Since today is an optimum promotion at Shoppers Drug Mart, I thought it would be a good time to give an overview of getting the most from your Optimum cards for those who have one in their wallet and rarely use it.
The basic Shoppers Drug Mart program gives you 10 points per dollar spent (rounded down so if you spent $15.98, you would get 150 points). With redemption levels starting at 8000 points, it would take you forever to earn enough points to redeem, but you can use bonus points, Optimum promotions and coupons to make the most of your card.
Optimum Promotions: Shoppers Drug Mart offers special bonus point days where you can earn extra points. The typical promotions are 20x points when you spend $50 or $75, 8000 bonus points when you spend $50 or 18,500 bonus points when you spend $75 or more. Most SmartCanucks Optimum addicts will shop only mostly days when there is a promotion (picking up milk etc on other weeks).
First you want to buy a Shoppers Drug Mart gift card. Unless there is a special promotion on, you only get Optimum points on Shoppers Drug Mart gift cards, no others. Some cashiers will tell you that you do not get points, ask them to scan your card anyway as you want to know your point total. If you spend $50 out of pocket at seven promos in a year, you have an extra 3500 points without spending anything extra.
Use coupons to bring down your total. Our weekly coupons to use with flyers thread will have a list of coupons valid on flyer items and leading up to a promotion, there is usually a thread in the Shoppers Drug Mart forum. Check which coupons you have and make a list. Only cents/money off coupons (coded as 2001 at SDM) are valid towards promotions, you can’t use Try Me Free / FPC coupons (coded as 2002). If you have a coupon for $3 off a coupon costing $3, they should still enter it as 2001 as they get tax refunded on FPC coupons and not cents off coupons, but it really depends on the cashier.
Often cashiers will tell you that you have not spent the required amount so will not get the points, check the screen to see what your base is, once they subtotal it will say how much the customer can earn in points (if they have not yet scanned your card). It is a good idea to keep a copy of their coupon acceptance policy with you if they say you cannot use coupons.
Use bonus point offers to get more points. Each week, Shoppers Drug Mart will offer bonus points on different items – sometimes the value of the points is even worth more than the item price (or price after coupon) so you can ‘make money’ on it. Check for items with points on them to maximize your total.
If an item costing $10.49 shows 2000 bonus points, you would not get 20x points on the 2000BP on a 20x promotional day but you will on the base points. You would get 2000 bonus points, 100 base points and 1900 bonus points from the 20x promo (1900 because 20x points considers base points). We have a list of bonus point offers in our Shoppers Drug Mart forum.
Beware of items that are not eligible for points. In some provinces, milk does not get points, gift cards are excluded for everyone, some get points on pharmacy, most do not (you do on most over the counter items unless they have codeine), taxes, eco-fees, bottle deposits etc do not count as they are collected for the government not by SDM. The list of exclusions varies by province and where required by law. The best way to check is not to scan your Optimum card when they start cashing out, wait until the end and ask them to subtotal. On the screen it will say how many points you will earn on the right side of the screen. Then give your card.
I will cover redeeming and other tips in upcoming blogs, but if you wants a great quick overview, check out this FAQ by forum member Insane.
Are you shopping at SDM today? What is on your list? I am skipping this one – living off the stockpile rather than adding to it.
Save 20% on all regular priced rugs from Pier1 Imports Canada with this printable coupon until January 21st. Offer applies in store only and there is a limit of 2 per customer. Click here to print the offer or view it on your mobile device.
