Rewards Program Reviews

At this point I am sure we are all looking to get more for our money. Rewards programs or store savings programs are a big marketing technique for stores it seems. Do I love them? I love what they offer yes. Do I love having to watch my rewards account all the time? No. Do I love carrying around 25 key tags for each program? No. ARE THEY WORTH IT? YES!!

Ones I can speak for since I use them:

Krogers Plus Card:
Cost: None

Where do I get it:  You can pick up your card at the Customer Service Desk. They will have you fill in some information, and then when you get home be sure to register your card online for maximum benefit.

What does it do for me:  You know when you look at the flyer and it shows you the sale price. Those are for Plus Card members. If you go into the store and try to buy the items at that price without the card, you will get charged full price!! With this card, you are also able to go into the Savings/Coupon section on Kroger's website and load coupons onto it through Cellfire, $hortcuts, and Kroger's Digital Coupons. This is just bonus savings for you. The card also tracks your savings and spending to give you points towards fuel purchases. This may very by store. The other just informational bonus to the card is that every time it is scanned it logs all of your savings, so it will give you a savings to date total at the bottom of your receipt. Chances are the cashier will ask you for your Plus card at check out but be sure to have it, you don't want to get stuck paying full price!

How do I maximize the benefit:  Combine the savings you will receive from the sale prices, with manufacturer coupons, and loadable coupons for the maximum savings.

My overall review of the program: I LOVE IT!

Place Perks - The Children's Place
Cost: None

Where do I get it: This one is a little tricky. I received mine in the mail around the holidays. I am not sure what prompted me to get one. I do hold a TCP card, so that may have prompted it. You could try to give them a call and see if you can get one for yourself.

What does it do for me: For every $75 you spend (after all discounts not including tax) you will receive a $10 coupon by mail. It does take a few weeks. Does not appear that the $10 coupon can be used with a % off coupon or $ off coupon, unless it is the TCP Credit Card rewards % off. Your card MUST be scanned at each purchase to qualify, and there is a good chance that the cashier will not ask for it since not everyone received one.

How do I maximize the benefit: First off, if you have an outlet store that is the absolute first step to maximizing. I have an outlet near enough to me that I utilize it. A great way to get to your $75. A lot of times I can pick up things on clearance for $1.99-$2.99. Then, hopefully, you have a current % off coupon. Also, if you have the TCP credit card and have earned your 200 points you should have your extra 10% off sticker for your card (You earn 1pt/$1 unless it is double points time).

This is an idea of what you could get for $75. Scan your perks card. If you could find 50 items at $1.99 = $99.50. Use your current 15% off coupon = you save $14.92. Use your 10% from the TCP rewards = you save $8.45. Your grand total for the 50 items would be $76.12 (+ tax). Now, you have earned your $10 coupon!!

Disclaimer: Outlets are a never guaranteed thing. You may want to try calling your store before you go to ask what kind of sales they have going on. I try to get in there during the $1.99/$2.99 sales. However, since my kids are getting bigger the prices are going up. My example above would be a great scenerio if everything worked out that the right things were on sale, and you had the right coupons. It is just an idea of things to look for to get the most for your $.

My overall review of the program:  I LOVE IT! If I am going to be buying my kids clothes at TCP anyhow, I might as well benefit from it!

Best Buy Reward Zone
Cost: None

Where do I get it: You can get the card in store.

What does it do for me:  Earn 1 point for nearly every $1 spent and redeem reward certificates at all U.S. Best Buy® stores and at BestBuy.com®.  Take advantage of member-only promotions and offers, including a special reward during your birthday month

How easy is it to earn? See for yourself:


You spend Points Reward Certificates

Spend  Points  Get in Certificates
$1000  1000   $20
$500      500   $10
$250      250     $5


How do I maximize the benefit: The best way I have found to maximize this is two ways.  One, use it on something you have wanted but have been putting off.  Two, match it up with a Buy One Get One Free Sale. 

My overall review of the program:  I am not a huge fan of Best Buy in general.  Again, if you are going to be buying something you might as well get something out of it.  I recently had $15 in Reward Zone certificates, and I used them to preorder New Moon.  I paid $5 for it.   The one problem I did have is that recently they made some changes to their program and they were issuing certificates for 250 pts or more.  If you had less than that they would just be lost.  I had 249.  Mine were lost.  So basically the $249 that I spent didn't get me anything.  I don't like programs that work like that.  If you are changing your program you should find a way to convert existing points (or whatever the system).

