How many of you are involved in a rewards program? It’s all right if you don’t want to admit it because once you investigate some of the programs you find that they are a waste of your time. If you were enrolled in the Stouffers rewards program you should know by now that it was cancelled. I was spending a lot of precious time saving the boxes, and logging in to the website and entering the code just to get a coupon for a free meal or a free magazine subscription.
There is an identical program for Lean Cuisine. What I could not understand is why the points could not be combined because the same company makes both products. As of December 31, the Lean Cuisine rewards program will also go away. Good! When you look at how many Lean Cuisine’s you have to buy to get something free that is a worthwhile item is not cost effective. When you add up the time that is spent to log in the codes it is actually crazy. The items that you receive for free are equal to dollar store items.
All of you know I like most things free, but when you figure out the purchase of the meal, logging in the code, this is not free. I completely understand why these programs were deleted. I found myself buying the dinners just so I could get the points even when I wanted to buy something else.
Here is a word to the wise–look closely at rewards programs before you sign up for them. In most cases you are not the winner. These programs are designed to drive you into the store or make more purchases than you intended. For instance, if you buy $100 worth of merchandise at a particular store they will send you a coupon for $10. Now you need to go to the store or online to spend that $10 coupon that you do not want to waste. Even if you buy on line your time is valuable, please take that into account. But if you go to a brick and mortar store you are spending gas money, time and more often than not you will spend more than the $10 coupon. That is what the store is counting on. It is a crazy cycle.
Here is another thing I have observed in my travels and I wonder if you noticed the same. Have you noticed how many mattress stores are popping up all over the place? There is a new Levin Mattress store opening on Baum Boulevard next to the soon to be new Wendy’s in the old Blockbuster Video store location. I noticed three mattress stores in the Fox Chapel /Aspinwall area and several in Monroeville; as a matter of fact everywhere I go I see mattress stores and a lot of mattress commercials reminding you that you must replace your mattress at least every eight years. I guess I’m overdue I better run to a mattress store, I have a lot to select from.
(Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com)
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