like we're all spoilt and get what we want.

This isn't an older person criticising him, this is a 16 year old, therefore its not just adults having a stab at teenagers. So please, Mr ALR, get what you're given and be happy. I revel at the chance of spending £20 going somewhere by train, and any discount is appreciated.

As a 16 year-old myself, I fully agree with you.

 

[All Line Rover]

It's quite disturbing reading this thread. I think I am the same age as ALR, as I heard he uses child tickets. I've just turned 16, so it's close enough, and I think I'll give my 2p.

He sounds very, very spoilt. And sounds like he throws the toys out the pram whenever something goes wrong like this. No other 14/15/16 year old I know gets first class travel all the time, and All Line Rovers. (Yes 'gets', he can't be funding this himself)

Frankly I think he's an embarrassment to the age group, and makes it look like we're all spoilt and get what we want.

This isn't an older person criticising him, this is a 16 year old, therefore its not just adults having a stab at teenagers. So please, Mr ALR, get what you're given and be happy. I revel at the chance of spending £20 going somewhere by train, and any discount is appreciated.

If you do not know how to turn £100 in cash into £600 of Redspottedhanky vouchers, that is your problem, not mine. And if you do not know how to make a small fortune on the stock market, that is your problem, not mine. Without these "methods" () I would never be able to afford First Class travel.

I do not travel First Class all the time, but as someone who makes numerous leisure journeys, I always travel First Class when the price is right!

I use child tickets because I am a child, not because I look under 16 (as many people who've met me will know - particularly as I have an NUS card now!)

Regarding you turning 16, I can assure you that my own level of First Class travel will plummet when I reach that age, due to the fact that a 16-25 Railcard does not give a discount on First Class Anytime fares. The price will no longer be right.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I was upset when Tesco made the restaurants 3 times instead of 4

But after a few months it is back as 4 times, presumably because everyone boycotted it when it was only 3 times. If everyone boycotts this too it will be back as 3 times soon problem solved..

I agree that 2 times isn't worth the bother, may as well get some Cafe Rouge vouchers and get some decent food

Greetings fellow Clubcard holder.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Have they not taught you the meaning of a metaphor yet in school?

College, not school, and no, because I was never at school! :roll:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

(if he is under 18, that is).

Yes, I am under 18, although most people I meddle with are 17 or 18.

Perhaps a future railway entrepeneur is amidst us!

A entrepreneur? Maybe. A railway one? Probably not!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It should be noted by ALR that with regards to the Avios offer of 1000 points per £2.50, this is only a compensatory move as Avios (ex-Airmiles) has been diluted fairly significantly with the recent move by IAG to merge all their FFP programs (IB, BA & Airmiles) into one currency. During this, some routes that you can redeem on have gone up and some have gone down. But the overall value of an Avios point is lower on most routes (although higher on all the routes I travel on - which is just groovy).

That is true, but note that the Eurostar currency to Paris has not changed, so 1000 points per £2.50 is a rather good offer. I do not fly.

 

[robertbishop]

If you do not know how to turn £100 in cash into £600 of Redspottedhanky vouchers, that is your problem, not mine.

Never said anything about RSH or Tesco, I want to know why and how you or you're parents think you deserve £600 for ALRs.

And if you do not know how to make a small fortune on the stock market, that is your problem, not mine. Without these "methods" () I would never be able to afford First Class travel.

And that is why people don't like you, because you talk like that. An embarrassment to teenagers, as I said.

I do not travel First Class all the time, but as someone who makes numerous leisure journeys, I always travel First Class when the price is right!

I use child tickets because I am a child, not because I look under 16 (as many people who've met me will know - particularly as I have an NUS card now!)

The price is right, for you that is...

Regarding you turning 16, I can assure you that my own level of First Class travel will plummet when I reach that age, due to the fact that a 16-25 Railcard does not give a discount on First Class Anytime fares. The price will no longer be right.

No doubt you won't get off your high horse though. You still won't explain why you feel the need to throw the toys out the pram when you get less discount.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

College, not school, and no, because I was never at school! :roll:

Hold on, you're using child tickets and you are at college. That must mean you are 16 or over.

 

[All Line Rover]

Never said anything about RSH or Tesco, I want to know why and how you or you're parents think you deserve £600 for ALRs.

We spend a few thousand pounds each year on train travel. If that cost can be significantly reduced by using Redspottedhanky, why not convert our Clubcard vouchers?

Never said anything about RSH or Tesco, I want to know why and how you or you're parents think you deserve £600 for ALRs.

I do not spend the money on ALR's. I bought one First Class ALR, didn't think it was anything special, and haven't bought another one since. The e-vouchers are spent on my day trips and family travel (e.g. to London and back). Please ignore the username!

And that is why people don't like you, because you talk like that. An embarrassment to teenagers, as I said.

I'm sorry if you feel that way.

The price is right, for you that is...

The price is right with Advance tickets, split-ticketing and the Routeing Guide. I'm sure the price could be right for you too if you attended one of this forum's "Fares Workshops." (Which are EXCELLENT, by the way - a plug for Yorkie there. )

No doubt you won't get off your high horse though. You still won't explain why you feel the need to throw the toys out the pram when you get less discount.

Are you happy with the offer being downgraded?

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Hold on, you're using child tickets and you are at college. That must mean you are 16 or over.

Some people are quite clever for their age.

 

[aleph_0]

If you do not know how to turn £100 in cash into £600 of Redspottedhanky vouchers.

Could you expand on this claim? Presumably we're talking via. Clubcard, in which case (at 3x rewards), you're claiming you can convert £100 cash into 20,000 clubcard points? I'm not aware of any long term promotions that do this (there was a extra clubcard points offers which ended up giving 80 points on a £2.25 item a while ago, which was profitable).

 

[All Line Rover]

Could you expand on this claim? Presumably we're talking via. Clubcard, in which case (at 3x rewards), you're claiming you can convert £100 cash into 20,000 clubcard points? I'm not aware of any long term promotions that do this (there was a extra clubcard points offers which ended up giving 80 points on a £2.25 item a while ago, which was profitable).

For obvious reasons, I am not prepared to expand!

 

[WillPS]

Seriously guys, ALR is right on this... and everything. He's so good at the stock market and stuff. Can't believe RSH have done this to him.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

For obvious reasons, I am not prepared to expand!

Fraud, then?

 

[All Line Rover]

He's so good at the stock market and stuff.

Business Studies and Economics does come in handy, I'll give you that. But I don't see why it is relevant to Redspottedhanky and Tesco.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Fraud, then?

No, it's not fraud at all. It's because if people knew which products I purchased to get the points, they might go and purchase them too and Tesco would run out of stock!

 

[WillPS]

For what you're saying to be correct, Tesco would have to be giving away twice the face value of the product in points.

 

[All Line Rover]

For what you're saying to be correct, Tesco would have to be giving away twice the face value of the product in points.

They gave out EIGHT times the face value in points 2 years ago! I never bought so much cutlery! (This specific incident happened because one item in a very expensive line was reduce to clear - to about 25p!)

 

[ralphchadkirk]

It's because if people knew which products I purchased to get the points, they might go and purchase them too and Tesco would run out of stock!

I have literally never read anything so ridiculous.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

They gave out EIGHT times the face value in points 2 years ago! I never bought so much cutlery! (This specific incident happened because one item in a very expensive line was reduce to clear - to about 25p!)

So your parents allow you to spend their money on lots and lots of cutlery?