Rewards "R" Us = Toys "R" Us/Babies "R" Us
Cost:  None

Where do I get it: You can get the card in store or online (click link above).


What does it do for me: Rewards"R"Us is a program designed to reward our best guests for the purchases they make at Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us. Guests of Toys"R"Us and Babies "R"Us can enroll in the Rewards"R"Us program either in-store or online by accessing Rewards"R"Us at rewardsrus.toysrus.com. Upon enrollment, active loyalty program members become eligible for a variety of both one-time and ongoing benefits as well as short-term promotions.

Rewards"R"Us enrollees earn a $5 reward certificate ("R"Us Dollars) for every $150 in qualifying purchases at Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us, in-store or online, (up to $1,800) during select promotion periods. Member is responsible to present their loyalty number at time of purchase in order to receive proper credit. Retro-credits for purchases made without membership number are not permitted. Members can receive up to $20 "R"Us Dollars per month, $60 per earning period. Qualifying purchases do not include gift cards, shipping and handling, reward eligible diapers, formula, and greeting cards. "R"Us Dollars are not earned on layaway purchases and furniture orders until items are paid in full and shipped. "R"Us Dollars certificates are mailed via USPS, arrive 8-12 weeks after they are earned and are valid until the date printed on each certificate.




Qualifying purchases do not include gift cards, shipping and handling, reward-eligible diapers, formula and greeting cards. Purchases of infant furniture, battery powered ride-on vehicles, video game hardware, select outdoor play equipment: swing sets, trampolines, playhouses, climbers, filtered pools and inflatable bouncers and waterslides, and all discounted items (in-store and advertised discounts, coupons and clearance) qualify for only $0.50 for each $1.00 spent. All other items qualify for $1.00 for each $1.00 spent. Purchases of furniture orders do not qualify until items are paid for in full and shipped. All earned "R"Us Dollars are mailed via USPS, arrive 8-12 weeks after they are earned and are valid until the date printed on each certificate. See additional Terms and Conditions.



How can I use "R"Us Dollars?

"R"Us Dollars Certificate(s) can be used toward the one-time purchase of qualifying products in-store or online at Toys"R"Us & Babies"R"Us. Excludes Gift Cards, Kiddie Kandids, Motherhood Maternity, Buyer Protection Plan, Assembly Fee, Breastpump Rental Fee, Delivery Fee, and Shipping & Handling. Value is forfeited if item is returned. If used in-store, certificates must be surrendered at time of purchase. Certificate prorated among eligible items purchased. See additional Terms and Conditions.

Diaper Rewards

Rewards"R"Us members who participate in the Diaper Rewards Program will be eligible to earn: a) 1 free Value Box of Pampers¨ diapers (64 ct. - 252 ct.) when 9 Pampers Value Boxes are purchased OR b) 1 free Value Box of Huggies¨ diapers (68 ct. - 264 ct.) when 9 Huggies Value Boxes (68 ct. - 264 ct.) are purchased. Qualifying diaper purchases are limited to Value Boxes only and 9 of the same brand (Pampers or Huggies) must be purchased in order to receive a certificate for a free Value Box of that brand. Only one certificate can be earned within a 9-month period. Certificate is mailed via USPS, arrive 8-12 weeks after the free Value Box of diapers has been earned and is valid until the date printed on the certificate. Certificates may not be sold or transferred and are not redeemable for cash or a refund under any circumstances. Returned diaper purchases will be deducted from the members qualifying purchase count. Pampers Promotion began 10/15/2008. See additional Terms and Conditions.

