[ANALYSIS] PC Plus (Part 1)
Several Pointshogger readers have inquired about the Loblaws has a loyalty program called PC Plus to earn PC points. This is a relatively newly revamped points program. You can use the PC Plus card to collect points at the following stores:
- Atlantic Superstore
- Extra Foods
- Fortinos
- Loblaws
- Loblaws CityMarket
- Provigo
- Provigo Le Marché
- Real Canadian Superstore
- SaveEasy
- Valu-mart
- Your Independent Grocer
- Zhers Markets
The key stores that are missing from the list (that are also owned by Loblaws) include:
- Maxi
- No Frills
- T & T Supermarket
Every $1 that you spend earns you 10 points. You can start redeeming at 20,000 points, which gives you $20 cash back. You are essentially earning a 1% return. The points don’t expire so long as your account is active once every two years. This is definitely an edge over the Air Miles program that has a five year hard limit on how long points can be in your account.
The two key factors when earning points with this program is to take advantage of the bonus promotions, but be sure to only buy products when they are at a favourable price. Remember, a 1% return means you are only saving 1 cent per dollar against its competitors for collecting their points. Therefore, if you can even get a 2 cents discount for a product at a different store, you already came out ahead.
To jump-start your PC points account, you can sign up for the President’s Choice Financial MasterCard with the following highlights:
- No annual fee
- Receive 4 welcome coupons worth 5,000 points each, redeem the coupons during your first 4 purchases at the checkout counter
- Earn 10 points for every $1 spent on all purchases
Or better yet, the President’s Choice Financial World MasterCard version:
- No annual fee
- Receive 4 welcome coupons worth 5,000 points each, redeem the coupons during your first 4 purchases at the checkout counter
- Earn another 5,000 points for applying online
- Earn 20 points for every $1 spent on the card at partnered stores
- Partnered stores include: Atlantic Superstore, Extra Foods, Fortinos, Loblaws, Maxi, Maxi & cie, no frills, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore, SaveEasy, SuperValu, valu-mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs, Joe Fresh (in Canada only), and Dominion (in Newfoundland and Labrador only)
- Earn 10 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- Minimum annual personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000
If you have the President’s Choice World MasterCard version you are earning 30 points for every $1 spent at the partnered stores, giving you a 3% return. I would not go out of my way to earn PC points. I would rather look for the cheapest price for the same product at whatever store is selling it. That savings beats out any points that we can earn. But if the price is cheaper at one of the Loblaws partnered stores, then it would be wise to collect PC points.
Therefore, I give this program a thumbs up!