How To Be A Winner In A Membership Program

Have you ever been signed up for any membership program (i.e. membership discount card; bonus points collection card etc)? You may say that membership program can create a win-win situation between the consumer and the merchant. The member consumer will usually get discount or collect points during their buying to the same merchant The accumulated points can then redeem for freebies when it has reached a certain range. Contrary, the merchants will have repeated customer.

Think twice, you may not really WIN when you are not royalty. Of course, you may not loose either if there is no joining fee incurred. How about if you are required to pay a membership fees (normally in annual basis), then you should considered a lost if you don't actually return to the shop again and utilized your membership benefits.

I used to apply for various types of membership cards. Not many are free. Sometimes while I was paying the bill, the cashier will encourage me to spend another 20 dollars more so that I may get a free membership card that enable me to enjoy special discount for the next visit. Many of the times, I was also persuaded to pay a sum of annual fees, range from 10 to 30 dollars, for a membership program. Usually this type of membership program will allow redemption when points are collected to a certain amount.

After all, I finally realized that 70% of the membership program I have enrolled did not benefit to me at all. Contrary, I turned into a lost after some details calculation. For instance, I had been paying 15 dollars annual fee for a membership discount card in a bookstore but only visited once to buy a book. I did enjoy a 20% discount, which equal to 5 dollars rebate but in fact, I have lost 10 dollars if contra with my annual fee.

From the lessons I learnt, here are some tips I hope to share on how to gain in a membership program:

1) Think again the reason of signing up before you sign up

If you do not sure why you want to sign up a membership program, then you may not know how you will gain from this program. Once you are very sure you want to earn something from this program, you will begin to maximize your royalty in order to reach your target.

2) Get to know where else the membership can be applied

Try to find out any branches or franchises available in other places (even other countries) as well. The chances are you can enjoy the same benefits and get discount or points even when you shopped at other branches located in somewhere else.

Notes for credit card membership, make sure you are familiar with the participated merchants, and ensure those merchants are located in the places where you are living nearby. Sometimes you may find certain credit cards have many affiliated merchants, but if most of them are 2 to 3 hours drive distance, then just forget it.

3) Only apply to the merchant that you pay frequent visit

If you know you will only the shop once in a blue moon, better save the annual fee and buy something else. I used to pay a 2nd visit to a shop which I seldom go, and found that my membership has been expired while I was paying. Hard to imagine that I have not visited to this shop for more than 1 year!

4) Reasonably of the rewards or discount outlet

Check what are the rewards that offered. For instance, if you can earn 1 point each for every dollar spend, but can only redeem a CD holder with 5000 points, then it is not that worth. Or, if you find that the redeemable rewards or discount voucher is something you don't need, it is still a zero gaining.

5) Just being a loyal member

After signed up, enjoy your most to the tag of member. Just take a few minutes to study the benefits that offered, the expiry date of the membership, items that not allow for points collections etc and start your shopping!

6) Share your benefits with your friends and family

Be a more generous member. Try to let everybody around you knows that you have this membership cards and share what are the benefits. If the membership program has supplement membership, invite your family to join it and hold hands to earn the points. Grab the opportunity to invite your friends or relatives that coming from other places to shop in the merchant you have membership. Share with them that you may help them to enjoy special discount via your membership enrollment.

7) Don't forget to redeem your freebies

Last but not least, remember to monitor your points level and check occassionally whether it has hit the targeted amount for your dream freebies. Normally the member will receive a catalogue for rewards redemption. If you have targeted a baking oven which need 1500 points, simply monitor how much to go and aim to hit it! Congratulations! You have just "bought" a FREE baking oven!

Remember.... you will only be a winner when you gain more than you invest.