Here is your list of sales and deals at clothes and shoe stores across Canada for this weekend
- Abercrombie & Fitch 25% off entire purchase including Redlines(exp Jan 21)
- Addition Elle Take an Extra 50% off already-reduced styles
- Aeropostale Winter Weekend Savings $10 off $40 purchase(Jan 18 to 21)
- American Apparel (online): 30% off everything (Ends Jan. 20th)
- American Eagle & Aerie Free Shipping on all Orders(exp Jan 21)
- Ardene End of Season Sale Save Now up to 70% off select items
- Banana Republic 30% off Online purchase(exp Jan 20)
- Bluenotes Tops 2 for $10 + Free Shipping
- Buffalo Jeans $20 off $100 Spring Collection purchase(Dec 18 to Feb 10)
- Call it Spring – Clearance Footwear & Handbags 50% – 70% off original price Online
- Club Monaco Extra 30% off already-reduced merchandise(exp Jan 21)
- Dynamite Sale up to 70% off select items(New Styles are Added)
- Gap 30% off Online purchase & up to 40% off in-store purchase(exp Jan 21st)
- Garage up to 70% off selected styles + Free Shipping(Jan 18 to 21)
- H&M Last Chance Now up to 80% off select items
- La Senza: All Regular Priced Bras $10 Off (Ends Feb. 3rd)
- Mexx – Extra 20% off all Sale items Online
- Old Navy Clearance Sale up to 75% off select styles(Jan 17 to 30)
- Puma.ca – Extra 20% off Sale items + Free Shipping(exp Jan 21st)
- Urban Outfitters Extra 50% off all Sale items in-stores(exp Jan 21st)
We will add more deals as we find them – happy shopping
Buy four participating General Mills products from Save on Foods and get $20 in gift cards with this mail in rebate
Participating products are: Cheerios Cereals 525-720g; Oatmeal Crisp Cereals 700-710g; Fibre1 Honey Clusters Cereal 70g; child cereals 580-665g; Nature Valley* Granola Bars 420-552g; Fibre1 Bars 385g; Betty Crocker Fruit Flavoured Snack Variety Pack 272g; Pillsbury Pizza Pops and Pizza Minis Snacks 8ct from General Mills.
There are only 500 offers available so act quickly on this one. Get your rebate form by clicking here or in-store
Update: The same offer is available at Co-op (West) for a $20 gas card, check in store for details. Thanks Cathy_D
Click here for the most comprehensive list of coupon and flyer match ups across Canada!
January 19th, 2013 is National Popcorn Day!
Empire Theatres is celebrating by treating Empire Insider subscribers to a FREE bag (130 oz) of Seriously Awesome Popcorn. One coupon per account.
You need to be a Empire Insider (free to sign up for an account) then click here to print your coupon.
I have an Empire gift card and the coupons from buying it so I may go this weekend to get the free popcorn!
Sirius XM Radio are offering several of their radios free with a subscription plan.
- XM snap! – Free with a 1-year plan (reg $59.99)
- XpressEZ – Free with a selected plan (reg $49.99) – it seems most plans are included on the item page
- onyX + Vehicle Kit – Free with a 2-year plan (reg $79.99)
- XM EDGE + Vehicle Kit – Free with a 3-year plan (reg $149.99)
Some of the offers for multi year plans also have a discounted radio with lesser plans.
Subscription rates vary from $13.77-$18.32 a month depending on subscription choice and length and there is an activation fee and monthly royalty fee attached to Sirius.
Click here to view full details or order your radio and subscription.
Weight Watchers are offering a $1 off any participating bakery product on save.ca.
A few previously ordered coupons came available for me again, so it is worth checking save.ca even if you don’t want this one.
Click here to get your mail-to-home coupon
Now through Sunday, save 10% on all coffee at well.ca including k-cups and t-disks – no coupon code needed, the price is shown in red with the discount.
If you have never ordered from well.ca before, enter SCJF2013 at checkout to save $10 on a purchase of $40 or more (with credit card).
Shipping is free over $25 and they accept paypal (signup promo codes do not work with paypal).
Click here to shop at well.ca
For a limited time, save 15% off your order of $35 or more (before taxes or any other fees) at Swiss Chalet when you order online for takeout or delivery with promo code MINUS15 at checkout.
Click here to order online
The coupon for $1 off the purchase of Source Yogurt through the Life Made Delicious Save.ca portal has now been updated to include Source Greek Yogurt. Click here to get your coupon by mail.
On Friday, get a Keurig Elite Single Serve Beverage Maker for $89.99 plus get a mail in rebate for $10 – a final price of $79.99. After Friday, the price rises to $109.99.
On Saturday, save 50% on select accent chairs (reg $149.99-399.99). While supplies last, no rest of week pricing.
On Sunday, get a WAMSUTTA pillow for just $14.99, rest of week pricing is $19.99 (regular price is $34.99).
They are also offering great clearance across the store and this printable coupon for 20% off any regular priced item (25% if you use HBC credit card).
Click here for full details on these offers.
Old Navy have a new facebook Reveal A Deal printable coupon, this time for $5 off when you spend $25 or more in-store only by January 30th.
I was in my local store today and they had some good clearance deals including coats from $11.99, boyfriend jeans for around $12 and tees for under $3, so a great time to buy using the coupon to reduce your total more.
Click here for your coupon (direct link for non facebook users)
