[DISCONTINUED] RBC Shoppers Optimum MasterCard
It was only a matter of time before this credit card gets discontinued, since the Shoppers Drug Mart buyout by Loblaws, which runs the PC Plus program. It may seem like it is still showing up on the RBC website, but a closer look will read:
- “We are no longer accepting applications for the RBC® Shoppers Optimum Mastercard, and the RBC® Pharmaprix Optimum Mastercard. Existing cardholders can continue to use their credit card everywhere MasterCard is accepted. Please contact us if you have any questions.”
Highlights
Below were the highlights of the credit card:
- No annual fee
- Earn 15,000 sign up bonus
- Earn 15 points for every $1 spent at Shoppers Drug Mart (or Pharmaprix in Quebec)
- Earn 5 points for every $1 spent for all other purchases
Thoughts
To me, this was a no-brainer for Shoppers Optimum fans to have in their credit card, especially because of the no annual fee.
The real question for me is whether we will see a full integration of the Shoppers Optimum and the PC Plus programs. It is well known that the Shoppers Optimum is far superior to the PC Plus program. I would prefer to see PC Plus being absorbed by Shoppers Optimum, but that will probably be too much ask for.
Keep in mind the reward redemption schedule of Shoppers versus PC:
Shoppers Optimum
- 8,000 points = $10
- 22,000 points = $30
- 38,000 points = $60
- 50,000 points = $85
- 95,000 points = $170
PC Plus
- 20,000 points = $20
Granted the earning ratios are very different from one another. I do hope that we don’t see a 1:1 transfer of points.
Conclusion
I must admit, I am a little discouraged to see this happen. I was really to see PC Financial take over the portfolio of credit cards instead, while retaining the Shoppers Optimum program. I fear that this move is a closer step towards ending the program completely.
But I will remain hopeful. I remember when CIBC used to have the Shoppers Optimum co-branded credit cards, they did not get bought out my RBC. RBC just introduced new credit cards on its own, while CIBC shut it down. Hopefully we will see something similar with PC Financial, though my gut feeling tells me that the Shoppers Optimum program is slowly coming to an end.
So enjoy the program while it is still around.
They better give people notice if they are going to change the progrem!
Yes, I hope so too. It is so disappointing that we have so little faith in them. But let’s be optimistic about it!
I was told by someone at Shoppers that they will discontinue offering points on December 2016 and points have to be used up by March 17th. She then proceeded to show me where it said that, and sure enough, it says exactly that when you sign up for a new card.
Oops, I meant March 2017
Yes, that is correct. That is the current expiry on the entire program. Usually they extend the program. I really hope that they do.