Formula Rewards

Formula Rewards Program: Rewards"R"Us members who participate in the Formula Rewards Program will be eligible to earn:

a) 1 free Nestlé® Good Start case of 32-oz. Ready-to-Feed Infant Formula for every 9 Nestlé® Good Start 32-oz Ready-to-Feed Infant Formula cases that are purchased with membership within a 12-month period.

b) 1 free Similac® case of 32 oz. Ready-to-Feed Infant Formula for every 9 Similac® 32 oz. of Ready-to-Feed Infant Formula cases that are purchased with membership within a 12-month period. Offer valid on Similac Advance EarlyShield™, Similac Sensitive¨, and Isomil Advance¨ only.

c) 1 free Enfamil¨ case of 32 fl. oz. Ready-to-Feed Infant Formula for every 9 Enfamil¨ 32 fl. oz. of Ready-to-Feed Infant Formula cases that are purchased with membership within a 12-month period.

d) 1 free can of Babies"R"Us® Infant Formula Powder 24 oz. or larger when 9 cans of Babies"R"Us® Infant Formula Powder 24 oz. or larger is purchased with membership within a 12-month period.

Formula certificates are mailed via USPS, arrive 8-12 weeks after the free formula has been earned and are valid until the date printed on the certificate. Certificates may not be sold or transferred and are not redeemable for cash or a refund under any circumstances. Returned formula purchases will be deducted from the members qualifying purchase count. See additional Terms and Conditions.

Greeting Card Rewards

American Greetings® Rewards: Rewards"R"Us members who participate in the American Greetings Rewards Program will be eligible to earn 1 free American Greetings card for every 5 American Greetings cards that are purchased with membership. Certificate is mailed after the 5th greeting card has been purchased via USPS 8-12 weeks after the free card has been earned and is valid until the date printed on the certificate. Free greeting cards are available to Rewards"R"Us members only and certificates may not be sold or transferred and are not redeemable for cash or a refund under any circumstances. Returned card purchases will be deducted from the member's qualifying purchase count. Eligible greeting card purchases are valid in-store only at Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us. See additional Terms and Conditions.

Product Recall Notifications

Rewards"R"Us members with an active email address included in their profile automatically become eligible to receive product recall notifications when a product is purchased at Toys"R"Us/Babies"R"Us and is recalled by the manufacturer, subject to applicable law or regulatory requirements. Rewards"R"Us members without a valid email address on file will not be eligible to receive this email notification service.

Member Shopping Events

Rewards"R"Us members will receive advance notice of participating in-store sales and special events. From time to time, these notices will include special store hours reserved for Rewards"R"Us members and other best guests.

Email Discount Offers

Email offers including temporary price reductions will be periodically extended to those Rewards"R"Us members who opt in and provide a valid email address. These email offers will be sent to members in the form of a promotion code redeemable online at Toysrus.com or Babiesrus.com. Promo code email discounts are valid for single-use purchases
How do I maximize the benefit:  I would try to match up my certificate to a Buy On Get One Free sale

My overall review of the program: I don't do a ton of shopping at TRU/BRU so I am not a good judge of this one.  I use it, when I do go, but I think I have only ever earned one $5 certificate.

Borders Rewards
Cost: None


Where do I get it: You can pick up your card at the Customer Service Desk. They will have you fill in some information, and then when you get home be sure to register your card online for maximum benefit.

What does it do for me:
Get Exclusive Savings Every Week


Receive great weekly coupons and exclusive in-store offers via email. You'll also get the latest news, recommendations, and more.

Earn Borders Bucks

For every $150 spent annually on qualifying purchases at Borders, Borders.com, Borders Express, or Waldenbooks, Borders Rewards members will earn $5 in Borders Bucks, issued the first week of the following month and valid until the end of that month. Plus, any amount you spend annually on qualifying purchases that exceeds $150 rolls over until you reach your next cumulative annual total of $150. There is no limit to how many Borders Bucks you can earn!

Save More with Borders Rewards Perks

Make your membership even more rewarding with Borders Rewards Perks. It's a program personalized for you and your lifestyle, offering exclusive savings on the brands and services you love.

You'll find valuable offers for beauty and fragrance, clothing and accessories, home and furnishings, electronics and more from well-known names.

Borders Rewards members can sign up for free at www.BordersRewardsPerks.com.

How do I maximize the benefit: Use all of your weekly coupons to get % off to get to your $150 total so you can get your $5 Borders Bucks!

My overall review of the program: I like it.  I LOVE that I constantly get coupons, and if I foget them at home I can use the free WiFi at Borders and pull up the coupon on my iPod and show the cashier.  I am a little annoyed right now with the program though.  I happened to log into my account last night and found out that I had $5 Borders Bucks that expire 3/31/10!!  Almost lost $5!!


I hope that you find this information and reviews helpful!!