M&S - is it me?

I'm told that a small amount goes to charity when you show the Sparks card, so I do that. Otherwise, I find it's irritating and virtually useless.

The points to spend though are from having a credit card.
This is different from the Sparks card which was issued originally as an incentive to use.

Ah - I'm fortunate, as its 8 mins drive, just a foody store.
but thats hardly worth leaving home for...
I do appreciate the points I get sent out to my home as an actual letter as you can use them in the internet.

Some of the summer clothing this year is stylish. I have two pairs of wide leg linen mix trousers, without waistbands (bliss in the heat) and they fit as if tailor made. However, I wandered through the Per Una section and the clothes were horrible. Frilly flouncy items in hideous colours, and absolutely nothing that I would buy - or accept if free. I had read that M and S were phasing out Per Una - it looks as if they are trying to ensure that nobody buys the clothes to make it easy to rubber stamp the decision.

It was a miscalculation but they are not going to admit.
I think it is actually to their advantage.
It is my birthday at the weekend and I received a very special birthday gift from my Sparks card.
A box of grapes or a packet of 8 biscuits which I have to collect in store showing my card.
My nearest store now is several miles away and it would cost me as much as the value to travel to get it.No thank you M&S.

I agree with others that the way the scheme works now I’m less inclined to use it, especially as there are now so many offers. I’m not convinced that M&S did enough research before launching the new scheme. It’s too much of a faff to use and the offers are really random. I appreciate it’s done to get you into the shop so that you are tempted to buy more than the offer item, but I’m not tempted into store by the very expensive candles they keep trying to sell me with £2 off!

It’s not just an age thing, they are complaining about it over on Mumsnet too.

I like the Boots points system and often get double points on certain items I buy. It's very straightforward.

No idea what's happening with M&S. I've given up with them really. The last thing I bought was a jumper with the old 20% off Sparks offer.

Shelflife

Terminated my sparks card - it was not an easy process!!
Could find no advantage in having the card.

I had one years ago, but never used it - the ‘offers’ rarely appealed.

OTOH I use my Nectar card a lot in Sainsbury’s, and to a lesser extent, my Boots card. I can often pay for small items in Boots just with points.

Why M&S don’t have a similar - simple! - system I have never understood.

Fara56

The app is so messy and complex. Badly designed. Some offers you have to activate, some you don’t. I hate it & usually I’m pretty good with technology

Apps and reward-schemes irritate me; messy, cluttered and over-complicated.

I think they are complicated because each company/group/whatever is often competing with a similar organisation, so they can't replicate a competitor's scheme and attract more customers by simply giving a bigger discount or larger 'reward' - otherwise it would be a race to the bottom, so they are compelled to have a different one.

These entities are also subject to the increasing energy costs, etc, so have to 'adjust' their discounts and rewards, and it's easier to disguise the fact that you're going to have to probably spend more to get less - by introducing a new scheme!

I hate it! Life's too short for pages of "Terms & Conditions" and FAQs (which never appear to answer one of mine!). However, some Apps and schemes are better than others...

I shop too little in M&S to benefit from any reward scheme - it would be out of date by the time I attempted to redeem anything, so don't bother - and probably save a bit by doing so. Which is a pity, I like some of M&S foodstuffs; however their clothing I find is a far cry from the excellent quality of yesteryear.

Yes, I get it Rosie. It’s a crafty move. But it’s removed the incentive element of the scheme for me.

It’s actually quite straightforward. Instead of getting 20% off so paying eg £16 instead of £20 giving you £4 to spend wherever you like you now pay the full £20. £4 is credited to your wallet which you can now only spend in M&S. A clever marketing strategy, but as I spend loads there I’m quite happy. Overall you’re getting the same discount.

I don’t think the new Sparks rewards scheme is as generous as the previous one. A straightforward 20% off everything in selected categories was much more of an incentive, and easier to understand.

Also, I wish they’d have more colour in their clothing - everything is so bland lately.

And I don’t understand this Sparks stuff either.

I hadn’t been clothes shopping for about 18 months. Got to M & S and the stuff was dull, dull, dull! Bought 2 bras and a pack of 3 pants. Oh and a nightie.

Fara56

The app is so messy and complex. Badly designed. Some offers you have to activate, some you don’t. I hate it & usually I’m pretty good with technology

Here’s one explanation.
My daughter’s job is to test new apps. She once worked on an M&S one. M&S got a little impatient as to the time it was taking to get it right.
My daughter told them if your employees did what I asked them to do we could fix this very quickly
They just went ahead with what they had. Plus the fact that this testing costs a lot of money.

Shelflife

Terminated my sparks card - it was not an easy process!!
Could find no advantage in having the card.

Buying some food in M&S a while back the person in front of me showed their Sparks card and were told that they’d been chosen to not have to pay for their shopping. Assuming they still do that I’ll continue to do that when purchasing food even though I don’t usually buy much.

Lizzies

Wyllow3 it’s all done through the Sparks card. If you haven’t got one ask in store. It also acts as a loyalty card for the cafe. You get a free hot drink when you have bought six.

I've got a Sparks card, I presume I need to get my act together and sort of register it in some way not needful before?

I adore MnS food and the way for clothes I can order say 6 items to try on different sizes. Collect round the corner, 10 mins away, try them on in the Next shop in the small precinct (they have a Costa and loos), take the unwanted straight back. Refund rapid. Enough staff to help you. out, always a check out with a person on.
(Alas no cafe, its just a food hall)

If you know your sizing, different leg lengths

Well I love M&S always have. Especially the trousers and the food hall. I shop there mainly ,y on sale deals but have paid full price when I’ve needed something. Their quality is fab. Not too sure about the new sparks offers but time will tell.

The app is so messy and complex. Badly designed. Some offers you have to activate, some you don’t. I hate it & usually I’m pretty good with technology

That doesn’t sound right Weirdo. Under the Consumer Rights Act you have up to 30 days for a full refund on faulty goods and between 30 days to I think 6 months the right to a replacement, refund or repair. M & S would be well aware of that.
Also you don’t like any of their food???

You could’ve returned it TheWeirdo under the Trades Description Act.

I used to be an M&S cleaner, and I can't abide their clothing or bags!

While cleaning the women's bag and clothing one day, I saw a gorgeous fake-suade bag for £35.00. Once my shift was over, I bought it.

It lasted just one day over the 28-day return policy before the handle broke, the zip wouldn't zip, and the fake-suade started going wonky! I couldn't return it even though I had the receipt because the policy was now conveniently out of date!

I've had the same trouble with clothing too. And I don't like their food or cafe food either!

I have 13 offers on my card, it’s too complicated, plus I can’t be bothered I haven’t bought anything apart from food since it started. I give up !

I have given up on sparks now I can’t understand it.
I preferred it when I could order and get money off.

I received an unsolicited gift through the post from Sparks last week! I do my parents food shopping there, which qualified me I think.