Loyal shoppers with Lidl are considering turning away from the budget supermarket after the retailer made a change that could hit them in the pocket. The store has shaken up its loyalty scheme - and it means more spend for its rewards.
Using the 'Lidl Plus' loyalty app, shoppers now need to spend more to get the top tier discount. Under the old system, shoppers would get £10 off a future shop when they spent £200 in one month. However, the change, which was introduced on Thursday, September 1, means customers now have to spend £250 in one month to get a 10% discount off their next shop. Customers are not impressed.
Turning to social media, one person said: "Gone from £10 off having spent £200 over the month. Now pay £250 to earn 10% & then another £100 to claim £10 off! Just when families are in financial crisis."
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Another tweeted: "Really disappointed with this change from £10 voucher to 10% off. I shop little and often during the month (single parent, don't drive so can't get a big shop home easily) this works out much worse for me now. Lidl was my main shop, considering the others now tbh."
The new 10% off coupon has a maximum discount of £20, as it is capped at a £200 shop - whereas the old £10 voucher was simply capped at £10, according to the Mirror. To get £10 off your next shop, you'll need to spend £100 – which means a total spend of £350, before the discount is taken off.
Here is how the “Lidl Plus” scheme has changed…
Spend £50
- Old reward (before September 1) - Free pastry
- New reward (after September 1) - Free pastry
Spend £100
- Old reward (before September 1) - £2 off coupon
- New reward (after September 1) - £2 off coupon
Spend £150
- Old reward (before September 1) - Nothing
- New reward (after September 1) - Free product coupon
Spend £200
- Old reward (before September 1) - £10 off coupon
- New reward (after September 1) - Nothing
Spend £250
- Old reward (before September 1) - Nothing
- New reward (after September 1) - 10% off coupon
Other changes to the “Lidl Plus” rewards system include a free product coupon when you spend £150 or more in one month.
Customers venting their views on social media demanded a return to the old structure. One person said: "Please bring back the £10 off voucher as opposed to 10% off."
While another added: "Lidl removing the £10 voucher if you spend £200 from your app has resulted in me removing your app from my phone. What use is 10% off your next shop if you spend £250 to single people on low incomes? The custom you clearly don't value is going elsewhere."
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