Morrisons shoppers have hit out at this year's Christmas Collector bonus scheme, which they believe is less generous than previous years.
The deal works by setting shoppers a personal spending target, which they must hit in four out of five weeks in the run-up to Christmas, which will entitle them to a bonus to spend in the store before January 3. Eligible shoppers have received their offer in the Morrisons App, and they need to opt in by tomorrow at the latest to start the ball rolling.
However, angry shoppers have contacted Chroniclelive and taken to social media to complain that this year's shopping targets are far higher than last years, and have said that they cannot afford to spend such large amounts on their weekly grocery shop.
Read more: Big brands v own label: Family favourites including baked beans and ketchup put to the test
Morrisons - which is the UK's fifth biggest supermarket after losing a place to Aldi in the summer - said that the personalised target figures were derived from the customers' spending over four dates and have insisted that shoppers do not have to spend more this year to take part.
"The scheme is the same as last year and the methodology in terms of how we calculate a customer's spend amount is the same. The only difference is the time periods in which we use," said a spokesperson, confirming that the key dayes for this year's bonus were May 2-June 26, Christmas 2022, Christmas 2021 and Easter 2022 - the latter three dates being holiday seasons where shoppers traditionally may spend a lot more than their normal weekly shop.
Despite contacting Morrisons several times, the retailer would not reveal the dates used last year to calculate the spending targets, which customers say were a lot lower.
Tracy Ball contacted Chroniclelive to complain about the "huge kick in the teeth" when she found that that she would have to spend £125 each week to get her bonus - £45 more than last year's £80 target.
"You can imagine my shock and horror that when I opened my Morrisons app to start this year's spending for the Christmas Collector to discover that Morrisons have put it up to having to spend at least £125 per week for four weeks out of five," she said. " I’m gobsmacked. This is going to render the Christmas bonus unreachable for thousands of low-income families that looked forward to this bonus every year. Do they not realise that thousands are trying to scrimp on the food bill so we can afford gas and electricity and fuel? I also take two other vulnerable families shopping each week and this year’s bonus is now out of their reach so I’ve decided never to shop at Morrisons again and then will not take the other families either. I’ve tried to stick with Morrisons through this whole cost of living crisis only to receive a huge kick in the teeth."
Over on Twitter, customers were making their feeling known. @fredmanfriday said: ""I need to spend £160 per week for four weeks to get £60 off! What?! No thank you. How is that helping in this cost of living crisis! Il spend £80 pw and pocket the difference as my perk!" while @jg002d2975 said: "Bonus set at £135 per week when I am lucky if I spend half that."
@lornamax74 said: "I really don’t understand were you get your figures from, to get the Christmas bonus of £51 I have to spend £135 per week, for four out of five weeks I have no chance there is only me and my husband at home, this to me is just a very greedy task of Morrisons, it’s ridiculous."
Morrisons launched the Christmas Collector scheme earlier this month, saying on its website : "After listening to customers, Morrisons is bringing back its popular collector programme for both app and card users. Launching on November 7, eligible app customers will be invited to participate in the five week scheme, enabling them to receive a significant money-off voucher if they have met the criteria and shopped in four of the relevant weeks. Those customers will then be able to spend their ‘bonus’ voucher from Monday December 12 until January 3, 2023. Eligible customers who don’t use the app and prefer to use their loyalty card will have the opportunity to redeem four weekly coupons from November 14, which if completed will enable them to receive a bonus money-off voucher.
Now read:
- Shoppers feel the squeeze as Heinz ketchup rises by 91p in cost of living blow
- When Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons will be running their 25% off 6 bottles of wine deals
- Coca Cola recalls Christmas multipacks after packing mix-up
- Find out how to extend your Tesco Clubcard vouchers in three easy steps
- Tesco shoppers slam 'shambles' Christmas delivery slot booking system after site crashes
